Cambridge English B1 Preliminary (PET) – Course Overview for Parents
What Is B1 Preliminary (PET)?
The Cambridge English B1 Preliminary (PET) course is designed for students who already have a solid foundation in English and are ready to become confident, independent users of the language.
At this level, learners can understand and communicate in most everyday situations — at school, when travelling, or when talking with English speakers.
The B1 level is recognised internationally and is a valuable step between the A2 Key (KET) level and the more advanced B2 First (FCE) exam.
What Do Students Learn in PET Lessons?
This course develops all four key language skills — reading, writing, listening, and speaking — along with clear grammar and vocabulary progression.
Vocabulary Topics
Students expand their vocabulary to talk about:
- Daily life, home, and family
- School, hobbies, and free time
- Travel and holidays
- Food and restaurants
- Shopping and money
- Health and wellbeing
- Work and study
- Environment and weather
- Simple technology and media
Grammar Coverage
Students learn to use English more accurately and fluently through:
- Present simple and continuous
- Past simple and continuous
- Present perfect (simple use)
- Future forms: will, going to, and present continuous
- Comparatives and superlatives
- Modals (can, must, should, might)
- First conditional
- Gerunds and infinitives (basic)
- Articles and quantifiers
- Adverbs of frequency and manner
- Question forms and sentence structure
Skill Development
- Reading: Understanding short stories, articles, leaflets, and notices.
- Writing: Composing emails, notes, and short stories using connected sentences.
- Listening: Following short talks, interviews, and everyday conversations.
- Speaking: Describing pictures, giving opinions, and taking part in short discussions and role plays.
Exam Expectations (Optional)
If your child decides to take the Cambridge English B1 Preliminary exam, it consists of:
- Reading and Writing (90 minutes): Understanding different types of texts and producing short pieces of writing.
- Listening (30 minutes): Understanding conversations, announcements, and short talks.
- Speaking (10–12 minutes): Talking with a partner about everyday topics, describing pictures, and expressing opinions.
The exam is recognised worldwide and gives students a clear goal to work towards — but lessons can also be taken as stand-alone English classes for general improvement and confidence-building.
Please note, I do not provide exams, but I do teach the curriculum to allow students to feel confident and well equipped to sit the exam.
Prior Knowledge Needed
Before starting this course, students should:
- Have completed A2 Key (KET) level or be comfortable using basic English for everyday topics.
- Be able to form simple sentences in the present, past, and future.
- Understand and respond to short questions in English.
If you’re unsure of your child’s level, you can book a short levelling session with me.
This informal session helps determine the most suitable Cambridge English level for your child before beginning lessons.
Why Choose This Course?
- Builds confidence in all areas of English communication
- Supports school learning and everyday English use
- Provides the option to prepare for an internationally recognised exam
- Encourages independent, real-world use of English
Extra practice materials can also be provided for home study, and lessons can be arranged individually or in small groups, depending on your child’s needs and preferences.
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