LanguageCert B1 Achiever flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Listening paper structure

Four parts, thirty questions, about thirty minutes. Every recording is played twice, and each part has its own short pause for writing answers.

Distractor in listening

A wrong option that repeats a word from the recording but changes the fact, such as a different time, price or person. Match meaning, not single words.

Correction signal words

Words like but, actually, however and in fact. They usually introduce the corrected information that the question is really testing, replacing an earlier false detail.

Part 3 short answers

Listening questions needing one to three written words, a number or a name. Spelling and number form count, so write figures clearly and check plurals.

Number traps

Recordings often give one figure then correct it, for example 'at nine, sorry, half past eight'. The second figure is normally the answer to note down.

Listening timing rule

Answers are written while the recording plays, with only a brief pause per part. There is no long transfer period at the end of the paper.

Reading paper structure

Five parts and thirty questions in fifty minutes. Parts cover short texts, matching, a long text, a gapped text and multiple-choice cloze.

Paraphrase rule in Reading

Correct options usually restate the text in different words. An option that copies the original wording exactly is often a trap with a changed detail.

Gapped text cohesion clues

Pronouns such as it, they and this, linking words, and repeated topic words that point back or forward across the gap to the sentence that fits.

Reading question order

In the long-text part, questions follow the order of the text. Locate the answer to question one, then search forward for question two, and so on.

Multiple-choice cloze strategy

Read the full sentence before choosing. Check tense, preposition agreement and collocation, then test each option in the gap and eliminate those that break grammar.

Reading time budget

About ten minutes per part, with a maximum of twelve on any one part. Keep the final five minutes for transferring answers to the answer sheet.

Matching adverts rule

In the matching part, each short text is used once only. Some texts are distractors, so confirm the text covers every element of the sentence.

Writing paper structure

Two tasks in fifty minutes. Task one is a short message of about sixty to eighty words; task two is a longer text of about one hundred to one hundred twenty words.

Writing assessment criteria

Four areas are marked: task achievement, organisation, grammar range and accuracy, and vocabulary range and accuracy. Each content point in the prompt must be covered.

Informal email register

Use contractions, direct greetings such as Hi Sam, and closings such as Best wishes or See you soon. Formal writing instead uses full forms and Yours sincerely.

Paragraph rule in Writing

Give each content point its own paragraph, plus an opening and closing line for emails. A single unbroken block of text lowers the organisation mark.

Connector range

Linking words such as because, although, so, however, then and after that. Using a variety shows organisation; repeating and and but limits the score.

Word-count discipline

Writing below the minimum loses task-achievement marks. A long overrun adds errors without extra credit, so aim ten to fifteen words above the minimum.

Writing time split

Spend about fifteen minutes on task one and thirty on task two, then five minutes checking spelling, capital letters and verb endings.

Speaking test structure

A face-to-face interview of about thirteen minutes in four parts: personal questions, a role-play, photo description and comparison, then a broader discussion.

Speaking assessment criteria

Grammar and vocabulary, discourse management, pronunciation, and interactive communication. Marks come from range and fluency as well as accuracy.

Extended personal answers

In part one, answer with two or three sentences: give the fact, add a reason or detail, and stop. One-word answers give the examiner nothing to mark.

Photo description language

Use present continuous for visible actions, such as 'they are walking', and speculative forms like might, looks as if or probably for what cannot be seen clearly.

Role-play cue checklist

The prompt lists what to ask or say. Work through each cue in order, using a question form for each one, so no required function is missed.

Interactive communication marks

Earned by responding to the examiner: answer, then add a comment or return a question. Asking for repetition or clarification is allowed and not penalised.

Fluency repair strategy

A quick self-correction such as 'I go, I went' is better than silence. Fillers like Well or Let me think hold the turn while you plan the next phrase.

Opinion formula

State the view, then give a reason: 'I think... because...'. Add a polite agreement or disagreement phrase to show range in the discussion part.

Listening Part 1 format

Seven short dialogues or monologues, each followed by a three-option multiple-choice question. The needed detail is usually stated directly in the recording.

Reading Part 4 format

A text with six gaps and seven sentences to insert. One sentence is extra, and cohesion clues decide which sentence fits each gap.

Formal versus informal writing

Formal texts use full forms, no contractions and Yours faithfully or sincerely. Informal messages use contractions, direct greetings and friendly closings.

Speaking part three task

Describe and compare two photographs, then answer a follow-up question. Cover similarities, differences and what the people are doing in each picture.