PET · Vocabulary at B1 Level · Texas, USA
Vocabulary at B1 Level for the PET Exam — Texas candidates
10% of the PET test plan. Building a 2,500-word active vocabulary for B1 Preliminary, including topic vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations. Calibrated for Texan candidates.
Examiners do not award marks for content alone — they award them for the ability to demonstrate competency in the precise format the test demands. Vocabulary at B1 Level sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge Preliminary English Test (B1) content distribution — 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. Pass rates for the PET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Texas candidates preparing for PET, the calibration of study to local context matters: Texas is the second-largest CDL-issuing state and a top-3 state for NCLEX-RN candidates. TxDPS administers CDL skills tests; the Texas Board of Nursing recognises NCLEX results from Pearson VUE.
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.
- 4For CDL: book your skills test at a TxDPS megacenter (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin) or one of the 200+ third-party testers; megacenter wait times average 4–6 weeks.
- 5For NCLEX-RN: the Texas Board of Nursing requires fingerprinting via IdentoGO before authorization-to-test (ATT) is issued — start that process the same day you submit your application.
- 6Spanish-language CDL written tests are offered in Texas; the skills/road portion is conducted in English. Many CDL training programs in the Rio Grande Valley teach a bilingual track.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between A2 and B1 vocabulary requirements?
What is the PET pass rate for Texan candidates?
How long should Texan candidates study Vocabulary at B1 Level for the PET?
Practice Cambridge PET (B1) free with Koydo.
Cambridge B1 Preliminary — every paper, every task type.
Related study guides
- Reading Comprehension for PET (Texas, USA)Another PET topic for Texan candidates
- Grammar at B1 Level for PET (Texas, USA)Another PET topic for Texan candidates
- Listening Comprehension for PET (Texas, USA)Another PET topic for Texan candidates
- Speaking at B1 Level for PET (Texas, USA)Another PET topic for Texan candidates
- Writing at B1 Level for PET (Texas, USA)Another PET topic for Texan candidates
- Vocabulary at B1 Level for PET — U.S. candidatesSame Vocabulary at B1 Level topic, different locale framing
- Vocabulary at B1 Level for PET — U.K. candidatesSame Vocabulary at B1 Level topic, different locale framing
- Vocabulary at B1 Level for PET — Indian candidatesSame Vocabulary at B1 Level topic, different locale framing