PTE Home B1 practice test 1

Press Hear it, listen to the whole sentence, then say it again exactly as you heard it. In the real test you hear each sentence only once.

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Look at each picture for 25 seconds, then describe it out loud. Say where it is, who is there, what they are doing and what else you can see.

1. Picture 1

   0:2525 seconds to look at the picture and prepareStart timer

   0:30About 30 seconds to describe it (our practice timing)Start timer
   See what to mention and an example answer

   • •where it is: a street in a town
   • •the traffic: a car at a red light
   • •the cyclist
   • •the person crossing
   • •the shop

   Example: This picture shows a street in a town. A car is waiting at a red traffic light, and a woman is crossing the road in front of it. On the left, someone is riding a bicycle past a shop. It looks like an ordinary weekday, and I think the people are on their way to work.

2. Picture 2

   0:2525 seconds to look at the picture and prepareStart timer

   0:30About 30 seconds to describe it (our practice timing)Start timer
   See what to mention and an example answer

   • •where it is: a restaurant
   • •the customers: two people at a table
   • •the waiter
   • •the food
   • •other things: a window

   Example: In this picture, two people are having a meal in a restaurant. They are sitting at a table by the window, and a waiter is bringing a plate of food to them. It is dark outside, so it is the evening. It might be a special occasion, such as a birthday.

3. Picture 3

   0:2525 seconds to look at the picture and prepareStart timer

   0:30About 30 seconds to describe it (our practice timing)Start timer
   See what to mention and an example answer

   • •where it is: a railway station
   • •the train
   • •the passengers waiting
   • •their luggage
   • •the time on the clock

   Example: This is a railway station. A train has just arrived at the platform, and two passengers are waiting to get on. The man has a large suitcase, so he is probably going on a long journey, and the woman is carrying a small bag. The clock shows ten o'clock.

4. Picture 4

   0:2525 seconds to look at the picture and prepareStart timer

   0:30About 30 seconds to describe it (our practice timing)Start timer
   See what to mention and an example answer

   • •what is happening: a picnic
   • •the people: a family
   • •the child with the kite
   • •the food
   • •where they are: outside, under a tree

   Example: This picture shows a family having a picnic in a park. Two adults are sitting on a blanket under a tree with a basket of food, while their child is flying a kite nearby. The weather looks warm and sunny. I think they are spending a relaxing weekend together.

Listen to a short story, then tell it again in your own words. You do not need the same words, only the main events in the right order. Pearson gives you 30 seconds for this at B1.

1. Story 1

   ▶ Play the story
   0:3030 seconds to retell the story in your own wordsStart timer
   See the main points and the story

   • •The heating stopped working in very cold weather
   • •He called the landlord, but nobody came
   • •Nobody came for three days
   • •His neighbour found the problem
   • •The landlord paid and apologised

   The story: Last winter the heating in Daniel's flat stopped working during the coldest week of the year. He called his landlord, who promised to send an engineer, but nobody came for three days. In the end Daniel's neighbour, who is an electrician, looked at it and found a small broken part. The landlord paid for the repair and apologised for the delay.

2. Story 2

   ▶ Play the story
   0:3030 seconds to retell the story in your own wordsStart timer
   See the main points and the story

   • •She had a job interview at a bank
   • •There was an accident and the traffic stopped
   • •She phoned the bank to explain
   • •The interview was moved to the afternoon
   • •She got the job

   The story: Priya had an interview for a job at a bank. She left home early, but there was an accident on the motorway and the traffic did not move for an hour. She phoned the bank to explain. The manager moved her interview to the afternoon, and a week later she was offered the job.

3. Story 3

   ▶ Play the story
   0:3030 seconds to retell the story in your own wordsStart timer
   See the main points and the story

   • •Neighbours were unhappy about rubbish in the park
   • •They met every month to clean it
   • •Only a few people came at first
   • •The newspaper story brought many more
   • •The council helped with bins and gloves

   The story: A group of neighbours were unhappy about the rubbish in their local park. They decided to meet on the first Saturday of every month to clean it. At first only six people came. After a story in the local newspaper, more than forty people joined, and the council gave them new bins and gloves.

4. Story 4

   ▶ Play the story
   0:3030 seconds to retell the story in your own wordsStart timer
   See the main points and the story

   • •He bought a washing machine online
   • •The door was damaged when it arrived
   • •He sent photographs to the company
   • •He refused the money and asked for a new one
   • •The new one came the next week

   The story: Mr Evans bought a washing machine online, but when it arrived the door was damaged. He sent photographs to the company the same day. They offered to give him some money back, but he asked for a new machine instead. It was delivered the following week and the old one was taken away.

5. Story 5

   ▶ Play the story
   0:3030 seconds to retell the story in your own wordsStart timer
   See the main points and the story

   • •She joined a conversation group to improve her English
   • •It was at the library
   • •She was nervous and hardly spoke
   • •The teacher asked for a photograph
   • •She talked about her village for five minutes

   The story: Lena wanted to improve her English, so she joined a conversation group at the library. She was very nervous and hardly spoke at the first meeting. The teacher asked everyone to bring a photograph and talk about it. Lena brought a picture of her village, and she talked for five minutes without stopping.

Listen to a short story or announcement, then answer three questions about it. Short answers are enough. Say each one, or type it, and we will check it.

1. Story 1

   ▶ Play the story

   Why is the swimming pool closing?

   Or type your answerCheck

   When will it open again?

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   What must members show at the sports centre?

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   Show the words

   The swimming pool in Market Street will close on the fifth of June for repairs to the roof. It will open again in September. During this time, members can use the pool at the sports centre in Hill Road without paying extra. They only need to show their membership card at the desk.

2. Story 2

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   Where does Hassan work?

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   What time does he finish work?

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   What does he hope to do next year?

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   Hassan works as a chef in a hospital kitchen. He starts work at six in the morning and finishes at two in the afternoon. He likes the job because his colleagues are friendly, but he finds the early mornings difficult in winter. Next year he hopes to open a small restaurant with his brother.

3. Story 3

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   What is the party celebrating?

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   What time does the party start?

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   What should people bring?

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   Show the words

   On Saturday there will be a street party in Green Lane to celebrate the school's fiftieth birthday. It starts at midday and finishes at five o'clock. The road will be closed to cars all day. Everyone is asked to bring some food to share, and the school will provide drinks and music.

4. Story 4

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   What was wrong with the boots?

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   Where did she take the parcel?

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   How long did she wait for her money?

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   Show the words

   Julia ordered a pair of boots from a website, but they were too small. She wanted to send them back, so she printed a label and took the parcel to the post office. Returning them was free. The company sent her the money after ten days, and she bought a larger pair in a shop.

5. Story 5

   ▶ Play the story

   Why is the bus not stopping outside the library?

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   Where should passengers catch the bus this week?

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   When will the normal stop be used again?

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   Show the words

   The number fourteen bus will not stop outside the library this week because of road works. Passengers should use the stop in front of the bank instead, which is about two minutes away on foot. The bus times are the same as usual. The normal stop will be used again from next Monday.