Answer Key & Mark Schemes — B1

Cambridge-style General English Test

Part 1: Use of English — Answer Key

Q1: B
Q2: C
Q3: D
Q4: B
Q5: C

Part 2: Reading — Answer Key

Q6: C
Q7: B
Q8: C
Q9: B
Q10: C

Part 3: Listening — Answer Key

Q11: C
Q12: B
Q13: C
Q14: C
Q15: C

Part 4: Writing — Model Answer & Mark Scheme

Model Answer:

Hi Anna,

I hope you're feeling better now! I wanted to let you know what we covered in English class last week. We studied comparative and superlative adjectives, and we also read a short story about travel experiences. The teacher assigned us two exercises from pages 45-46 in the workbook, which are due this Friday.

If you need any help catching up with the material, I'd be happy to explain the grammar points or go over the story with you. Just let me know when you're free.

See you soon!
Best wishes,
Tom

Writing Mark Scheme (Total: 5 marks):

Task Achievement (0-5)

5 marks: All three points addressed clearly and appropriately. 3-4 marks: Most points covered adequately. 1-2 marks: Some points missing or unclear. 0 marks: Task not attempted or completely off-topic.

Coherence & Cohesion (0-5)

5 marks: Well-organized with clear paragraphing and good linking words. 3-4 marks: Generally organized with some linking. 1-2 marks: Limited organization. 0 marks: No clear structure.

Vocabulary (0-5)

5 marks: Good range appropriate to B1 level, accurate word choice. 3-4 marks: Adequate vocabulary with some errors. 1-2 marks: Limited vocabulary or many errors. 0 marks: Vocabulary too limited.

Grammar (0-5)

5 marks: Good control of B1 structures with few errors. 3-4 marks: Generally accurate with some mistakes. 1-2 marks: Many errors affecting meaning. 0 marks: Grammar too limited.

Format (0-5)

5 marks: Appropriate email format with greeting and closing. 3-4 marks: Mostly appropriate format. 1-2 marks: Some format issues. 0 marks: Wrong format entirely.

Note: Award 1 mark for each criterion. Total marks out of 5.

Part 5: Speaking — Model Responses & Mark Scheme

Model Responses:

Task 1:

Tell me about your daily routine. What time do you usually wake up, and what do you do during a typical day?

Model Response:

I usually wake up at 7 a.m. on weekdays. First, I have breakfast with my family - usually cereal or toast. Then I get ready for school and leave at 8 o'clock. After school, I often do my homework and then relax by watching TV or meeting friends. I try to go to bed before 11 p.m.

Task 2:

Describe a place you like to visit in your free time. Where is it and why do you enjoy going there?

Model Response:

I really enjoy visiting the park near my house. It has beautiful trees, a small lake, and nice walking paths. I like going there because it's peaceful and I can relax away from the noise of the city. Sometimes I go jogging there, or I just sit on a bench and read a book. It's especially lovely in autumn when the leaves change color.

Task 3:

Role play: You are calling a cinema to book tickets for a film. Ask about showtimes, ticket prices, and available seats.

Model Response:

Hello, I'd like to book tickets for the new adventure film, please. What times do you have showings today? ... And how much are the tickets? ... Do you have two seats available for the 7 p.m. showing? ... Great, can I pay by card? ... Thank you very much!

Task 4:

Compare these two ways of learning: studying from books vs. learning online. What are the advantages of each?

Model Response:

Both methods have their benefits. Studying from books is traditional and you don't need technology - you can read anywhere without worrying about batteries or internet. Also, some people remember better when they write notes by hand. On the other hand, learning online is very convenient because you can access information instantly and watch videos to understand difficult topics. Online resources are often more up-to-date too. Personally, I think a combination of both works best.

Task 5:

What do you think is the most important skill for students to develop? Why?

Model Response:

I believe time management is the most important skill for students. When you can organize your time well, you can balance studying with other activities like hobbies and spending time with friends. It reduces stress because you don't leave everything until the last minute. Good time management also prepares you for working life in the future, where you'll need to meet deadlines and handle multiple responsibilities. It's a skill that helps in every area of life.

Speaking Mark Scheme (Total: 5 marks — 1 mark per task):

Each task is marked out of 1 mark based on the following criteria:

Fluency & Coherence (0-1 per task)

1 mark: Speaks smoothly with minimal hesitation, ideas connected logically. 0 marks: Frequent pauses, unclear connection of ideas.

Pronunciation (0-1 per task)

1 mark: Generally clear pronunciation, easily understood. 0 marks: Pronunciation often unclear, hard to understand.

Lexical Resource (0-1 per task)

1 mark: Good vocabulary range for B1 level, appropriate word choice. 0 marks: Very limited vocabulary or frequent word choice errors.

Grammar (0-1 per task)

1 mark: Uses a mix of simple and complex structures, mostly accurate. 0 marks: Very limited grammar range or many errors.

Task Completion (0-1 per task)

1 mark: Fully addresses the task with relevant content. 0 marks: Task not addressed or mostly irrelevant content.

Scoring: For each task, award 1 mark if the candidate demonstrates competence across all five criteria (fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, task completion). Award 0 marks if performance is significantly below B1 level expectations.

Total Speaking Score: Sum of marks from all 5 tasks (maximum 5 marks).

Overall Test Scoring

Section Questions Maximum Marks
Use of English 1-5 5
Reading 6-10 5
Listening 11-15 5
Writing Task 1 5
Speaking Tasks 1-5 5
TOTAL 25 items 25 marks

Grade Interpretation for B1 Level:

  • 20-25 marks: Excellent — Strong B1 level competence
  • 15-19 marks: Good — Solid B1 level ability
  • 13-14 marks: Pass — Adequate B1 level skills
  • Below 13 marks: Below B1 level — Further study recommended