Understand the B2 First Exam
Learn how the exam is structured, what to expect, and how to approach each part with confidence.
LeanFluency is not an official Cambridge product. This tutorial is designed to help learners understand the typical B2 First exam format and preparation strategies.
The Four Papers
Reading & Use of English
7 parts · 1 hour 15 min
Grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension across 7 different task types.
Writing
2 parts · 1 hour 20 min
Produce two texts: a compulsory essay and a choice of article, letter, review, or report.
Listening
4 parts · ~40 min
Listen to recordings and answer questions testing gist, detail, and speaker attitude.
Speaking
4 parts · 14 min
Face-to-face speaking with an examiner and another candidate across 4 parts.
Exam Overview
| Paper | Parts | What it tests | Time | Raw marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Use of English | 7 | Grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, text structure | 1 hour 15 minutes | 70 Parts 1–3: 8 each · Part 4: 12 · Parts 5–6: 12 each · Part 7: 10 | 40 % |
| Writing | 2 | Essay writing, articles, emails/letters, reviews, reports | 1 hour 20 minutes | 40 Part 1: 20 · Part 2: 20 | 20 % |
| Listening | 4 | Understanding main ideas, detail, opinion, attitude | About 40 minutes | 30 Part 1: 8 · Part 2: 10 · Part 3: 5 · Part 4: 7 | 20 % |
| Speaking | 4 | Fluency, pronunciation, grammar range, interaction | 14 minutes (with another candidate) | 60 Assessed on 5 criteria (max 5 each) × 3 = 60 | 20 % |
Scoring note: The numbers shown are raw marks per paper. For the final result, however, all five components count equally — Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking each contribute 20 % (Reading and Use of English are scored separately, even though they are tested in the same paper). Raw marks are converted to the Cambridge English Scale (140–190) and averaged with equal weighting.
Final score weighting
- Reading & Use of English40%
- Writing20%
- Listening20%
- Speaking20%
Each of the five components (Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening, Speaking) contributes equally to the final Cambridge English Scale score. Reading & Use of English is one paper but counts as two components — hence 40%.
What to Expect on Exam Day
The exam is divided into different papers
You will complete four separate papers: Reading & Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Each paper is taken at a set time and has its own time limit.
Different task types in each paper
Each paper contains multiple parts with different task types. For example, Reading has multiple-choice, gap-fill, and matching tasks. Familiarise yourself with every task type before exam day.
Time pressure matters
Many candidates find time management the biggest challenge. Practise completing tasks within the suggested time for each part so you can finish all questions.
Read instructions carefully
Each part has specific instructions. A common mistake is to skim instructions and misunderstand what is required. Take 20–30 seconds to read them properly.
Answer sheet expectations
For Reading and Listening, you transfer your answers to a separate answer sheet. Write clearly and check you have matched the correct question number. In Writing, write directly in the answer booklet.
Speaking is done with another candidate
The Speaking paper is usually taken with one other candidate and two examiners. One examiner asks questions; the other assesses. You will need to interact with the other candidate in Parts 3 and 4.