Listening Success: A Guide to the B1 Preliminary (PET)

Philo and Sophia practise every part of the Listening paper together

≈30 minutes, including 6 minutes to copy answers 4 parts · 25 questions Every recording is played twice

1The Four Listening Parts, at a Glance

Part 1

7 short items · pick the picture

Part 2

6 short dialogues · gist

Part 3

One monologue · gap-fill

Part 4

One interview · 6 questions

SophiaPET only has four parts instead of KET's five, but Part 1 alone carries seven marks — more than any single part at A2.

PhiloSo it's worth being extra careful in Part 1, since it's nearly a third of the whole paper by itself.

2Part 1: Short Items with Pictures

You hear seven short recordings — dialogues or monologues — and for each one choose the picture that matches what's said.

Example — where will they meet? Man: Shall we meet outside the Library, by the big statue?
Woman: Actually, it's easier for me if we meet at the harbour gate instead — I'll be coming from that direction.
Man: Fine, the harbour gate it is.

Where will they meet?

A Outside the Library
B At the harbour gate
C By the statue

The Library and the statue are both proposed first, then changed — always listen for the final agreed answer, not the first idea mentioned.

3Part 2: Short Dialogues — Gist

Six short dialogues, each followed by one question about the overall gist — an opinion, a feeling, or the general point of the conversation, not just a small detail.

Example Woman: How did the lecture go?
Man: Well, I understood the first half easily, but honestly the second half lost me completely — I think I need to read it again myself.

What does the man think about the lecture?

A He understood all of it.
B He found part of it difficult.
C He didn't attend it.

The gist question needs the overall picture — a mix of understanding and difficulty — not just the detail about the first half.

4Part 3: Gap-Fill Monologue

One longer monologue — often a message, talk, or announcement — with six gaps to complete. Answers may be one or two words, a number, a date, or a time.

Example — a talk about the Library's history "The Library was founded during the reign of Ptolemy the First, and by the time of his son it already held over two hundred thousand scrolls. Visitors today can see displays about its collection every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon."

Founded during the reign of: Ptolemy the First
Number of scrolls (under his son): two hundred thousand
Displays shown on: Tuesday and Thursday

Strategy

The gaps follow the order of the recording, so if you're unsure of one answer, don't dwell on it — move on and listen for the next gap in sequence.

5Part 4: Interview

One longer interview between two speakers, with six three-option questions about opinions, attitudes, and detailed meaning — similar in spirit to PET's Reading Part 3, but for listening.

Example Interviewer: Do you think students today read as much as they used to?
Scholar: People love to say no, but honestly, I'm not convinced. They read differently, certainly — more short pieces, fewer long scrolls in one sitting — but I wouldn't say less.

What is the scholar's opinion?

A Students read far less than before.
B Students read differently, not necessarily less.
C Students no longer read scrolls at all.

"I wouldn't say less" directly rules out A, and the answer captures the nuance — a change in style, not a decline.

6How Listening Is Scored

Part 1

7 marks

Part 2

6 marks

Part 3

6 marks

Part 4

6 marks

25 marks total, one per question, no penalty for guessing. Listening makes up a quarter of the overall PET result, alongside Reading, Writing, and Speaking.