Cambridge B1 Preliminary

Bede's two-week Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools exam preparation course for students aged 13-17 will focus on building confidence and competence in the four key areas assessed by the exam: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The course should aim to familiarise students with the exam format, strengthen their language skills, and develop effective strategies for each section of the test.

Week 1: Foundation Skills and Test Familiarisation

1. Familiarisation with the Exam Format

• Introduce students to the Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools exam structure: Reading and Writing (1 hour 30 minutes), Listening (approximately 30 minutes), and Speaking (10-12 minutes).
• Explain the scoring system and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), focusing on the B1 level.
• Provide an overview of the question types and task formats in each of the four exam sections (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).

2. Developing Reading Skills

• Focus on skimming and scanning techniques to improve reading speed and efficiency.
• Practice reading comprehension tasks with different text types (e.g., articles, emails, advertisements, and stories) similar to those found in the exam.
• Teach students how to identify main ideas, understand details, and interpret meaning in different contexts (e.g., identifying the writer’s purpose or tone).
• Practise multiple-choice, matching, and gap-filling exercises.
• Provide strategies for dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary through context and word-formation techniques.

3. Building Writing Skills

• Focus on the two writing tasks in the exam: Task 1 (an email or letter) and Task 2 (a short essay or narrative).
• Teach students how to organise writing tasks clearly with a focus on structure (introduction, body, and conclusion).
• Emphasise the importance of clarity, accuracy, and coherence in writing.
• Provide practice in writing informal emails or letters (Task 1) and short essays or stories (Task 2), while developing vocabulary and grammar appropriate for B1 level.
• Provide feedback and corrections to improve grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

4. Listening Skills Development

• Familiarise students with the types of listening tasks found in the exam (e.g., conversations, monologues, and announcements).
• Develop strategies for listening for specific information, main ideas, and details in both formal and informal contexts.
• Teach students how to deal with different accents and natural speech patterns in English.
• Practice with short listening exercises and focus on listening for key words, dates, and numbers.
• Introduce techniques for understanding distractors in the listening tasks.

Week 2: Advanced Practice & Exam Strategies

1. Advanced Reading Practice

• Conduct full-length reading practice tests under timed conditions.
• Focus on improving students’ ability to identify answers quickly while managing time effectively.
• Provide strategies for tackling longer and more complex texts, such as identifying key words in questions, and understanding word families.
• Review key strategies for true/false/not given, matching, and multiple-choice questions.
• Work on refining reading techniques, such as using the process of elimination and predicting answers based on context.

2. Refined Writing Skills

• Provide extended practice on both writing tasks under timed conditions.
• Teach students to write in a more natural, engaging style, using varied sentence structures and linking words to create coherence.
• Focus on task achievement, making sure students fully respond to all parts of the prompt (for example, addressing all points in a letter or essay).
• Provide individual feedback on students' writing, focusing on common B1-level grammar errors (e.g., subject-verb agreement, tenses) and encouraging students to expand their vocabulary.
• Peer review activities to develop self-correction skills and collaboration.

3. Practising Listening Under Exam Conditions

• Conduct listening practice tests with a focus on different accents and real-life scenarios.
• Teach strategies to handle fast-paced speech and background noise.
• Focus on short-answer, multiple-choice, and gap-fill exercises.
• Encourage students to take effective notes while listening to recordings and practise matching spoken information with written questions.
• Provide feedback on common listening challenges, such as missing answers or misinterpreting content.

4. Speaking Skills and Exam Preparation

• Familiarise students with the format of the Speaking test: Part 1 (interview), Part 2 (extended turn), Part 3 (discussion), and Part 4 (general conversation). 
• Develop strategies for speaking fluently on familiar topics such as hobbies, interests, and personal experiences.
• Focus on confidence-building activities for Part 1, such as introducing oneself and answering personal questions clearly.
• Practice describing pictures or situations in Part 2, encouraging students to elaborate with examples and opinions.
• Prepare for Part 3, where students need to express opinions and engage in discussions on more abstract topics (e.g., technology, environment, education).
• Prepare for Part 4, where students discuss likes, dislikes, experiences, opinions and habits. 
• Conduct mock speaking tests to build confidence and simulate exam conditions.
• Provide feedback on fluency, pronunciation, and grammar.

5. Full Practice Test & Test-Taking Strategies

• Simulate a complete B1 Preliminary for Schools exam (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) under timed conditions.
• Focus on exam strategies such as time management, question prediction, and answer-checking.
• Review the results of the practice test, providing personalised feedback and highlighting areas for improvement.
• Offer tips for remaining calm and focused during the exam, managing exam stress, and pacing oneself throughout the test.
• Discuss common pitfalls and last-minute preparation strategies for the exam day.

6. Test-Taking Strategies & Stress Management

• Teach strategies for staying calm and focused during the exam, such as deep breathing, positive visualisation, and staying organised.
• Discuss the importance of time management in each section, especially Reading and Writing.
• Provide tips on how to handle difficult questions and keep moving forward without getting stuck.
• Offer advice on how to approach the exam day with confidence and be well-prepared for any surprises.

Overall Course Goals

• Improvement of all four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) at the B1 level.
• Familiarity with the exam format and question types.
• Development of effective test-taking strategies, including time management and dealing with stress.
• Enhanced confidence in performing under exam conditions.
• Refinement of language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
• Personalised feedback to help students improve their weak areas and maximise their potential.
• Effective stress management and strategies for approaching the test day.

This two-week course will help students develop the academic and practical skills needed to perform confidently on the Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools exam while equipping them with key strategies to excel on test day.