B1 English test questions and answers

Question Tell me about: How I started

Sample answer I started two years ago when we moved into a house with a garden. In my country my family had a small farm, so I missed the land. I bought a few seeds in the garden centre and I started with tomatoes.

Question Tell me about: What I grow

Sample answer I grow tomatoes, beans, chillies and coriander. The chillies are my favourite because I can use them in the kitchen. The coriander grows very quickly in the spring.

Question Tell me about: Problems with the weather

Sample answer The weather here is a problem because it is often wet and cold. Last summer there was not much sun, so the tomatoes stayed green. This year I have bought a small plastic cover, which helps a lot.

Question Tell me about: What I do with the vegetables

Sample answer I cook the vegetables and I also give some to my neighbours. An old lady next door loves my beans, and she gave me some apples in return. We have become good friends.

Question Tell me about: Advice for beginners

Sample answer My advice is to start with something easy, like beans or lettuce. You should water the plants every day, but not too much. Don't worry if some plants die, because you can try again.

Question (Candidate's turn) Ask the examiner a question about the topic

Sample answer Do you have a garden?

Question Tell me about: Why sleep is important

Sample answer Sleep is important because the body needs rest. When I don't sleep enough, I am angry and I make mistakes at work. A doctor once told me that good sleep helps you to stay healthy.

Question Tell me about: My sleep problems

Sample answer My problem is that I work night shifts, so my body gets confused. On my days off I wake up at three in the morning. Last year I was always tired and I forgot things.

Question Tell me about: What helps me

Sample answer A warm shower helps me, and so does a dark room. I bought a thick curtain, and it made a big difference. I also read a few pages of a book before bed.

Question Tell me about: What I avoid

Sample answer I try not to drink coffee after four o'clock. I also avoid my phone in bed, because the light keeps me awake. My husband says I look at the screen too much.

Question Tell me about: My sleep routine now

Sample answer Now I go to bed at the same time on my days off, and I get up at the same time too. It has taken me three months, but I sleep much better. I think I will feel healthier this winter.

Question (Candidate's turn) Ask the examiner a question about the topic

Sample answer Do you sleep well?

Question Do children enjoy festivals in your family?

Sample answer Yes, the children love festivals because they get money and new clothes. On Eid my uncles give small envelopes to my nephews, and they are very excited. I have a daughter, and she asked me many questions about the traditions this year.

Question What kind of presents do people give?

Sample answer People usually give clothes, sweets or money. I think a small gift is enough. It is not very important to spend a lot, because the most important thing is to be together.

Question What did you do last weekend?

Sample answer Last weekend I visited my sister in Leicester. We cooked together and we watched a film in the evening. I was very tired on Monday, but I enjoyed it a lot.

Question Did you do anything new or different?

Sample answer I tried a new restaurant that serves food from Ethiopia. It was my first time, and I loved the bread. Next weekend I will stay at home and clean the house.

Question (Candidate's turn) Ask the examiner a question about recent personal experiences

Sample answer What do you usually do at weekends?

Question What traditional music do you have in your culture?

Sample answer In my culture we have traditional music with drums and a flute. People play it at weddings and festivals, and everybody dances in a circle. My grandfather played the flute very well.

Question Do young people still like it?

Sample answer Young people also like it, but they mix it with modern songs. The drum is round and you hit it with two sticks. I have heard a British band use the same drum, and I was surprised.

Question Have you met any interesting people recently?

Sample answer I met a woman called Priya at the library last week. She is also learning English, and she lives only three streets from me. We talked about our children and about food.

Question Will you see them again?

Sample answer We exchanged phone numbers and we will meet again on Thursday. I think we will become good friends. I have not had a friend here since my cousin moved away.

Question (Candidate's turn) Ask the examiner a question about recent personal experiences

Sample answer How do you meet new people in this city?

Question What did you think of British transport when you arrived?

Sample answer When I first came, I was surprised that every bus has a number and a timetable. I used my phone to find the bus and I asked the driver many questions. I felt shy, but he was friendly.

Question What do you like best now?

Sample answer What I like best now is the tram in my city, because it is clean and fast. I have used it every day since January. My daughter thinks it is like a toy train.

Question Have you ever celebrated an anniversary or a graduation?

Sample answer We celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary last June. We went to a restaurant by the river and my husband gave me a necklace. I was so surprised because he usually forgets dates!

Question How did you feel?

Sample answer I felt very happy and a bit emotional. We took a lot of photos and we sent them to our families abroad. We have not celebrated like that for years, so it was special.

Question (Candidate's turn) Ask the examiner a question about special occasions

Sample answer Do you celebrate your wedding anniversary?

Question Please spell your family name for me.

Sample answer My family name is Hassan. H-A-S-S-A-N.

Question Where are you from?

Sample answer I am from Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Question What was your favourite subject at school, and how has it helped you?

Sample answer I loved mathematics. It has helped me with my accounts at work, and I can help my children with their homework.

Question Do you think life is better for young people now than when you were young?

Sample answer In some ways it is better, because they can learn from the internet. But I think they spend too much time on their phones.

Question How do you manage your money each month?

Sample answer I make a list of bills first, and then I put some money aside. It is hard, but I try to save twenty pounds.

Question Tell me about a festival you celebrate. What do you enjoy most about it?

Sample answer I celebrate Eid every year. I enjoy the food, and I like meeting my relatives. This year we will have a big family meal.

Question What do you think we should buy?

Sample answer I think a plant is a good idea because it is not expensive and it looks nice. Maria can put it near a window.

Question She is moving to a small flat.

Sample answer Yes, that is true. A small plant does not take much space, so it can be on a table or a shelf.

Question What about the chocolates?

Sample answer Maria is trying to eat less sugar, so I do not think chocolates are right. A plant lasts longer.

Question OK, what about the card?

Sample answer Good idea. Everybody can write a message in the card, and I can buy it today.

Question Talk about a time you helped someone.

Sample answer Last winter I helped an old neighbour who had fallen on the ice outside her house. I was coming back from the shops when I saw her on the ground. I stayed with her and phoned for an ambulance. While we were waiting, I put my coat over her to keep her warm. She had broken her wrist, but she was fine in the end. She was very grateful and she brought me a cake the next week. I felt glad that I had been there, and I now visit her every Friday.

Question Do you often help other people?

Sample answer I try to, especially my neighbours, because we live close together.

Question Is it better to give help or to ask for it?

Sample answer I think both are important. Sometimes it is difficult to ask, but people are usually happy to help.

Question Talk about a tradition in your family or community.

Sample answer A tradition in my family is making sweets together before Diwali. Every year, about two weeks before the festival, all the women in the family meet at my grandmother's house. We make ladoos and jalebis, and the children help us. It has changed a little since I moved to the UK, because now I do it with my friends instead of my relatives. I will certainly continue it, and I will teach my children, so that they remember where they come from.

Question Do you think traditions are important?

Sample answer Yes, I do. They keep families together and they teach children about their culture.

Question Will your children continue the tradition?

Sample answer I hope so. I'm teaching them now, so that they will be able to do the same.

Question How do you keep healthy?

Sample answer I walk to work and I try to eat fresh food, because it makes me feel better.

Question Have you ever played any sport?

Sample answer Yes, I've played badminton since I was a child. I play on Saturdays.

Question What would you like to change?

Sample answer I'd like to sleep more because I often go to bed late.

Question What will you do about it?

Sample answer I'll switch off my phone at ten o'clock from next week.

Question Talk about a person who has helped you in your life.

Sample answer I'd like to talk about my neighbour, Mrs Taylor. She's a retired teacher and she lives next door to me. We met on the day I moved into my flat last year, when she brought me a cup of tea and some biscuits. At first I didn't know anything about life here, so she helped me a lot. She explained which bin is for recycling and how the buses work, and she helped me fill in some forms for my son's school. She also corrects my English, very kindly, and I've learned many new words from her. I feel very lucky, because without her my first year would have been much harder. To say thank you, I cook dinner for her once a week, and last month I gave her some flowers on her birthday.

Question How often do you see this person now?

Sample answer I see her almost every day, because she lives next door.

Question What is the most important thing this person did for you?

Sample answer She helped me with the forms for my son's school.

Question Have you helped this person too?

Sample answer Yes, I sometimes do her shopping when it's icy outside.

Question Talk about a festival or celebration you enjoy.

Sample answer I'd like to talk about Diwali, the festival of lights. It's in October or November, and it's the most important festival for my family. Before Diwali, people clean their houses and buy new clothes. On the day, we put small lamps and lights outside the house, and we make lots of sweets, like ladoos and barfi. In the evening we visit our friends and relatives, and the children play with sparklers. In the UK, it's a bit different from India. It's cold and dark in the evening, and it's not a public holiday, so we often celebrate at the weekend. But there's a big celebration in our town centre, with music and fireworks. It's special for me because the whole family comes together.

Question How long does the celebration last?

Sample answer Usually five days, but the main day is the third one.

Question Do you invite friends who don't celebrate it?

Sample answer Yes, I invite my neighbours, and they love the food.

Question What did you do last time?

Sample answer Last year we went to the town centre to watch the fireworks.

Question What should we build?

Sample answer A community garden would be best because everyone can enjoy it.

Question How can we raise money?

Sample answer We could have a cake sale and ask the council for some help.

Question How can neighbours help each other?

Sample answer They can offer to do shopping or give a lift to the doctor.

Question What would make your area better?

Sample answer I think more benches and better street lights would help.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer It is a beautiful sunny day in the garden. A man in a blue shirt is watering the flowers with a blue watering can. A small boy in yellow is standing near the flowers, and there is a red ball on the grass. On the right, a woman in pink is standing next to a small table with a red cup on it, and an orange cat is behind her. I think they will sit outside and have tea together later.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer This picture shows a family working and relaxing in their garden. The flowers are pink, red, yellow and purple, and the man is giving them some water. The boy is raising his arm, so maybe he wants to play with his ball. The woman has a drink on the table, and her cat is near her feet. Behind them there is a house and a big tree. I think the garden will look even more beautiful next week.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer This picture shows the inside of a bus. Three people are sitting on the blue seats, and they are wearing pink, green and yellow tops. On the right, a woman in red is standing and holding the rail above her head. She has an orange bag on the floor next to her feet. A small child in purple is standing between the two poles. I think the bus is quite full, so the woman will stand until her stop.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer In this picture I can see people travelling on a bus with large windows. The passengers who are sitting look calm and quiet. The woman in red is holding on because the bus is moving. The little child is standing alone, and I think the child should hold a pole too. I think they are going to work or to school. The bus will probably arrive in the town centre in a few minutes.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer This is a busy playground on a sunny day. A girl in pink is sitting on the swing, and a boy in blue is at the top of the orange slide. Another boy, in red, is waiting at the bottom. A boy in yellow is waving his arm, and I think he wants the others to look at him. On the right, a man in green is watching the children. I think the boy in blue will slide down quickly.

Question Look at the picture and describe it in detail

Sample answer In this picture I can see children enjoying themselves in a playground. One girl is on the swing, and there are three boys near the slide. The man on the right is standing quietly, and he looks like a father or an uncle. There is a brown dog in the middle of the picture, next to a red ball. The weather is warm and the sky is clear, with only one white cloud. I think the children will stay here until lunch.

Question Retell the story.

Sample answer Omar wanted books for his daughter, so he went to the library. The librarian said he needed a letter with his address. He went home, got a gas bill and came back. He got a card and borrowed seven books. He also learned about story time on Saturdays.

Question Retell the story.

Sample answer Bola cooked jollof rice and decided to sell it at the market. She sold fifty portions by noon. A newspaper wrote about her. Now she has a small van, and she hopes to open a restaurant one day.

Question What work or studies are you doing at the moment?

Sample answer I work as a care assistant in the mornings and I study English in the evenings.

Question Why do some people change their jobs often?

Sample answer I think some people want more money or a better timetable. Others get bored and want something new.

Question What do you do when you have free time?

Sample answer I love cooking and I also like going for walks by the canal at weekends.

Question Why is it important for people to have hobbies?

Sample answer It helps people to relax and to meet new friends. It is good for their health.

Question Talk about an interesting journey you have made.

Sample answer The most interesting journey I have made was to my cousin's wedding in another city. I travelled by train with my husband, and the journey took about nine hours. We were tired but excited. At the station we got lost for a while, but a kind man helped us. I learned that it is always good to ask for help.

Question You are planning a day out with friends. Tell them your plan.

Sample answer I suggest we go to the seaside on Saturday. We can travel by coach, because it is cheaper than the train. I will bring sandwiches, fruit and a football. We can walk by the sea and play games on the beach. If it rains, we can go to the museum instead, which is free.