Cambridge PET Exam in Dublin

On this page you will find out more about the Cambridge PET Exam in Dublin. For instance, what is it, how to register, what are the benefits, how to prepare with Atlas and much more.

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Cambridge English B1 Preliminary (PET) Exam

The Cambridge B1 Preliminary exam (formally known as the PET exam) is a test of your general English language skills in all areas. It assesses your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The B1 Preliminary (PET) is an intermediate qualification in your language learning journey. It demonstrates that you have mastered the basics of English and now have practical language skills for everyday use. Here at our Rathmines Exam Centre (Dublin 6) you can take the test in the paper-based format.

Registration process

How can I register for the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam?

Step 1 – Choose a Date. Choose when you would like to take your Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam. See the calendar of dates below.

Step 2 – Book your Test. Fill in the online application form and send that to us.

Step 3 – Pay the Exam Fee. After we receive your application form we will send you details of how you can confirm a place by paying the exam fees by bank transfer.

How much does it cost to take the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam?

The Exam Centre fee is €145

What is the deadline for registering for the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam?

The list of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam dates and application deadlines is available in the table below.

Exam Date Registration Deadline
Saturday 23 November 2024 Tuesday 15 October 2024
Saturday 5 December 2024 Tuesday 29 October 2024

Please note that you are only registered for the exam once we have received payment of fees. In order to avoid disappointment, both the completed registration form and the payment must be received before the registration deadline.

Key information

The exam has four papers. 

You take the following 3 papers one after the other on the same day:

  • Reading – 6 parts, 32 questions in 45 minutes
  • Writing – 2 questions in 45 minutes.
  • Listening – 4 parts, 25 questions in 30 minutes

The fourth paper, Speaking (4 parts, 10 to 12 minutes), you will be scheduled to take on a different day, most probably two or three days before the written papers. You’ll do the Speaking test with two examiners and, normally, one other candidate.

Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the exam start time.

The only thing that you must absolutely bring is a government-issued photo ID. This can be a passport, European Union (EU) ID card, Biometric Residence Permit or Photographic Driving License (including a provisional licence). Obviously, the ID document must be in date.

Before you go into the exam room, you will be asked to leave your bags, coats, watches etc. in a separate room. No watches at all are allowed in the exam room. We will also collect your mobile phones at the start of the day and keep them in the safe until the exam has finished. Please make sure you switch your phone off. We strongly recommend that you do not bring any valuables (including watches) with you on exam day. We cannot take responsibility for the loss or damage of your personal belongings.

You may only bring into the exam room:

  • A pen, black or dark blue ink (for the writing paper). Please also remember that no correction fluid (e.g., Tippex) is allowed.
  • A pencil (non-mechanical), H or HB (for the Reading and Listening papers)
  • A rubber / eraser
  • A pencil sharpener
  • A bottle of still water
  • Your ID document

Apart from water, you should also bring some food to eat in the waiting room in the short breaks between exam papers. We’d recommend sandwiches, bananas or some chocolate. Candidates may not smoke during the short breaks since they are not supposed to leave the building.

The Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) written papers take just over 2 hours to complete, including breaks, all in one day. If we schedule the session to start at 9.00am you should certainly be finished before 12.00pm.

The Speaking paper at Atlas has always been scheduled to take place in the week leading up to written papers (usually on the Wednesday or Thursday), i.e., 2 or 3 days before the written papers.

All papers carry an equal weighting of 25% towards the final score. This ensures a balanced overall assessment of your language skills.

  • Reading  25%
  • Writing  25%
  • Listening  25%
  • Speaking  25%

In order to receive an overall mark you must sit all papers. If, for example, you miss the Speaking paper, you will not receive an overall mark or any certificate.

The B1 Preliminary (PET) exam is scored out of 170 points. A score of 140 or above is considered a “pass” and students with that mark will receive the Cambridge B1 Preliminary certificate. This corresponds to the B1 level of English in the CEFR.

Students scoring 160 or above in the B1 Preliminary exam will receive a Cambridge English B1 Preliminary certificate, but the Statement of Results will serve as proof of B2 ability.  This Grade A pass in the B1 Preliminary (PET) exam is equivalent to the Grade C in the next higher B2 First (FCE) exam.

When doing practice exams, as a rule of thumb, you should be looking to get 60% in order to get a Grade C pass.

Officially, there is no “pass” or “fail” mark. However, even though there is no official ‘fail’ grade, you still need to reach an overall result of at least 140 in order to “pass” the exam and get the B1 certificate and Statement of Results.

If your overall result is below 140 (i.e., below the B1 level), though, but falls within A2 band level (i.e., 120 – 139), that achievement is recognised and you will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating that you demonstrated your English language abilities at the A2 level. Scores between 102 and 119 are also reported on your Statement of Results, but you will not receive the Preliminary English Test certificate.

Test Score Grade CEFR level
160 – 170 Grade A B2
153 – 159 Grade B B1
140 – 152 Grade C B1
120 – 139 Level A2 A2

Officially, Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) results are released at some point in a 2-week window that opens 4 weeks after the exam date. In practice, in our experience, the results are generally available online on the first day of that window, i.e., exactly 4 weeks after taking the exam.

Candidates receive an “ID number” and “secret number” on the Confirmation of Entry document they receive from Cambridge to confirm their registration details before the exam, along with an invitation to register for their results on the first day of the window. Candidates should use these login details to access their results online 4 weeks after taking the exam.

Certificates are sent to the Exam Centre 6 weeks after the exam date. We will contact you to confirm that you can collect your certificate, or ask if you would like us to post them by registered post. There is an additional 10 Euro fee to cover these costs.

The Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) certificate is valid for life.

Practise your reading skills by reading a wide range of materials, such as books (including graded readers), newspapers and magazines, both in print and online. Make a note of any useful expressions from the texts you read. Build a vocabulary notebook. Practise your writing skills by completing timed essays. Listen to podcasts and YouTube videos with and without the transcripts. And do practice tests, first untimed to practise the strategies that work for you, and then timed so that you can also learn to manage your time. For more advice and tips on how to prepare for the exam, you can also download our B1 Preliminary Preparation Guide. And, of course, you can also sign up to join one of our part-time or full-time English courses here at Atlas Language School in Dublin.

If you have any questions or want to know any more about registering for the Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) exam, either as an individual or on behalf of a group of candidates from a school, please email us: enquiries@atlaslanguageschool.com

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