B2 English exam: Cost, online simulation, exercises to prepare, structure

The B2 First English exam is the intermediate point between the B1 Preliminary and the C1 Advanced, according to Cambridge it proves that you have the language skills to be able to live in an English-speaking country with work or if you want to study in any English lesson.

Within the Common European Framework of Reference (CERF), those who know this level of English are at an intermediate level between basic English and advanced English. This level is one of those that allow access to various professional and academic ladders for those wishing to study abroad.

At Speakingathome, we can help you prepare for the exam so that you arrive with the best possible confidence on the day you have to take it.

Cost of the B2 First exam

Officially the cost of the B2 First certificate starts at 202€, but the price will always depend on the center where the exam is taken. The exam has 3 different dates, but like the price of the exam, it depends on the city and English center where you decide to go.

Structure of the B2 First exam

The B2 First Certificate is organized like most exams to access an English certificate. The assessment is divided into 4 parts:

• Reading comprehension and use of language (Reading), which consists of being able to skillfully approach different types of texts. This tests your language use with tasks that test your mastery of grammar and vocabulary. This fragment lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and is divided into 7 parts
• Written expression (Writing) and you must be able to write expressively 2 different texts that can range from letters to reviews of a particular item. This section is divided into 2 parts and lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. Similarly, texts must be between 140 and 190 words.
• Oral comprehension (Listening) you must be able to follow and understand various oral contents (everyday conversations, television news, etc.). This part of the exam is divided into 4 points, each with a different number of questions, and lasts 40 minutes in total.
• Oral expression (Speaking) tests your ability to communicate expressively and effectively in everyday situations with other people. This section of the exam is divided into 4 parts: an interview with the interviewer, an explanation of a situation within a photograph, a collaborative discussion with another student where you exchange ideas, and a discussion with another candidate (facilitated by the examiner) on what was discussed in the previous part.

Preparation exercises and simulation of the first B2 exam.

Exercises to prepare

Exercises to prepare

Reading is a part of the exam that requires significant preparation, since you must know the rules of grammar and vocabulary. for this it is necessary to read a lot and practice with academic books 

Writing requires you to practice the use of language to be able to organize your opinions coherently in order to persuade those for whom the text is intended. Likewise, it is recommended that youtrain constantly writing letters, text reviews, essays, and other written output while timing how long it takes to write them.

For the Listening, you will need to constantly hear different audios, because the practice of this part requires various forms of auditory understanding which range from: Feelings, information and context. It is recommended to listen to podcasts or videos of different genres such as science dissemination, economics, etc.

The practice of Speaking requires constant oral expression essays that can be about ideas, products, experiences, and formulation of opinions. This requires the help of another person who is both an English speaker and fluent in the language.That’s why taking classes with a teacher is a very good decision.

Simulation 

Reading B2

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Writing B2

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Speaking B2

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Listening B2

Part 1 

You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1 – 8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

Part 2 

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation, talking about the spectacled bear. For questions 9 – 18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.

Spectacled Bears

Part 3 

You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their visit to a city. For questions 19 – 23, choose from the list (A – H) what each speaker liked most about the city they visited. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.

Part 4 

You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman called Rachel Reed, who works in a commercial art gallery, a shop which sells works of art. For questions 24 – 30, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

From Speakingathome we have many teachers prepared for this type of exam, and you can check it from the login of our page, simply select the word teachers in the menu and you can check the type of exam they teach. It is with these benefits that we can help you prepare for B2 First.