Tag: PET Cambridge Test

Have you ever…?

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We use the present perfect (Have you ever + past participle) to ask about life experiences. We can answer these questions using a range of structures.

Grammar Practice

Unjumble the questions.

Write the correct sentences in your notebook.

Speaking Practice

Take turns asking questions starting with “Have you ever …?”

Answer each question using any of the alternative answers that you’ve learned in class.

Student A

Student B

Example:

Student A: Have you ever lost your wallet or cell phone?

Student B: Yes, I’ve lost my cell phone 3 times. Luckily, last time, someone found it and gave it back to me. What about you?

From Beginner to B1: How to pass the Cambridge B1 Preliminary Exam

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

The Cambridge B1 Preliminary exam, also known as the Preliminary English Test (PET), is a popular English proficiency exam that measures a candidate’s ability to use English in everyday situations. If you’re preparing for the B1 Preliminary exam, here are some tips and resources that can help you succeed:

1. Understand the exam format

Familiarize yourself with the exam format, time limits, and question types. It’s important to know the format of each section so you can prepare accordingly.

Visit the official Cambridge website for more details about the exam format.

2. Practice your English skills

To do well on the B1 Preliminary exam, you need to have a solid foundation in English language skills. Practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English as much as possible.

You can find a lot of resources to practice your English skills in this blog.

What grammar topics do I need to study to level up my English?

What vocabulary do I need to study to level up my English?

3. Use official exam preparation materials

Cambridge English offers official preparation materials for the B1 Preliminary exam, including sample papers, practice tests, and online courses. These materials are designed to help you understand the exam format and question types, and to develop your English language skills.

4. Take practice tests

Practice makes progress. Taking practice tests can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and familiarize yourself with the exam format. Try to simulate exam conditions as much as possible, including timing yourself and avoiding distractions.

5. Focus on your weaknesses

Once you’ve identified your weaknesses, focus on improving them. For example, if you struggle with listening comprehension, try listening to English podcasts, news broadcasts, or movies to improve your skills. If you struggle with reading comprehension, try reading English texts. If you have difficulties writing, try writing every day. You can start journaling or posting/ commenting in English on social media.

6. Learn exam-specific strategies

There are specific strategies you can use to help you succeed on the B1 Preliminary exam. For example:

  • Skim the text first to get a general idea of what it’s about before answering questions.
  • Pay attention to the title, headings, and subheadings to help you understand the structure of the text.
  • Read the questions carefully and underline keywords or phrases to help you focus on what you need to find in the text.
  • Think about the context of the missing word and use grammatical clues to help you choose the correct option.
  • Plan your writing before you start, and make sure to use appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures.
  • Read the questions before you listen to the recording to get an idea of what to expect.
  • Listen for keywords and phrases that answer the questions.
  • Pay attention to the tone of voice, intonation, and stress to help you understand the meaning of what is being said.
  • Write your answers clearly.

7. Seek feedback

Ask your English teacher, tutor, or a friend who speaks English well to give you feedback on your English language skills and exam performance. They can offer suggestions for improvement and help you identify areas where you need more practice.

Remember that preparing for the B1 Preliminary exam takes time and effort, but with the right resources and strategies, you can achieve success.

Good luck with your exam!

*Created with the help of AI

How to Write a Formal Email for the B1 Preliminary Test or IELTS General Training

teacherjulieta2 Comments

Formal emails are the ones that people write to people they don’t know well. The language used in these types of emails is more formal and polite.

informal emailformal email
friends
family members
people we know well		people we don’t know
bosses or managers
doctors, teachers and professors

Formal emails have a standard format, so they must include the following parts:

  1. Greetings

We say hi to the other person. Depending on the kind of relationship we have with the person we are writing to, we can use the following greetings:

  • Dear Mr./Mrs./ Ms. + Last name,

For example: Dear Mr. Smith,

  • Dear Sir/ Madam,

If you don’t know the name and last name of the recipient

  • To whom it may concern

This is a more generic formulaic expression.

2. Introduction

In this part, we must indicate briefly and clearly the reason for writing. It should be consistent with the subject of the email. We can use the following introductory phrases:

  • I’m writing with regard to … (email subject)
  • I’m writing to … (ask, inform, request, send, confirm, etc)
  • I’m writing in reference to … (email subject, e.g. a job post, an advertisement, a website, etc)

3. Body

There are no formulaic expressions or conventional formulas for the body of the text because the information that we share in the body of the email varies according to what you need to communicate.

There is one general rule for this part: it should be divided into short paragraphs.

4. Closing paragraph

There are various ways to end your email. The most common formulaic expressions are the following:

  • I look forward to hearing from you soon / at your earliest convenient time.
  • Thank you in advance.
  • Thank you for your attention.
  • If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  • For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  • Please let me know if you have any questions.

5. Goodbye

Here you can find a list of the most common phrases to end a formal email:

  • Sincerely,
  • Kind regards,
  • Best regards,
  • Yours faithfully, (only if you began your email with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’)
  • Yours sincerely, (only if began your email with ‘Dear Mr./Mrs./ Ms. + Last name)
  • Regards,

6. Signature

We write our full name (name + last name)

Now that you know which parts should be included in a formal email, let’s see an example:

Ana has read an ad about some English courses on a school website.

  • She is 23 years old. She has graduated from college.
  • She wants to take an IELTS course in July.
  • She needs to get information about dates and prices.
  • She wants to stay with a host family.
  • She wants a room for her and her friend.
Language School

Come and study English at our school!
Summer and winter intensive courses
Highly experienced teachers
One month courses for all levels
Reasonable prices
Accommodation with host families
Pro tips for writing formal emails
  • Use the standard format that English speakers use to write formal emails.
  • Use formulaic expressions.
  • DO NOT use contractions (I’m, I’ve, I’d, don’t, can’t, won’t, etc.).
  • Use formal words and indirect questions (e.g. I was wondering if …/ I would be grateful if you …)
  • Don’t forget to START your email by saying why are you writing or what you are

Time to practice

The best way to improve your writing is to practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

Write an email to get more information about the following course:

Computer courses in Canada
One -or two-week courses in different parts of Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Halifax)
Professional instructors
Morning and afternoon classes
All levels, beginners to advanced
Small groups or private lessons

For more information email Robert Anderson at info@academy.com

Don’t forget to explain why you are writing and give some personal information

Ask your questions, and ask them to send you information

Clauses of Contrast

teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Although, though, even though, in spite of, and despite are words that help us connect contrasting ideas clearly and fluently. We use them to introduce a clause in a sentence which is in contrast to another clause in the same sentence.

You already know how to use basic connectors such as so and but. In the example below, but is a contrast connector.

Now, it’s time to learn other connectors that help us communicate more complex ideas.

NOTE: A dependent clause is NOT a full sentence. It is a phrase (group of words) that is incomplete, in other words, it is an incomplete thought. We need to complete the idea by using a connector and an independent clause.

An independent clause is a phrase that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

Time to practice

The best way to improve your English is by practicing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

Level 1

DOWNLOAD PDF

Level 2

DOWNLOAD PDF

Level 3

DOWNLOAD PDF

How to describe photos and pictures

teacherjulieta57 Comments

for the B1 Cambridge test (PET)

In some English exams you have to speak or write about photos or pictures.

Here is a list of useful vocabulary and expressions for describing pictures or photos for oral/written exams.

What is there in the picture?
(people, things, animals, places, etc)
In the picture I can see …
There is a/ an +(adjective)+ singular noun
There are (a couple/some/ a lot of) + (adjective) + plural noun
There isn’t a + (adjective) + singular noun
There aren’t any + (adjective) + plural noun
What is happening?
(actions & weather)
For actions use present continuous		The person/ animal is +verb-ing
The people are + verb-ing
It’s raining/ snowing, etc.
It’s bright/ dark/ sunny/ cold/ hot, etc.
What might be happening?
(If something in the picture is not clear you can make a guess)

It looks like a + noun
It looks as if + person/animal + verb …
It looks as though + persona/animal + verb …
It seems that person/animal is …
Maybe the person/animal is + verb-ing
The person/animal might be +verb-ing
What could have happened before?
(You can use your imagination and make a guess about the actions that happened before the picture was taken)		The person/animal might have + past participle …
The person/animal may have + past participle …
The person/animal could have + past participle …
The person/animal couldn’t have + past participle …
Where in the picture?
(location/ position)		At the top/bottom of the picture …
In the foreground …
In the background ….
In the middle/ center of the picture …
On the left/right of the picture …
next to
in front of
across from
behind
near
on top of
under

Now that you know the vocabulary and phrases that should be included in picture description, let’s see an example:

I think this is a family photo. There are five people, and all of them are smiling. They are having lunch in the dining room. The dining room is so bright and modern. In the background, we see the kitchen and some appliances. For example, a microwave and a coffee maker.

In the foreground we see the mother sitting at the head of the table. It seems that she is taking a selfie. Her children are sitting around the table. On the left side of the photo, there is a boy and a girl. The girl is smiling. The boy has his mouth open, and he looks as if he is going to eat the whole spaghetti.

There are two teenagers sitting across from the children. The young man is smiling, and the young woman is posing for the photo. The young man has his arm around the young woman.

There are five plates with spaghetti, three glasses of orange juice, and two glasses of red wine on the table. There might be some bread in the middle of the table. The food looks very delicious.

They might be having a video call with the father. The father could have travelled for work to a different city. It looks as though they are having a good time. This photo reminds me of when I was younger, and I used to have lunch with my family every Sunday.
How to Describe Photos Using the PALMS ✋Method

Writing practice

The best way to improve your writing and speaking is to practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

Choose ONE picture and describe it.

What can you see in the picture? Write your answer in the comments below