B1+: Candidates understand the contents of any recorded material or live programme about topics of personal interest in the clear, everyday English tested in the exam.

B1-: Candidates are able to understand the gist and important pieces of information when listening to any recorded material or radio programmes about lifelike situations. They understand recordings provided that delivery is slow and clear.

Candidates listen to the recordings through loudspeakers. The instructions for the tasks are specified in English on the task sheets and on the recordings, as well. The test consists of the following three tasks, each of which is based on a different recording.

Candidates listen to the recordings twice.

In the tasks each question carries 1 score. The total score of the test is calculated as a percentage of the total score of 25 points.

B1+: Candidates can engage in conversation about every day topics and topics of personal interest in a confident manner. They can easily express and argue their opinion in lifelike situations and are able to give short explanations. They can provide quite a fluent description of everyday activities.

B1-: Whereas candidates are able to follow clear speech in everyday conversation, they may ask for an occasional repetition of words or phrases. They can engage in conversation about everyday activities and topics of personal interest and they can briefly express their opinion.

Candidates take the test in pairs before a board of two examiners. Candidates can indicate who they would like to take the test with on the Registration form.

The test starts with a general introduction, which helps candidates get used to the atmosphere of the test. The introduction does not form an integral part of the test. Therefore, it is not assessed.

The Speaking test consists of the following tasks:

The first two tasks are to be accomplished individually. The third task is a paired activity. In the first task candidates answer the interlocutor's questions. In the second task they give a description of a picture, and in the third task the two candidates engage in conversation.

All three tasks cover general topics, cf. List of topics.

The total score is calculated on the basis of the candidate’s overall performance in all three tasks. The maximum score is 28, which corresponds to 25 test points.

B1+: Candidates can scan texts of longer lengths and of general interest in order to find the required piece of information.

They can use basic contextualised grammatical constructions in an appropriate way in both simple and complex texts.

B1-: Candidates can satisfactorily understand texts of personal interest including factual information.

They can satisfactorily use basic grammatical structures in context.

The Reading and Use of English test consists of the following 4 tasks based on 4 different authentic texts of general interest:

Three tasks test reading skills, and one task asseses the use of English.

Candidates are not allowed to use a dictionary in the test.

In the tasks each question carries 1 score. The total score of the test is calculated as a percentage of the total score of 25 points.

B1+: Candidates can write clear and informative notes and messages. They can also give a detailed description of topics of personal interest focusing on the main point.

B1-: Candidates can write simple and informative notes and messages.

The test consists of the following two tasks:

The topic of both tasks are of general interest, cf. List of topics.

The required number of words in the first task is between 50 and 70, whereas it is between 100 and 130 in the second task.

Candidates are not allowed to use a dictionary in the test.

The total score of the first task is 14, while the second task carries a maximum of 28 scores. The total score of the two tasks is 42, which corresponds to 25 test points.