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Vocabulary at B1 Level for the PET Exam

B1 vocabulary bridges everyday communication (A2) and more sophisticated expression (B2). Candidates at B1 need topic vocabulary for work, travel, education, media, and environment. Phrasal verbs and collocations are tested in the Reading/Writing and Speaking sections.

Locale-specific study guides

Pass-rate data, regulatory context, and study tips for Vocabulary at B1 Level all change by candidate locale. Pick your context:

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

!Knowing individual words but not their common collocations
!Confusing phrasal verbs with similar meanings: pick up/take up/bring up
!Limited vocabulary for abstract topics (opinions, advantages/disadvantages)

Study tips

1Learn phrasal verbs in thematic groups: travel (check in, set off, get back), communication (bring up, call off, get through).
2Practise the Cambridge B1 Preliminary vocabulary list, focusing on words new since A2 level.
3Build opinion vocabulary: I think, In my opinion, It seems to me, One advantage is, On the other hand.

Sample PET Vocabulary at B1 Level questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real PET questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1
Complete: "I'm really looking _____ to the holiday next month."
- Aat
- Bfor
- CforwardCorrect
- Dup
Why this answer?
"Look forward to" (phrasal verb) means to anticipate something with pleasure. "Looking forward to the holiday" is the correct collocated form. "Look at" = direct your gaze; "look for" = search; "look up" = check information or look upward.

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