OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading • Part 1 45 minutes for this paper

Questions 1–5

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Back
to sch
SALE
ool
• notebooks A Every customer will get a discount.

• pens B There are lower prices for one day.

• bags C The items are for sale at the school.

This Saturday only: 10 am–5 pm

Spend more than £20, get 10% off

Kyle,
I have to work late tonight so I A Kyle will eat when his mum comes home.
won’t be home for dinner. Wait for
B Kyle should ask his sister what she’d like to eat.
your sister and then order a pizza.
C Kyle has to buy something for his dinner.
There’s money in the kitchen.
Mum

Science Club
A Students must arrive 15 minutes before
Museum visit departure.
Bus leaves at 9 am, be at B Students will be at the museum at 9 o’clock.
school by 8:45 am C Students should give their tickets to Mr Rogers.

For tickets, see Mr Rogers

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part 1
4 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Eric
Xxxxxxxxx
We’re outside the
stadium ticket office. A Eric should buy a ticket at the ticket office.
Text if you’re going to be B Eric should let Simon know if he is delayed.
late and we’ll get a ticket
for you. Xxxxx
C Eric should meet Simon in the stadium.

Simon
Xxxxxxxx

(6)     Xxxxxx

5

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  

Xxx D  
Xxx
Five items maximum in
38 The c
the changing room.
A You can request help.
Return unwanted items B You can only buy five items of clothing.
to an assistant. C You can leave the clothes in the room.

For help with sizes,

ask an assistant.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading • Part 2
Questions 6–10

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The teenagers below are all looking for a book to read.

On the opposite page, there are descriptions of eight books for young people.
Decide which book would be the most suitable for the teenagers below.

Nick likes adventure and is also very keen on history.

He loves learning about brave people who did amazing
things and had a big influence on the world.

Fiona dreams of becoming a pilot. She’s very keen on

travel and learning about other cultures. She’s learning
Spanish and she often watches television shows about
foreign countries.

Karl loves playing tennis, but he hurt his leg. He has to stay
at home for a few weeks and he’s very bored. He likes word
games and is really good with numbers.

Beth loves to read about real people and their lives,

especially if they tell their own story. She’s particularly
interested in people who have dealt with difficulties in life
and succeeded.

10

Will is very creative. He enjoys expressing himself in stories

and often writes articles for his school newspaper. He
wants to develop his own style and possibly make writing
his future career.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part 1 Books for young teens

1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

A Reaching The Top

Xxxxxxxxx B Quiz Time
In this book, the author writes about her life If you want to exercise your brain, this is the
as a champion wheelchair tennis player. She book for you. It’s full of great quizzes about
talks about her life after a terrible accident and
describes the problems that nearly stopped
Xxxxx sport, geography, nature and more, as well as
crosswords, puzzles and other fun activities.
her from reaching the top in her sport. Her It’s perfect for rainy weekends when you can’t
Xxxxxxxx
personal story shows that it’s possible to make go outside, or for long journeys. It will keep
your dreams come true. you busy for hours and you’ll learn lots of
(6)     Xxxxxx cool facts too.

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  Xxx D  

Xxx
C Village Life D World Traditions

38 In this
Thebook,
c a famous author describes his This book is full of interesting facts about
early life in an English village and how his very unusual traditions from around the world.
experiences as a child living in the countryside There is a lot of information about how they
influenced him to become a writer. It’s often began and how they developed over many
very funny, especially when he writes about his years. It also includes recipes for special
adventures at school and his time at university dishes that are connected to the traditions and
before he began writing. gives suggestions about where to stay if you
want to visit the places.

E Events That Changed History F Write Like Me

This book tells the true stories of famous The author of this book has won many awards.
people such as Sir Edmund Hillary, the He is well known for his incredible adventure
first person to climb to the top of Mount stories and is very popular with readers around
Everest, and Neil Armstrong, the first person the world. They love the way he creates
on the moon. It includes photographs of interesting characters and an atmosphere of
their achievements and a discussion about excitement. In this book, he explains how he
the importance of the events. Cool and does it and why so many of his books have
educational, the book brings the past to life become successful films.
for modern readers.

G The Greatest Sports Stars H A Test Of Strength

This is the perfect book for anyone interested This book is about a young boy who is lost
in international sports and big events. It in a jungle, the adventures he has and how he
includes biographies of the most successful survives. Sometimes the story is scary and at
athletes and there are fantastic photos that other times it’s sad, but it is very well written
show the athletes competing. Each book and you won’t be able to put it down. The
comes with a poster of a famous sports star. author really uses her imagination to make
It’s a great present for any sports fan. this story unforgettable.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading • Part 3
Questions 11–15

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Ryan’s well
Young Ryan solves a serious problem and helps to save lives.
In 1998, Canadian Ryan Hreljac was just six years old when he found out that not everybody in
the world had clean water just by turning on a tap. His teacher told his class there were places
in the world where people became ill because they didn’t have any clean water to drink, wash
or cook with. Ryan thought everyone lived like he did, with clean water always nearby. When
he found out that this wasn’t the case, he decided to do something about it.

After a few days, Ryan decided he wanted to build a well in Uganda. He first thought it would
cost $70, and he didn’t think that was a large amount, so he asked his parents for the money.
His parents, however, suggested doing some work in the house. Over the next four months,
Ryan did some housework and earned $70. However, he then learned that it was actually
going to cost $2,000 to build a well in Uganda. This didn’t stop Ryan. Over the next months,
with help from his parents, he started speaking to schools and other people in the community
about the well so that he could raise money and build the first well at Angolo Primary School in
Uganda. Ryan and his parents explained the difficulties and dangers that people faced without
clean water, and many were happy to contribute money. Within 12 months, they had raised the
$2,000 he needed.

In January 1999, his family sent the money to WaterCan who drilled the first well in Northern
Uganda alongside the school. After the well was built, Ryan and his parents travelled to the
village in Uganda. They wanted to see the difference his well had made and he was welcomed
like a hero. Children no longer had to fetch water in buckets from distant wells. Meals could
be cooked safely with clean water. The well had been such a success that it encouraged
him to do more.

That’s how his school project became the Ryan’s Well Foundation. Since then, over
900 wells in 16 countries have been built, improving the lives of almost one million people.
The foundation continues to support water projects in Africa.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part 1
11 What is the purpose of the text? 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
A to suggest ways of helping people in Africa
Xxxxxxxxx
B to show that young people can achieve great things
C to explain the importance of clean water
D to describe ways of raising money
Xxxxx
12 Why were the people Ryan helped becoming ill?
Xxxxxxxx
A They didn’t have any water at all.
B They walked too far to find clean water.
(6)     Xxxxxx
C They had to drink water that wasn’t clean.

1 D They couldn’t cook anything

A  Xxx B  Xxx to eat. C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

38 HowThe
13 did cRyan raise most of the money for the first well?
A His parents gave it to him.
B He earned it by helping at home.
C He was paid for telling stories.
D He persuaded people to donate money.

14 How did the people in the village react to Ryan?

A They made him feel special.
B They asked him to build more wells for the school.
C They told their government about him.
D They couldn’t believe he was so young.

15 What might Ryan write in his blog about the experience?

A B
I learned a lot. The most The village I visited was thankful to
important lesson was how to build have clean water nearby because
and operate a well anywhere in it made their lives easier and
the world. stopped some sicknesses.

C D
When I heard about the problems There are enough wells in the
that were caused by dirty water, area to provide clean water to
I knew exactly what I had to do every home in every village that
to help. needs one.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading • Part 4
Questions 16–20

Five sentences have been removed from the text below.

For each question, choose the correct answer.
There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Film Club
Have you ever thought about making your own film? Would you enjoy going to a summer camp?
(16)     At Film Club you can learn all about film-making in a fun summer course.

Film Club is available for young people aged 12–17. Beginners can join the three-week New Start
Film-making Programme. (17)     This intensive programme teaches students everything about
film-making in only seven days! All students must write, direct and edit one film of their own. In
this way, each student has the opportunity to work in a number of different roles and learn about
photography, sound and production. For students who already have some experience, there are
intermediate and advanced programmes where you are able to get more creative and learn all the
latest film-making techniques from our camp experts.

The first two days of the week are spent learning the basics of film-making. On these days there are
separate classes in writing, directing and cinematography. On the third day, students start making
their films in small groups along with students from the acting programme. (18)     When
filming has finished, students learn about editing. They edit their films on the fourth day and are
given feedback in class by their instructors. On the last day, all the movies are shown in the cinema
for the whole camp.

But it isn’t all about film-making at the camp. (19)     They visit famous sights and places of
cultural interest that include museums, galleries, concerts and exhibitions.

For 13-year-old Jane Epstein, the best things were the amazing experiences with new friends and,
especially, her talented instructor. ‘(20)     I still can’t believe that I did it!’ says Jane.

Sign up now for Film Club. You’ll do so much more than you have ever done with any other
camp programme.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part 1 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

A Each group has an experienced instructor to help them make their film.
Xxxxxxxxx
B Over 2,000 teenagers have attended Film Club since it was set up.

C Learning how to operate a camera isn’t [Link]

Xxxxxxxx
D Why not try combining both in a fun way?

(6)     Xxxxxx

E After they have shown their films, students enjoy a weekend of fun.

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C   Xxx D  

Xxx
F Every programme has been specifically designed for teenagers.
38 The c
G If you can’t attend the long course, there’s the shorter one-week programme.

H Thanks to his help, I was able to make my own film.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading • Part 5
Questions 21–26

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Guinness World Records

In the 1950s, Sir Hugh Beaver couldn’t find the answer to a question about a bird. So he decided
to produce a book that was (21)     with facts such as the longest river, the fastest animal and
much more. The book that he (22)     in 1955 was called the Guinness Book of Records.

Now, it’s known as Guinness World Records and it’s the best-known source for people to (23)    
up record-breaking achievements. One record was broken in 2018 by a restaurant in Texas, USA,
for the world’s largest home-delivered pizza, which was 1.98 square metres in size. The huge
rectangular pizza, (24)     as ‘The Bus’, takes 30 minutes to bake and costs over $300!

Gamers also hold some amazing records. Patrick Hadler, 19, from Germany got the highest
(25)     against the computer on FIFA World Cup 2014. Playing as Germany, he (26)    
the Cook Islands 321-0 in a football match!

21 A  full B  filled C  whole D  crowded

22 A  published B  made C  recorded D  prepared

23 A  find B  get C   look D  do

24 A  understood B  accepted C  believed D  known

25 A  number B  amount C  score D  goal

26 A  beat B  achieved C  succeeded D  won

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Reading
Xxxxxx • •Part
Part16 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Questions
Xxxxxxxxx 27–32

For each question, write the correct answer.

Write one word for each gap.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
The London Eye
(6)     Xxxxxx by Amy Dornan

1 The London Eye is my favourite

A  Xxx B   attraction
Xxx in London.C  
It’s quite (27) Xxx
Xxx high and it movesD       slowly
that you have plenty of time to enjoy the amazing views of London. It takes 30 minutes to go
38 The c
around once.

I’ve been three times already and I’ve seen something different (28)     time. The first time
that I went, (29)     was cloudy and I couldn’t see much, so make sure you go on a sunny day.
You can also go (30)     the evening – it’s really beautiful with all the lights of London shining
down below.

Because it’s one of the (31)     popular attractions in the British capital, there’s usually a long
line (32)     people who are waiting at the ticket office. However, if you buy your tickets online,
you don’t need to wait.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Writing • Part 1 45 minutes for this paper

You must answer this question.

Write your answer in about 100 words on the answer sheet.

Question 1

Read this email from your English teacher Mr Travis and the notes you have made.

EMAIL

From: Mr Travis

Subject: Cultural visit

Dear Class,

I’d like our class to go on a cultural visit next month.

Great!
We could either visit the transport museum or the modern art
gallery – both are free! Which one would you prefer?
Explain
I thought we could have a picnic lunch in the park before the
visit. What kind of food should we bring?

Let me know if you have any questions. Suggest …

Ask Mr Reply soon!

Travis
Mark Travis

Write your email to Mr Travis using all the notes.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Writing
Xxxxxx • Part 1
2 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Choose one of these questions.

Xxxxxxxxx
Write your answer in about 100 words on the answer sheet.

Question 2
Xxxxx
You see this announcement in an international English-language magazine.
Xxxxxxxx
Articles wanted!
(6)     Xxxxxx
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO TRAVEL?
1 A  Xxx B  
Write an article Xxx us what yourC  
telling D  
Xxx form of transport
favourite [Link]
38 The c How important is it to travel? Why?
The best articles will be published next month.

Write your article.

Question 3

Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.

Your story must begin with this sentence.

I opened the email and read it.

Write your story.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Listening • Part 1 Approximately 35 minutes for this paper (including 6 minutes’ transfer time)

Questions 1–7

01 For each question, choose the correct answer.

1 Which television programme is on next?

A B C

2 Where is the boy going now?

A B C

3 How will they get to the concert?

A B C

4 What time will the lesson finish?

A B C

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx
5
• Part 1
What is the girl going to do later? 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Xxxxxxxxx

Xxxxx
A B C
Xxxxxxxx
6 What will the weather be like tomorrow?

(6)     Xxxxxx

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  

Xxx D  
Xxx

38 The c

A B C

7 Which club is free to join?

A B C

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Listening • Part 2
Questions 8–13

02 For each question, choose the correct answer.

8 You will hear two friends talking about shopping.

Why doesn’t the girl shop online?
A She hasn’t seen anything she likes.
B She doesn’t want to spend more money.
C She can’t try things on before buying them.

9 You will hear a boy and his mother talking about going out.
Why isn’t the boy going to the cinema?
A He has to study.
B His friends can’t go.
C He’s going to play a sport.

10 You will hear a girl telling her friend about a holiday.

What did the girl like best about it?
A building a snowman
B making friends
C learning to ski

11 You will hear two friends talking about an art exhibition they’ve been to.
They agree that
A art can make you think.
B the best paintings were the portraits.
C everyone sees art differently.

12 You will hear a boy telling his friend about a concert.

What happened?
A He was sick and couldn’t go to the concert.
B The bands were disappointing.
C His journey home didn’t go as planned.

13 You will hear two friends talking about a birthday party.

The girl suggests the boy should
A plan a special event.
B take a break from his studies.
C invite some people to his home.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Listening • Part
Xxxxxx • Part 1 3 1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Questions
Xxxxxxxxx 14–19

03 For each question, write the correct answer in the gap.

Write one or two words or a number or a date or a time.
Xxxxx
You will hear a man giving some information about a fundraising event to a group of students.
Xxxxxxxx

(6)     Xxxxxx Helping Highmore Animal Shelter

1 The event is a dance (14) B  Xxx
A  Xxx . C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

Theisc to raise money to repair broken (15)

38 The aim .

It is on Saturday (16) at 5 pm.

Refreshments such as soft drinks and (17) will be served.

HOW TO HELP

Dancers should (18) a form from the school’s website and find sponsors.

Sponsors have to decide (19) they want to pay per hour.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Listening • Part 4
Questions 20–25

04 For each question, choose the correct answer.

You will hear an interview with a girl called Sara Jenkins.

20 How did Sara become interested in judo?

A She saw her friends at a judo championship.
B She saw a judo lesson at a sports centre.
C She saw judo on television.

21 What is true about both karate and judo?

A They use the same system of coloured belts.
B They both began in Korea.
C They are both used for self-defence.

22 Sara’s blue belt shows that she

A has made progress in her sport.
B is still a beginner.
C is at the same level in judo and karate.

23 Why did students dye their judo belts in the past?

A They couldn’t afford to buy a new belt every time they made progress.
B They used the colour to hide dirt on their judo belts.
C Dyeing their belts helped them to progress.

24 In what way do you attack an opponent in judo?

A You kick or strike your opponent.
B You run at your opponent and push him to the ground.
C You hold your opponent by the jacket and get him or her to the ground.

25 What will Sara do in the future?

A give up swimming
B stop doing judo
C focus on two sports

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part
Speaking • Part
1 1 1 hour and 15 minutes for
2–3this
minutes
paper

The examiner leads a general conversation with each of the candidates. Candidates answer the examiner
Xxxxxxxxx
directly – they do not talk to each other.

Phase 1
Xxxxx
Back-up prompts
What’s your name?
Xxxxxxxx

How old are you?

(6)     Xxxxxx
Where do you live? Do you live in (town/city/region)?
1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  Xxx D   Xxx
Who do you live with? Do you live with your family?

38 The c

Phase 2
Back-up prompts
What kind of music do you like? (Why?) Do you like rock music?

Which do you like best, Saturday or Sunday? (Why?) Do you prefer Saturday or Sunday?

Tell us about the last film you saw. What was the last film you saw?

How often do you watch TV? Do you watch TV every day?

Tell us about your neighbourhood. Is your neighbourhood friendly?

What do you usually do at lunchtime? Do you have lunch at school?

Where did you go on your last holiday? Did you go abroad for your last holiday?

What outdoor activities do you enjoy most? (Why?) Do you like playing sport in your local park?

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Speaking • Part 2 2–3 minutes

Candidates take turns to speak for about 1 minute each. Each candidate is given a photograph to
describe. The photographs show everyday situations. The candidates describe what they can see in the
photograph.

Here is the first photograph. It shows some teenagers studying together.

Say what you can see in the photograph.

Here is the second photograph. It shows someone relaxing at home.

Say what you can see in the photograph.

Back-up prompts:
• Talk about the people/person.
• Talk about the place.
• Talk about the other things in the photograph.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Xxxxxx • Part
Speaking • Part
1 3 1 hour and 15 minutes for
3–4this
minutes
paper

The examiner reads the instructions about an imaginary situation once, while the candidates look at a set
Xxxxxxxxx
of pictures. The candidates discuss their ideas together, making suggestions and responding to them,
discussing alternatives, making recommendations and negotiating agreement.

Xxxxx
Your school is organising a fair to raise money for the library and each class is going to sell
something.
Xxxxxxxx
Here are some things they could sell there.
(6)     Xxxxxx
Talk together about the different things they could sell at the school fair, and say which would
be best.
1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx
Now, talk together.
38 The c

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST B1

Speaking • Part 4 3–4 minutes

The examiner asks questions to one or both candidates, to encourage them to further discuss the
topic introduced in Part 3. The questions focus on the candidates’ likes/dislikes, habits and opinions.
Candidates can answer individually or interact with each other.

• What special events does your school organise?

• Which is more fun: performing in a school play or participating in a science fair? (Why?)
• School fairs are a good way to raise money – do you agree?
• Do you like buying second-hand clothes? (Why / Why not?)
• Do you think it’s a good idea to sell second-hand items to raise money? (Why?)

Back-up prompts:
• How/what about you?
• Do you agree?
• What do you think?

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