All about the B2 exam 

 

Where can I take the B2 exam? How much does the exam cost?

You can find your closest centre here.

Contact your closest centre, and they can assist you with exam dates and pricing.

Costs can vary according to the exam centre.

 

5 easy steps to help you get ready to pass the First Cambridge Exam (B2)

Practice each part of the exam. There are two versions of this exam: 

• The school-age learners. 
• The adult learners.

You will have to be consistent, if you have learnt British English use it all through the exam. American English is also accepted. However, you cannot use both. 

Reading part: We recommend you read different types of text such as  advertisements, magazine articles, and fiction.  While reading, pay attention to details, the opinions, purpose, and point of view of the writer. 

Use of English part: Practice English grammar and vocabulary skills. The more you practice the quicker you will learn the grammar and vocabulary.

Listening part: listen to the radio (BBC Radio 4), podcasts, news programs, and if you are not living in an English speaking country we recommend you watch TV programs and movies in English to listen to everyday conversations. Remember to write down some expressions and ways of expressing an opinion, and some new words.  

Speaking part: practice speaking with different people. We recommend taking online English lessons. You can book your lessons here for only 15 euros per person. Contact us if you don’t know another two people who are preparing for your exam and we will include you in one of our courses with another two people. You will be able to practice your English with several people and improve your speaking and listening.

PART 1

8 questions (1 point per question)

– You will be given a text with some multiple-choice questions. You will have to choose (A, B, C or D)

– You have to decide which is the correct answer.

What do you need to practice?

Vocabulary – expressions, collocations, nuances of meaning, verbs with prepositions, idioms, etc.

PART 2 

8 questions (1 point per question)

– You will be given a text with some missing words. You have to find out the correct word for each blank.

What do you need to practice?

All grammar you can find at the end of this page and vocabulary.

PART 3 

8 questions (1 point per question)

– A text containing eight missing words. At the end of each line there is a ‘guide’ word.  You have to change it to complete the sentence correctly.

What do you need to practice?

Improve your vocabulary by reading newspapers magazines and books.

PART 4

6 questions (2 points per question) 

You will be given 6 sentences followed by a key word and a second sentence with a blank space inside it. 

You have to use that key word to complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. 

What do you need to practice?

Phrasal verbs, idioms, prepositions with adjectives and nouns, and improve your vocabulary.

 

PART 5 

6 questions (2 points per question)

A text with some multiple choice questions. You have to choose the correct answer selecting A, B, C or D.

What do you need to practice?

Reading to look at the circumstances, opinions, tone, purpose, main idea, involvement and attitude.

PART 6   

6 questions (2 points per question)

A  text with some missing paragraphs. After the text there are some paragraphs that are not in the correct order. You have to read the text and the paragraphs, then decide which paragraph fits each blank space.

What do you need to practice?

Understanding the structure and development of a text.

PART 7 

10 questions (1 point per question)

A series of statements followed by a text divided into two sections or several short texts. You have to match each statement with the section or text where the information can be found.

What do you need to practice?

Reading for specific information, details, opinions and attitudes.

Part 2  (Situation-based writing task) 

You have to write between 140-190 words

One task to choose from three.

You have to answer a question from a choice  of three of different types:

– Article, email/letter, report, review. 

– To guide you in your writing, you will be provided with information about the context, purpose of the topic and target audience.

What do you need to practice?

Writing texts including evaluation and expression of opinions, formulation of hypotheses, justification and persuasion.

Part 2  (10 questions) 

1 point per question

A monologue of approximately 3 minutes. You have to complete the sentences with the information you have heard in the recording.

What do you need to practice?

Listening for specific information and opinions expressed.

Part 3  (5 questions) 

1 point per question

Five monologues about a particular topic, each lasting approximately 30 seconds. You have to select five correct options from a list of eight possible answers.

What do you need to practice?

Listening for specific information, attitude, opinion, purpose, and feeling. 

You need to understand the main points and details.

Part 4   (7 questions) 

1 point per question

A conversation between two or more interlocutors lasting approximately 3-4 minutes. You have to choose the correct answer from three possible options (A, B or C).  

What do you need to practice? 

Listening comprehension of attitudes, opinions, circumstances. 

You need to identify the main idea and specific information.

We recommend you listen to a podcast about a matter you like.

Part 2  (Long turn) 

1 minute per candidate

– The examiner gives you two photographs and asks you to talk about them. 

– You have to speak for one minute without interruption and then the interlocutor will ask the other candidate to comment on your photographs for 30 seconds.

– The other candidate is given a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment once they have finished talking. 

– The question you have to answer about your photographs is written at the top of the page to remind you of the topic you should talk about.

What do you need to practice?

Talking about something: comparing, describing, expressing opinions, speculating. 

You can practice this part with a teacher, a friend or on your own.

Part 3  (Collaborative task)

3 minutes (a 2 minute discussion plus 1 minute to make a decision)

Conversation with the other candidate. 

The examiner gives you some materials and sets you a task. 

You have to talk to the other candidate and make a decision.

What do you need to practice?

– Exchanging ideas.

– Expressing and justifying opinions.

– Expressing agreement or disagreement.

– Suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a negotiated decision, etc.

Part 4  (Discussion) 

4 minutes

Further discussion with the other candidate, guided by questions from the examiner, on the topics or issues addressed in Part 3.

What do you need to practice?

– You need to know how to express and justify opinions, agreements and disagreements. 

– You can make a list with some expressions which you can use to express your opinion, agreements and disagreements.

What grammatical concepts do you need to understand in order to pass the B2 exam? 

You don’t have to master every grammatical concept listed below to pass the B2 exam. However, if you learn how to form and utilise each tense, you will be able to express yourself more clearly, which will help you to pass the exam. 

Verb Tenses

• Present simple 
• Present continuous 
• Present perfect  
• Present perfect continuous  
• Past simple  
• Past continuous  
• Past perfect  
• Past perfect continuous  
• Future simple  
• Future continuous  
• To be going to 
• Future perfect continuous  

The Passive Voice 

You should learn how to form all passive tenses.

You should be able to identify transitive and intransitive verbs and understand whether or not they can be used to form passive sentences.

You should be able to change an active sentence into a passive one.

• Passive present simple
• Passive present continuous
• Passive present perfect
• Passive past simple
• Passive past perfect

Reported / Indirect Speech 

Possessing a solid understanding of Reported or Indirect Speech will allow you to tell a story about something that happened to you or another person. 

• Declarative sentences (both positive and negative sentences)
• Questions
• Passive sentences in reported speech
• Commonly-used reporting verbs

 

Modal Verbs  

An understanding of modal verbs will help you give advice, express ability, probability, obligation, and request permission.

• Modals to express ability  
• Modals to express probability  
• Modals to express obligation  
• Modals to express prohibition  
• Modals to give advice 
• Modals to request permission  
• Verbs, adjectives and adverbs which are not modals but are used to express probability (e.g. have to, perhaps etc.)  

 

Linkers 

An understanding of linkers will allow you to connect two ideas within the same sentence or reveal a relationship between two complete sentences. 

–  I want to go with you, but I don’t have time.

It is essential to understand where to position Linkers within a sentence. Additionally, it is important to be able to classify a Linker as either a preposition or conjunction.

• Linkers of contrast (e.g. but) 
• Linkers to add ideas (e.g. and)
• Linkers of cause and effect (e.g. thanks to, due to)
• Linkers of purpose (e.g. in order to, because)
• Linkers of result (e.g. as a result, in consequence)
• Linkers giving examples (e.g. for instance, in particular)

Relative Clauses 

You will need to learn how to write relative clauses in order to refer to a specific person or thing or to provide more information about a noun.

All relative pronouns are used to connect different clauses.

• Defining relative clauses
• Non-defining relative clauses

 Other Grammatical Structures 

• Conditional sentences 
• Comparatives and superlatives  
• Countable and uncountable nouns  
• Question tags  
• Gerunds as nouns (when and why they are used)
• Gerunds or infinitives after verbs and adjectives 
• Prepositions (when they are used with specific nouns, verbs, or adjectives)
• Uses of verbs ‘to do’ and ‘to make’  
• Adverbs (used to start a sentence (e.g. Cautiously, suddenly)
• Would expressing habits 
• Used to and usually 
• Any, some, no, and every

 

What does Cambridge University expect from candidates taking the B2 exam?  

 

CEFR B2 (Independent user)

Reading and writing 

• You can understand the main ideas of a text in terms of both concrete information and abstract concepts. 
• You are able to scan texts and identify relevant information. 
• You are able to read the media and easily understand what you have read. 
• You are able to make notes while you are listening to a person talking. 
• You are able to express your opinion and provide reasons for these opinions.
• You are able to write and evaluate reports.
• You are able to offer advice on a range of topics. 
• You are able to explain an opinion you have about a current issue and talk about the advantages and disadvantages.
• You are able to make simple notes for essay or revision, taking the key points. 
• You are able to expound arguments, using a particular range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.

 

Listening and speaking 

• You are able to engage in conversations with native speakers on a variety of topics. 
• You are able to ask for clarification and request more information when you don’t understand something, and you are able to understand the answers to these questions. 
• You are able to express your opinion and explain your reasoning.
• You are able to answer predictable or accurate questions. 
• You are able to verify that people understand the instructions you have provided.

We wish you the best of luck on the B2 exam.

If you have any questions or need clarification on a particular topic, do not hesitate to contact us.

We will be delighted to help you prepare to pass it with the best possible result.