English levels · Intermediate
B1 English level: what it means
B1 is the first intermediate level on the A1 to C2 scale (CEFR). At B1 you can handle most everyday situations in English, talk about things you know, and explain your opinions simply. It's often called the threshold level: the point where English starts to feel useful, not just studied.
20 questions, about 5 minutes, no sign-up.
What you can do at B1
- Get by on your own when travelling: book a room, ask for directions, sort out a problem at a shop
- Talk about your work, hobbies, plans and experiences without preparing first
- Follow the main points of a clear conversation, a podcast or a TV series on a familiar topic
- Read simple articles, emails and messages and understand what matters
- Write a short email or message explaining what happened and what you need
- Give your opinion and a simple reason for it
What B1 English looks like
Sentences you can say and understand
- I've been living here for two years, so I'm used to the weather now.
- If I had more time, I'd take a cooking course.
- Could you tell me where the nearest station is?
- I didn't enjoy the film as much as I expected, although the music was great.
Words you know
- although
- deal with
- improve
- appointment
- get used to
- recommend
- unfortunately
- career
- complain
- on purpose
Grammar you use
- Present perfect vs past simple (I've been / I went)
- First and second conditionals (if it rains… / if I had…)
- used to and be used to
- Simple passive (it was built in 1990)
- Relative clauses with who, which and that
B1 compared with English exams
Official exams report their scores on the same A1 to C2 scale. These are the score ranges the exam boards publish for B1.
| Exam | Score at B1 |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 4.0 to 5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 42 to 71 |
| Cambridge English | B1 Preliminary (PET), 140 to 159 |
From B1 to B2
Cambridge English estimates around 200 more hours of guided study to move from B1 to B2. The jump is mostly vocabulary: B2 learners know thousands more words and use them precisely, especially for abstract topics like work, news and ideas.
- 1
Learn words in context, a few every day, and review them before you forget them
- 2
Watch series and listen to podcasts in English, first with English subtitles, then without
- 3
Practise explaining your opinion on something you read, out loud or in writing
Questions about B1
B1 is a solid intermediate level. You can manage everyday life and travel in English, but you'll still find fast conversations, the news and work meetings hard. Many jobs and universities ask for B2.
Intermediate. The CEFR groups A1 and A2 as basic, B1 and B2 as independent (intermediate), and C1 and C2 as proficient (advanced).
Cambridge English estimates around 350 to 400 hours of guided study from zero. It depends a lot on how often you practise and how much English you hear outside lessons.
IELTS maps B1 to band scores 4.0 to 5.0. For TOEFL iBT, ETS maps B1 to 42 to 71.
Take our free English level test: 20 questions in about 5 minutes, with your estimated level from A1 to C2 straight away. For an official certificate, you need a recognised exam such as Cambridge B1 Preliminary.
Are you really B1?
Find out in 5 minutes with our free English level test.