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climbing wallWhat Reading Part 2 looks like
The B1 Preliminary Reading paper has six parts and 32 questions in 45 minutes. Part 2 gives you short descriptions of five people and eight short texts on one theme, such as activities, books or courses. Three texts are not used. B1 Preliminary for Schools has the same format, with topics for teenagers.
Step 1: underline three needs for each person
Read about the five people before the eight texts. Each person usually wants three things, about what, when, how much, where or who with. Note each need in two or three words, as in our example:
- “Lina wants to learn a new dance style. She is only free on weekday evenings, and she can’t spend more than £10 a class.”
- Needs: learn a new dance · weekday evening · £10 or less
Step 2: check every need in the text
A text is the answer only when all three needs are there. Three of these four texts are traps: they fit two needs and fail on one.
- A · “Salsa for Beginners: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7.00 to 8.30. £8 a class.” → all three fit: the answer
- B · “Street Dance Workshop: learn hip hop moves. Saturday, 10.00 to 12.00. £6.” → Saturday morning, not a weekday evening
- C · “Ballet Night: watch the City Ballet on Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Tickets £9.” → she would watch, not learn
- D · “Tango Club: classes for all levels, Monday to Friday at 8.00 pm. £15 a class.” → £15 is over her limit
Match the meaning, not the word
The right text rarely repeats the person’s words. And a text can contain the exact word you want and still be wrong. Compare:
- “doesn’t want to pay anything” = “It costs nothing.”
- “wants a small group” = “never more than eight people”
- “with people his own age” = “for ages 13 to 16”
- “Free parking for visitors.” → the parking is free, not the activity
- “Open every day except Sunday.” → a no for someone who is only free on Sunday
- “The masterclass was in the big hall, so we couldn’t ask questions.” → wrong for someone who wants to ask questions
Matching too slow? Choose one goal
Many students find Part 2 slow. Listen to a teacher and three students before a timed practice, and copy the last idea: pick one goal, such as “check all three needs every time”. To speed up, scan the eight texts for one person’s easiest need, often a day or a price, and check the other two only in the texts that pass.
Teacher Right, everyone. Today we're working against the clock, just like on exam day.
Student 1 I'm fine with reading, but the matching part always takes me too long.
Student 2 For me it's listening. People say one thing and then change their minds!
Student 3 So let's each choose one goal before we start.
Prove every answer, then write one tip
After each practice, prove all five answers in one line each: which words meet each need, or which need failed. Then write one tip for next time, for example: “I wrote down the three things each person wanted, and I only chose a text when all three were there.” These frames help:
- “A fits because ‘Tuesday and Thursday evenings’ means weekday evenings.”
- “The text said Saturday, but she is only free on weekdays.”
- “Next time I will underline all three needs first.”
Common mistakes
These cost marks even when you know every word:
- Topic matching: picking the first text on the right subject without checking the day, price or group.
- Stopping at two needs: the third is often a small detail near the end.
- Missing small words in the description: “only”, “can’t”, “more than”.
An 8-minute exam routine
Practise two or three times a week with a timer set to 8 minutes:
- Minutes 1–2: underline three needs for each person.
- Minutes 3–7: match one person at a time.
- Minute 8: check that no text is used twice.
- At home: for five real adverts, invent two people with three needs each and swap with a friend.
What comes next
The same habit helps in Reading Part 1 and in Listening, where speakers sometimes change their minds. When Part 2 feels easy, move on to Writing Part 2 and a balanced article (link below).