Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) · Listening
Free B1 Listening practice tests
Cambridge B1 Preliminary Parts 1–4 with audio, transcripts and instant scoring. No account required.
Paper guide
B1 Listening: format, scoring & how to train
Everything you need to succeed in Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Listening: question types, audio pacing, and tips.
Parts
4
P1–P2–P3–P4
Marks
25
Listening (Parts 1–4)
Timing
35 min
focused practice
Pass
140+
Cambridge Scale
Cambridge B1 Preliminary Listening evaluates your ability to understand everyday announcements, instructions, conversations, and interviews across 4 parts and 25 questions (25 marks total). The paper takes about 35 minutes, including 6 minutes to transfer answers. Every track plays twice. On this hub, you get interactive tests with full audio and transcripts to train with confidence.
Format & timing
Each recording plays twice. Below are the question formats, items, and timings across the four parts.
Part 1·Short Recordings with Pictures
7 Qs·7 marks·~8 min
Part 2·Short Dialogues (Opinions & Feelings)
6 Qs·6 marks·~7 min
Part 3·Gap Fill / Note-Taking (factual words)
6 gaps·6 marks·~7 min
Part 4·Longer Interview (3-option MCQ)
6 Qs·6 marks·~7 min
Total·Listening (Parts 1–4)
25 items·25 marks·~35 min
In the paper-based exam, candidates get 6 minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
How it is marked
Every correct answer awards 1 mark (25 marks total). In Part 3, spelling should be accurate, but recognizable attempts of difficult words are accepted if they do not create a different word. 140 is the passing mark on the Cambridge Scale.
How to train B1 Listening
Prediction and active listening make test day smooth and stress-free.
- 101
Look at the pictures and prompts first
During the pauses, study the three pictures in Part 1. What are the key differences? (e.g. weather, clothing, transport, time).
Browse tests - 202
Don’t choose the first option mentioned
Speakers frequently mention two or all three pictures before settling on the final decision. Wait for confirmation.
- 303
Predict missing data in Part 3
Look at the words right before each gap. Is the answer a day of the week, a price, a room number, or an adjective?
Part 3 practice - 404
Listen for agreement in Part 2
Notice if the second speaker says "Me too!", "I doubt it", or "That’s not really true" to gauge feelings and attitudes.
Part 2 practice - 505
Review transcripts for wrong answers
Read the full transcript to find exactly which word or phrasing caused confusion.
Study guides
Frequent mistakes in B1 Listening
Recognise these standard traps to protect your score.
Part 1
Falling for initial distractors
A speaker might say "I wanted to take the bus, but it was cancelled so I took a taxi". The answer is the taxi, not the bus.
Part 3
Writing numbers as long words
You can write numbers as figures (e.g. "15" instead of "fifteen") to save time and prevent spelling errors.
Part 3
Writing too many words
Part 3 answers are short: usually just one word, a number, a date, or a time. Never write full sentences.
Part 4
Choosing an answer based on matching words
Incorrect options often copy a word directly from the recording, but the true answer uses a synonym.
Study guides
B1 Listening study guides
Practical tips, prediction drills, and audio walkthroughs for B1 Preliminary.
B1 Guides
B1 listening strategy & audio preparation
Techniques to build listening accuracy and test-day readiness.
FAQ
B1 Listening
FAQ.
Clear answers about format, scoring, timing, and how to practise on this hub.
What is in Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Listening?
Cambridge B1 Preliminary Listening has four parts: Short Recordings with Pictures (Part 1), Short Dialogues on Feelings/Opinions (Part 2), Note-Taking Gap Fill (Part 3), and an Interview (Part 4). There are 25 questions worth 25 marks.
How many times do I hear each recording in B1 Listening?
Every recording in all four parts is played twice. You have time to read the questions before the audio plays and time to review your answers afterwards.
How is B1 Listening marked?
Each question is worth 1 mark. The maximum score is 25 marks, which is converted to the Cambridge English Scale. A score of 140 is needed to pass at Grade C.
What information do I need to write in Part 3?
In Part 3, you listen to a monologue (such as an announcement or talk) and fill 6 gaps in a summary sheet. The answers are simple factual words, numbers, times, dates, or prices (1 or 2 words maximum).
What score is needed to pass B1 Listening?
The pass benchmark is 140 on the Cambridge English Scale (Grade C). Scores of 153–159 achieve Grade B, while 160 or above awards Grade A and credit at CEFR B2.
How can I improve my B1 Listening score?
Read the questions carefully during the pause before each track, predict what kind of information is missing, listen for words that qualify or cancel earlier statements (like "actually" or "instead"), and review transcripts after practice.
Are these B1 Listening practice tests free?
Yes. Every B1 Listening practice test on this platform includes complete audio, synchronized transcripts, answers, and explanations completely free.