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English Language Assessment

B2 First exam format

B2 First is a test of all areas of language ability.

The exam is made up of four papers developed to test

your English language skills. You can see exactly what’s
in each paper below.

The Speaking test is taken face to face, with two

candidates and two examiners. This creates a more
realistic and reliable measure of your ability to use
English to communicate.

The formats below are the same for both the paper-
based and computer-based exams and digital exams.
Please note, during March 2024 we will be moving from
our current computer-based exam delivery to
Cambridge English Qualifications Digital, which will
offer you even more benefits. Information on the switch
and what this means for you can be found on our
Cambridge English Qualifications Digital page.

Paper Content Purpose

Reading 7 Shows you can

and Use of parts/52 deal confidently
English (1 questions with different types
hour 15 of text, such as
minutes) fiction,
See newspapers and
sample magazines. Tests
paper your use of English
with tasks that
show how well you
can control your
grammar and
vocabulary.

Writing 2 parts Requires you to be

(1 hour 20 able to produce
minutes) two different
See pieces of writing,
sample such as letters,
paper reports, reviews
and essays.

Listening 4 Requires you to be

(about 40 parts/30 able to follow and
minutes) questions understand a range
See of spoken
sample materials, such as
paper news programmes,
presentations and
everyday
conversations.

Speaking 4 parts Shows how good

(14 minutes your spoken
per pair of English is as you
candidates; take part in
20 minutes conversation by
per group asking/answering
of three) questions and
See discussing topics.
sample Your Speaking test
paper will be face to face
with one or two
other candidates
and two
examiners. One of
the examiners
(who could be
online, examining
remotely) talks to
you and the other
examiner listens.
This makes your
test more realistic
and more reliable.
Examiners may use
their mobile
phones for
entering marks
using an app.

" #  !

! What’s in the Speaking

paper?
The B2 First Speaking test has four parts and you
take it together with another candidate.

There are two examiners. One of the examiners asks

you questions and gives you the booklet with things
to talk about. The other examiner listens to what
you say.

Summary

Time allowed: 14 minutes per pair of

candidates

Number of parts: 4

Marks: 20% total

You have to talk: with the examiner

with the other candidate
on your own

Part 1 (Interview)

What's in Part 1? Conversation

with the
examiner.
The
examiner
asks
questions
and you may
have to give
information
about your
interests,
studies,
career, etc.

What do I have to practise? Giving

information
about
yourself and
expressing
your opinion
about
various
topics.

How long do I have to speak? 2 minutes

Part 2 (Long turn)

What's in Part 2? The

examiner
gives you
two
photographs
and asks
you to talk
about them.
You have to
speak for 1
minute
without
interruption
and the
interlocutor
then asks
the other
candidate to
comment on
your
photographs
for about 30
seconds.
The other
candidate
receives a
different set
of
photographs
and you
have to
listen and
comment
when they
have
finished
speaking.
The
question
you have to
answer
about your
photographs
is written at
the top of
the page to
remind you
what you
should talk
about.

What do I have to practise? Talking on

your own
about
something:
comparing,
describing,
expressing
opinions,
speculating.

How long do I have to speak? 1 minute per

candidate

Part 3 (Collaborative task)

What's in Part 3? Conversation

with the
other
candidate.
The
examiner
gives you
some
material and
a task to do.
You have to
talk with the
other
candidate
and make a
decision.

What do I have to practise? Exchanging

ideas,
expressing
and
justifying
opinions,
agreeing
and/or
disagreeing,
suggesting,
speculating,
evaluating,
reaching a
decision
through
negotiation,
etc.

How long do we have to speak? 3 minutes (a

2-minute
discussion
followed by
a 1-minute
decision-
making task)

Part 4 (Discussion)

What's in Part 4? Further

discussion
with the
other
candidate,
guided by
questions
from the
examiner,
about the
topics or
issues
raised in
the task in
Part 3.

What do I have to practise? Expressing

and
justifying
opinions,
agreeing
and/or
disagreeing.

How long do we have to speak? 4 minutes

B2 First

Exam format

Preparation

Exam dates

Results

Related links

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UK university applications

Find out which Cambridge English exam is best to

help you apply to study in the UK.

Exams for UK university

Who accepts B2 First?

These are just a few of the leading organisations that

will accept your certificate:

Freie Universität Berlin

Deloitte
Ernst and Young
Marks and Spencers
HSBC
StudyPortals
Juilliard

Find out more

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