B2 First for Schools

The B2 First for Schools Reading and Use of English paper is in seven parts and has a mix of text types and questions. For Parts 1 to 4, you read a range of texts and do grammar and vocabulary tasks. For Parts 5 to 7, you read a series of texts and answer questions that test your reading ability and show that you can deal with a variety of different types of texts. This paper accounts for 40% of the total mark.

Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze)

• • A text in which there are some missing words or phrases (gaps). After the text there are four possible answers for each gap and students have to choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
  • 8 questions

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 2 (Open cloze)

• • There are some missing words (gaps). Students have to think of the correct word for each gap.
  • 8 questions

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 3 (Word formation)

• • A text containing eight gaps. Each gap represents a word. At the end of the line is a ‘prompt’ word which you have to change in some way to complete the sentence correctly.
  • 8 questions

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 4 (Key word transformations)

• • A sentence followed by a key word and a second sentence which has a gap in it. Students have to use the key word to complete the second sentence so that it is similar in meaning to the first sentence.
  • 6 questions

Up to 2 marks for each correct answer

Part 5 (Multiple choice)

• • A text with some multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options (A, B, C or D), and students have to decide which is the correct answer.
  • 6 questions

2 marks for each correct answer

Part 6 (Gapped text)

• • A text with some empty spaces (gaps). After the text there are some sentences taken from the text. Students have to choose the correct sentence for each gap.
  • 6 questions

2 marks for each correct answer

Part 7 (Multiple matching)

• • A series of questions and a long text or several short texts to read. For each question, students have to decide which text or Part of the text mentions this.
  • 10 questions

1 mark for each correct answer.

In the two parts of the B2 First for Schools Writing paper, the student has to show that they can write different types of text in English. This paper accounts for 20% of the total mark.

Part 1

• Students are given an essay title and two ideas. They write an essay giving their opinion about the title, using the ideas given and adding an idea of their own. The title will be a subject of general interest – students won’t need any specialised knowledge.
• You have to write 140 – 190 words.
• 1 compulsory question

Part 2

• The answer students have to write will be one of the following: article, email/letter, essay, review, story.
• One task to be selected from a choice of four, including one set text question.
• You have to write 140 – 190 words

Set texts for B2 First for Schools
January 2021 – December 2022

Daphne du Maurier: Rebecca (Pearson Level 5 Edition)
Teachers may choose to prepare candidates for questions on this set text by studying any film version of Rebecca, as well as, or instead of, the book.

Students should not attempt the optional set text question in Part 2 unless they have the necessary understanding of the text to answer the task set. Teachers are best placed to judge if the set texts and/or film version may be appropriate and stimulating for a given teaching situation. The suggested edition is a graded reader which has been adapted to the level and is suitable for B2 First for Schools candidates. Other editions of this book may be available. Teachers and students should be aware that the language level in other editions may be less accessible

The B2 First for Schools Listening paper has four parts. For each Part you have to listen to a recorded text or texts and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice. This paper accounts for 20% of the total mark.

Part 1 (Multiple choice)

• • A series of short, unrelated recordings of approximately 30 seconds each. Students have to listen to the recordings and answer one multiple-choice question for each. Each question has three options (A, B or C).
  • 8 questions.

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 2 (Sentence completion)

• • A monologue (one person speaking) lasting 3–4 minutes. Students have to complete the sentences on the question paper with information they hear on the recording.
  • 10 questions.

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 3 (Multiple matching)

• • Five short related monologues of approximately 30 seconds each. Students listen to the recordings and choose which statement from a list of eight best matches what each speaker says.
  • 5 questions.

1 mark for each correct answer

Part 4 (Multiple choice)

• • An interview or exchange between two speakers and lasting 3–4 minutes. Students have to listen to the recording and answer seven multiple-choice questions. Each question has three options (A, B or C).
  • 7 questions.

1 mark for each correct answer

The B2 First for Schools Speaking test has four parts and you take it together with another candidate. There are two examiners. One of the examiners asks you questions and gives you the booklet with things to talk about. The other examiner listens to what you say. Both examiners give marks for your performance. This paper accounts for 20% of the total mark.

Part 1 (Interview)

• • Conversation with the examiner. The examiner asks questions and students may have to give information about themselves, talk about past experiences, present circumstances and future plans.

2 minutes

Part 2 (Long turn)

• • The examiner gives the student a pair of photographs to talk about and they have to speak for 1 minute without interruption. The questions about the photographs are written at the top of the page to remind the student what they should talk about. When they have finished speaking, the student’s partner then has to answer a short question from the examiner about their photographs.

1 minute per candidate, plus a 30-second response

Part 3 (Collaborative task)

• • Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives the students a question and some written prompts. The students discuss these together for two minutes. The examiner will then ask them to make a decision together about the topic they have been discussing.

3 minutes (a 2-minute discussion followed by a 1-minute decision-making task)

Part 4 (Discussion)

• • Further discussion with the other candidate, guided by questions from the examiner, about the same topic as the task in Part 3.

The discussion should last 4 minutes