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PET · Writing at B1 Level · United Kingdom

Writing at B1 Level for the PET Exam — UK candidates

12% of the PET test plan. Writing an email of 100 words at B1 level, covering all required content points with appropriate register. Calibrated for British candidates.

High-stakes exams reward two skills equally: knowledge and test-craft. This page focuses on both for one of the most failure-prone areas. Writing at B1 Level sits at roughly 12% of the Cambridge Preliminary English Test (B1) content distribution — B1 Preliminary Writing requires a 100-word email response covering three content points. Unlike A2 (25–35 words), the B1 task requires more elaboration, appropriate register, and a range of B1 grammar structures. Every content point must be addressed for full marks. Pass rates for the PET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For UK candidates preparing for PET, the calibration of study to local context matters: UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track.

Pass rates for PET (United Kingdom) are published periodically by the awarding body.

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.

  • !Writing fewer than 80 words — insufficient to cover all three points adequately
  • !Using informal language in a formally-framed task or vice versa
  • !Covering all points but with too many grammar errors to convey meaning clearly

Study tips

  • 1Practice the 5-step writing process: read task → identify 3 points → plan 3 paragraphs → write → count words.
  • 2Learn the email register conventions: formal (Dear Mr Smith, Yours sincerely) vs informal (Hi Ana, Best wishes).
  • 3Aim for 100–120 words — enough to cover all points with some elaboration.
  • 4In the UK, PET schedules and reschedules align with state holiday calendars and post-Brexit fee adjustments — confirm pricing on the awarding body's site before booking.

Sample PET Writing 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. 1

    The task says: "Write an email to your English friend: (1) tell them about a film you saw, (2) explain what you liked about it, (3) suggest a film to watch together." The minimum requirements are:

    • AName the film only
    • BCover all three points in approximately 100 wordsCorrect
    • CWrite a detailed film review of 200 words
    • DJust describe the film's plot in detail
    Why this answer?

    B1 Preliminary Writing awards marks for: communication (all 3 content points covered), organisation, and language. The task requires approximately 100 words to address all three points. A review or plot summary alone would miss the other required points.

Frequently asked questions

How is B1 Preliminary Writing marked?
B1 Preliminary Writing is marked out of 20. Examiners assess: content (5 marks — all points addressed), communicative achievement (5 marks — appropriate register and organisation), organisation (5 marks — logical structure and cohesion), and language (5 marks — vocabulary range and accuracy).
What is the PET pass rate for British candidates?
Pass rates for PET candidates in United Kingdom are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should British candidates study Writing at B1 Level for the PET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Writing at B1 Level requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track. Combine Writing at B1 Level study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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