How this course works
The course consists of 50 Guided Hours of teacher-led learning.
50 Guided Hours
- 40 Core Lessons
- 5 Review Labs
- 5 Exam Workshops
Plus (optional)
- Optional Mock Exams
- Homework
- Self-Study Resources
- Reference Centre
Optional mock exams, homework and the Reference Centre provide extra practice and independent study, but are not included in the advertised Guided Hours.
- Core Lessons
- 40 teacher-led hours mixing at least three exam skills per lesson.
- Review Labs
- 5 consolidation hours revisiting the language and errors from the previous module.
- Exam Workshops
- 5 hours of focused, paper-by-paper technique and timing practice.
- Optional Mock Exams
- Full and mini exams under timed conditions — take them when you feel ready.
- Reference Centre
- Grammar, Vocabulary, Useful Expressions and Exam Strategy banks for self-study.
- Homework
- Short after-class tasks with answer keys to reinforce each lesson.
The four papers
B2 First is built from four papers taken on the same day. Each contributes to a single overall score out of 190.
| Paper | Timing | Parts | Weighting | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Use of English | 1 h 15 min | 7 | 40% of total mark | 52 questions across 7 parts |
| Writing | 1 h 20 min | 2 | 20% of total mark | 2 tasks — 140–190 words each |
| Listening | ≈ 40 min | 4 | 20% of total mark | 30 questions across 4 parts |
| Speaking | 14 min · pairs | 4 | 20% of total mark | Face-to-face, 2 candidates + 2 examiners |
Overall grading
Cambridge converts your scores into a single Cambridge English Scale result.
Grade
A
180–190
C1 certificate
Grade
B
173–179
B2 — high pass
Grade
C
160–172
B2 — pass
Grade
Level B1
140–159
B1 certificate (below pass)
Read these next
Reading & Use of English
1 h 15 min · 7 parts · 52 items · 40% of the mark.
Writing
1 h 20 min · 2 tasks · five genres · four scales.
Listening
≈ 40 min · 4 parts · 30 items · each recording twice.
Speaking
14 min · pairs · 4 parts · five scales.
Sample Materials
Question papers, answer sheets and Speaking materials.
Official Cambridge samples
Each paper page also links directly to the authentic Cambridge sample paper, answer key and handbook — straight from cambridgeenglish.org.
Cambridge Assessment English
Reading & Use of English
Go and see the real paper — question layouts, timings and instructions straight from Cambridge. Opens on cambridgeenglish.org.
Cambridge Assessment English
Writing
Go and see the real paper — question layouts, timings and instructions straight from Cambridge. Opens on cambridgeenglish.org.
Cambridge Assessment English
Listening
Go and see the real paper — question layouts, timings and instructions straight from Cambridge. Opens on cambridgeenglish.org.
Cambridge Assessment English
Speaking
Go and see the real paper — question layouts, timings and instructions straight from Cambridge. Opens on cambridgeenglish.org.