Paper 1: Reading

Time Limit: 30 Minutes • Total Marks: 15

Part 1: City Cycling Scheme

Read the information about the new bicycle rental scheme. The text will remain visible while you answer questions 1–5 on the right.

Welcome to CityBikes!

Our new bicycle rental scheme is designed to help you travel quickly and cheaply around the city centre. To get started, you must download the CityBikes app on your smartphone and register your debit or credit card. Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash payments at the docking stations.

Pricing:
The first 30 minutes of every journey are completely free. After that, it costs £2 for every additional 30 minutes. If you plan to use the bikes regularly, you can buy an annual membership for £60, which extends your free ride time to 60 minutes per journey.

Rules:
Riders must be at least 16 years old. While wearing a helmet is not required by law, we strongly advise all users to wear one for their own safety. Please remember to return the bicycle to an official docking station. If you leave a bike in the street, you will be charged a £50 penalty fee.

1. How do you pay for the bicycle rental? A) By paying cash at the docking station. B) Using a bank card through a mobile app. C) By buying a paper ticket from a shop.

2. How much does a 45-minute journey cost for a non-member? A) It is free. B) £2 C) £60

3. What is the benefit of the annual membership? A) You do not have to pay the penalty fee. B) You get a free safety helmet. C) You can ride for longer before paying.

4. What is the rule regarding helmets? A) It is illegal to ride without one. B) The company recommends wearing one. C) You can only rent one if you are over 16.

5. You will have to pay £50 if you... A) do not park the bike in the correct place. B) keep the bike for more than two hours. C) let someone under 16 ride the bike.

Part 2: The History of Chocolate

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet treats in the world, but it hasn't always been a solid bar. For most of (6) history, chocolate was a bitter drink.

It was first discovered by ancient cultures in Central America, (7) crushed cacao beans and mixed them with water and chilli peppers. They believed the drink gave them strength and energy. When Spanish explorers arrived in the 1500s, they brought cacao beans back to Europe. At first, Europeans didn't like the bitter taste, but when they started adding sugar and milk, it quickly (8) a fashionable drink for the rich.

It wasn't (9) the 19th century that a machine was invented to press the cocoa butter out of the beans, making it possible to create solid chocolate. Today, millions of tonnes of chocolate are eaten every year, and people (10) love it just as much as they did hundreds of years ago.

Instructions for Part 2:

At B1 level, you must understand prepositions, articles, pronouns, and auxiliary verbs. Type your answers directly into the text on the left. Spelling must be exact.

Part 3: My Year in the Arctic

Read the article by a wildlife photographer and answer questions 11–15.

Two years ago, I decided to leave my comfortable job in London and spend twelve months photographing wildlife in the Arctic Circle. My friends thought I was crazy. They asked why I would want to swap a warm office for temperatures that regularly drop to minus 30 degrees. The truth is, I had always been fascinated by polar bears, and I knew that if I didn't go then, I probably never would.

Living in the Arctic was a massive shock to the system. During the winter months, the sun didn't rise at all. This constant darkness was much harder to deal with than the freezing cold. I had to learn how to operate my camera wearing thick gloves, which was incredibly frustrating at first. However, the local people were wonderful. They taught me how to dress properly and how to read the ice to stay safe.

The highlight of the year happened in April. After waiting in a snowy hideout for three days, a mother polar bear and her two cubs walked right past me. They were completely silent. I managed to take some of the best photographs of my career. Looking back, it was the most difficult year of my life, but I wouldn't change a single moment of it.

11. What was the writer's main reason for going to the Arctic? A) He was bored with his office job in London. B) He had a strong desire to see polar bears. C) His friends challenged him to do it.

12. What did the writer find most difficult about the experience? A) The extreme cold temperatures. B) Using his camera with thick gloves. C) The lack of sunlight during winter.

13. How did the local people help him? A) They helped him find the polar bears. B) They showed him how to survive in the environment. C) They allowed him to stay in their homes.

14. What happened in April? A) He successfully photographed a bear family. B) He got trapped in a hideout for three days. C) He heard the terrifying noise of polar bears.

15. What is the writer's overall feeling about the trip? A) He is glad it's over and wouldn't go back. B) It was tough, but completely worth the effort. C) He regrets going because it was too dangerous.

Paper 2: Listening

Audio Length: ~25 Minutes • Total Marks: 15

Listen to the recording to answer all parts.

[Part 1: Voicemail] "Hi David, it's Mum. I'm calling about the family dinner on Sunday. I know we originally said we'd eat at 1:00 PM, but your aunt's train is delayed, so we're going to eat at 2:30 PM instead. Could you please bring a dessert? Don't make a cake though, we already have one. Maybe just pick up some ice cream from the supermarket. Let me know when you get this message." [Part 2: Radio Interview] Interviewer: Welcome to the show, Mark. You recently started a business making furniture from recycled wood. Why did you choose wood? Mark: Well, I used to work in IT, staring at screens all day. I wanted to do something practical with my hands. Wood is great because every piece has a different history. It takes a lot of time to prepare the wood, which is the hardest part, but building the furniture is very relaxing. Interviewer: Are your products expensive? Mark: Not really. Because the materials are recycled, I don't pay much for them. I try to keep my prices low so normal people can afford them, not just luxury buyers. [Part 3: Conversation] Lucy: Hi Ben, have you started the history project yet? Ben: Hi Lucy. Yes, I chose to write about the Romans. But I'm having trouble finding good information. Lucy: Why don't you look in the university library? The books there are much better than the internet. Ben: Good idea. I'll go there tomorrow afternoon. I need to finish it by Friday because I'm playing in a football match on Saturday. Lucy: Well, good luck with both!

Part 1: Telephone Message

Listen to the voicemail and complete the notes. Write ONE word or number for questions 1–5.

1. Message for:

2. Day of dinner:

3. New time to eat: PM

4. Reason for delay: Aunt's is late

5. Please bring some:

Part 2: The Furniture Maker

Listen to the interview with Mark and answer questions 6–10.

6. What was Mark's previous job? A) He was a builder. B) He worked in IT. C) He sold luxury goods.

7. Why did Mark choose to work with wood? A) He wanted a practical, hands-on job. B) It was a very well-paid industry. C) He wanted to save the environment.

8. What does Mark say is the most difficult part of his job? A) Finding customers to buy the furniture. B) Actually building the tables and chairs. C) Getting the old wood ready to use.

9. What do we learn about his prices? A) They are very expensive. B) They are affordable for most people. C) He gives the furniture away for free.

10. Why are his materials cheap? A) Because he cuts down the trees himself. B) Because he uses recycled wood. C) Because the government pays for them.

Part 3: The School Project

Listen to a conversation between Lucy and Ben. Answer questions 11–15.

11. What topic has Ben chosen for his project? A) The Egyptians B) The Romans C) The Greeks

12. What problem does Ben have? A) He doesn't understand the homework. B) He lost his textbook. C) He can't find good information.

13. Where does Lucy suggest he looks for information? A) On the internet B) In the university library C) In the local museum

14. When does Ben need to finish the project? A) Thursday B) Friday C) Saturday

15. What is Ben doing on Saturday? A) Going to the library B) Doing his homework C) Playing in a football match

Paper 3: Writing

Recommended Time: 25 Minutes • Required length: 100 words

Task 1: An Email to a Friend

Read this email from your English-speaking friend, Sam.

"Hi! I haven't watched a good movie in a long time. Tell me about a film you watched recently. What was it about? Why did you like it? Do you want to go to the cinema together next week?"

Write an email to Sam, answering all of his questions.

Write around 100 words. Use appropriate B1 vocabulary and linking words (because, although, so).

Word count: 0

Paper 4: Speaking

Simulated Oral Examination • 10–12 Minutes

At B1 level, you must show you can organise your thoughts and give reasons for your opinions. Read the prompts below and press Record Answer to speak.

Part 1: Interview

1. Tell me about your favourite subject at school or your favourite part of your job.

2. What do you enjoy doing in the evenings when you are at home?

3. Have you ever travelled to another country? Tell me about it.

Part 2: Extended Turn (Describing a picture)

Imagine you are looking at a photograph of a family having a picnic in a busy park on a sunny day.

Describe what you can see in the picture. Talk about the weather, what the people are wearing, what they are eating, and how they might be feeling.

Part 3: Discussion

Your language school is planning a day trip for all the students. You can either go to a historical museum, a theme park, or the beach.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Which one would you prefer and why?