The Preliminary English Test (PET) is an exam that tests intermediate English language skills across four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is accepted by many employers and universities as proof of a candidate's ability to use English for work, study, or leisure purposes. Preparing for the PET helps candidates improve their practical English skills and provides feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The exam consists of three papers testing reading/writing, listening, and speaking skills. Achieving a passing grade in the PET demonstrates an intermediate level of English proficiency.
The Preliminary English Test (PET) is an exam that tests intermediate English language skills across four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is accepted by many employers and universities as proof of a candidate's ability to use English for work, study, or leisure purposes. Preparing for the PET helps candidates improve their practical English skills and provides feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The exam consists of three papers testing reading/writing, listening, and speaking skills. Achieving a passing grade in the PET demonstrates an intermediate level of English proficiency.
The Preliminary English Test (PET) is an exam that tests intermediate English language skills across four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is accepted by many employers and universities as proof of a candidate's ability to use English for work, study, or leisure purposes. Preparing for the PET helps candidates improve their practical English skills and provides feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The exam consists of three papers testing reading/writing, listening, and speaking skills. Achieving a passing grade in the PET demonstrates an intermediate level of English proficiency.
The Preliminary English Test (PET) is an exam that tests intermediate English language skills across four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is accepted by many employers and universities as proof of a candidate's ability to use English for work, study, or leisure purposes. Preparing for the PET helps candidates improve their practical English skills and provides feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The exam consists of three papers testing reading/writing, listening, and speaking skills. Achieving a passing grade in the PET demonstrates an intermediate level of English proficiency.
PET is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an intermediate level. It covers all four language skills reading, writing, listening and speaking. Preparing for the exam is a popular way to develop and improve your language skills because it provides practical language practice in a variety of everyday work, study and leisure situations. PET reflects the use of language in real life, such as understanding signs and announcements, and is accepted by many employers as proof of ability to use English in clerical, secretarial or managerial jobs. It is also widely accepted for use in jobs where spoken English is necessary such as tourism, retail, construction, manufacturing and engineering.
Is PET for you?
Can you use English to:
deal with everyday events?
read simple textbooks or magazine articles? write letters on familiar subjects? take notes in a meeting?
If this describes your skills now, or describes the level of skills you are working towards, then PET is the right exam for you.
What will PET do for you?
Cambridge ESOL is a department of the world-famous and historic University of Cambridge. Attaining one of its certificates is an achievement and a reward in itself. However, there are many other benefits to taking PET: a PET certificate is valid for life. You will not need to take the exam again PET is a truly international certificate, recognised around the world for business and study purposes thousands of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise PET as an intermediate qualification in English
although PET is a basic exam, it offers a chance to find out your strengths and weaknesses in using English, and gives you a pathway to higher qualifications such as the First Certificate in English (FCE) PET's 'Can Do' skills give you the confidence to use English in real situations.
'Progressing along the proficiency ladder makes me feel confident in myself. I know where I'm going, what I have to do to achieve the English level I want. It makes me highly motivated. Preparing for the exams helped me discover the beauties of English.' Nguyen Thi Ky Binh PET candidate
What will taking PET help you do?
PET is at Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) an internationally recognised framework which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability from A1 to C2. 'Can Do' statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real language skills. At B1 level, typical users can be expected to:
understand the main points of straightforward instructions or public announcements
deal with most of the situations you might meet when travelling as a tourist in an English-speaking country ask simple questions and take part in factual conversations in a work environment write letters or make notes on familiar matters.
Your preparation for PET will give you these kinds of practical language skills.
What is involved in taking the PET exam?
PET has three papers: Reading and Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes You need to be able to read texts from signs, journals, newspapers and magazines and understand the main points. You will need to show you can use vocabulary and structure by completing tasks such as writing a short message, and a story or letter of around 100 words. You will also need to complete an exercise involving changing the meaning of sentences.
You will need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of recorded spoken material, including announcements and discussions about everyday life. You need to be able to follow the attitudes and intentions of the speakers. Speaking: up to 10 minutes Candidates take the Speaking test in pairs. You have to show your spoken English by taking part in conversation, asking and answering questions, and talking freely about your likes and dislikes.
Supporting you As with all of Cambridge ESOL's certificates, there is a wide range of support to help you prepare for your exam. While you can choose to prepare for PET on your own, many candidates prefer to take the preparation courses run by private language schools and universities in many countries. You can access a variety of support materials from the Resources area of our website. These include a short booklet, Information for Candidates, and sample exam papers, which include sound files for the Listening test materials. Many publishers have produced a wide choice of books and other aids to help you prepare for taking PET. Ask your local bookshop for details. To help you prepare for PET, we provide your teachers with their own website so they can download sample exam papers, handbooks, and other teaching support material.
Resources available
PET sample papers, (ZIP 24.9Mb)
PET Information for Candidates, (PDF 775Kb) Order past papers Books for study Exam details and timetables for 2008 Exam details and timetables for 2009 PET Exam details and timetables for 2009 - correction (PDF 27Kb) Summary regulations for candidates (PDF 54Kb) Exam FAQs
PET Teaching Resource and PET teacher downloads (including exam handbook and exam reports)
A world of opportunities worldwide recognition
PET is a truly international certificate, recognised by administrative, industrial, and service-based employers as a qualification in intermediate English. It is also accepted by a large number of educational institutions for study purposes. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Nestl, Gillette and KPMG all recognise the value of PET in their overseas offices. Find more details on the organisations and universities that recognise PET.
'I took the exam because I wanted to find out how good I am at English. The day of the exam I felt very nervous because I've never had a similar experience before. But when I saw the tasks I felt safer and became calm. Every task was explained well and I'm just glad that I had the chance to do the exam.' Bernd Koch PET candidate
English for your future
PET offers an easy to understand pathway to other, higher qualifications such as the First Certificate in English (FCE), and the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE). PET's 'Can Do' skills enable you to use English in real situations with confidence. PET exams use real-life situations and are especially designed to help you communicate more effectively in your own life and to focus your language learning on the skills you will actually need. Because PET exams focus on all four communication skills Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking you increase your confidence in using English in everyday situations.
Your results Each skill carries 25% of the total marks. There are two Pass grades (Pass with Merit and Pass) and certificates are awarded to candidates who achieve these grades. Candidates who achieve a grade Narrow Fail or Fail are judged not to have reached the required standard for PET. Exam scripts are sent to Cambridge ESOL for marking and grading and the results are sent back to the centres. Candidates can also see them over the internet. If you have any questions about your results, you should contact the centre where you took the exam. Once awarded Cambridge ESOL PET certificates are valid for life. Candidates can access their results through the Results Online website.
Exam dates
Reading and Writing
(Paper 1), 1 hour 30 minutes
Saturday 15 March 2008 AM
Saturday 24 May 2008 AM Friday 30 May 2008 AM Saturday 07 June 2008 AM Saturday 22 November 2008 AM Friday 05 December 2008 AM
Listening (Paper 2), 30 minutes
Saturday 15 March 2008 AM
Saturday 24 May 2008 AM Friday 30 May 2008 AM Saturday 07 June 2008 AM Saturday 22 November 2008 AM Friday 05 December 2008 AM
Speaking (Paper 3), Up to 10 minutes
This paper is held by separate arrangement, within specified periods contact your centre for more details.
Next steps Register If you are studying English at the moment, speak to your teacher about how to enrol. If you are not studying at the moment, your nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre will be able to advise you about how to register, fees, the dates of the exam and other arrangements. We have more than 2,000 centres in 130 countries. Please note that centres may set registration deadlines that are earlier than those published. Entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge ESOL. Already registered? Visit the Candidate Support site for exam preparation help. If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.
