B1 Preliminary study plan
B1 Preliminary · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Reading & Listening
Identify the six B1 Preliminary Reading task types and state in one sentence what each one asks you to do
Skim three short authentic texts (a notice, a brochure, a website page) and underline the sentence that answers a given question each time
Set up a listening log and note the exact words you miss in two 5-minute recordings of everyday conversations
Learn 40 high-frequency B1 words from a personal list, recording each with a short example sentence you wrote yourself
Your checkpoint
A one-page task map of the Reading paper plus a 40-word personal vocabulary sheet with your own example sentences
Reading & Speaking
Complete two full Reading practice sets under a 45-minute timer and mark every wrong answer as vocabulary, grammar or careless
Paraphrase five exam-style questions into your own words to show you understand what is being asked
Record a 2-minute self-introduction in the Speaking Part 1 style and listen back to list three pronunciation problems
Practise asking for repetition and clarification politely in five spoken exchanges
Your checkpoint
A timed Reading score sheet with an error-cause table and a 2-minute self-introduction recording
Writing & Reading
Write three 100-word emails (invitation, apology, request) using a fixed structure: greeting, reason, detail, closing
Rewrite each email after feedback, cutting at least 10 words without losing meaning
Match five sentence halves from Reading Part 5 style gap-fill items and explain the grammar rule behind each choice
Build a personal checklist of the ten most common errors in your own writing
Your checkpoint
Three polished 100-word emails plus a personal top-ten error checklist
Writing & Listening
Write one 100-word story from a given first sentence in under 20 minutes and check it against the B1 assessment criteria
Use five linking words (because, although, however, so, in addition) correctly in your own sentences
Complete two Listening Part 1 sets (short dialogues with pictures) and write down the distractors that tricked you
Transcribe 60 seconds of a listening recording by ear and compare it with the audio script
Your checkpoint
A timed 100-word story marked against the criteria and a transcript comparison showing at least five words you misheard
Speaking & Listening
Practise all four Speaking parts with a partner or recording: interview, picture description, discussion, general conversation
Describe a photograph for 60 seconds using a fixed pattern (place, people, action, feeling)
Complete two full Listening papers under exam timing and review every wrong item against the script
Practise turn-taking: ask two follow-up questions and give one extended answer in each discussion
Your checkpoint
A 10-minute recorded mock Speaking test with a written self-assessment against the four criteria
Reading & Writing
Complete a full Reading paper in 45 minutes and a full Writing paper in 45 minutes on separate days
Write one formal email and one informal email and list three differences between them
Reduce your Reading error count by at least three compared with week 2
Proofread three of your own texts specifically for spelling, capital letters and verb endings
Your checkpoint
Full mock Reading and Writing scores with a before-and-after error comparison against week 2
Listening & Speaking
Complete a full Listening paper and a full Speaking mock under exam conditions in the same session
Retell the content of one listening recording in 90 seconds without notes
Answer ten Speaking Part 4 questions with two-sentence answers that include a reason
Review your listening log and confirm you now catch the words you missed in week 1
Your checkpoint
A combined Listening and Speaking mock result with a written note of the three habits still costing you marks
Reading & Writing & Listening & Speaking
Sit one complete timed mock across all four papers over two days
Review every remaining error and write the single rule or phrase that fixes it
Rehearse exam-day routines: reading the questions first, checking spelling, managing the 45-minute limits
Confirm your final vocabulary sheet covers at least 200 words you can use actively
Your checkpoint
A final full-mock scorecard across the four papers with a one-page exam-day checklist
Milestones
Week 4: You can complete a Reading paper in 45 minutes with at least 60% correct and write a clear 100-word email in 20 minutes without a dictionary
Week 6: Your Reading error count has dropped by at least three items versus week 2, and both emails meet the 100-word requirement with correct structure
Week 8: Your full mock across all four papers reaches at least 65% in each paper, and your recorded Speaking mock scores at least three of five on every criterion