PET Writing Practice
PET Writing tests whether you can produce clear, simple written English at B1 level. Two short tasks, around 100 words each, in 45 minutes. Both are scored on the four official Cambridge bands: Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language.
PET Writing: part by part
- Part 1 — Email (around 100 words): reply to a short email from a friend, addressing all the points raised.
- Part 2 — Article OR Story (around 100 words): choose one. Article responds to a magazine prompt; story starts from a given opening sentence.
How PET Writing is scored
Bands run 0–5 on each criterion (max 20 per task). Band 5 = clear, well-organised, accurate B1 English with appropriate register. Band 3 = generally clear with some errors but the message reaches the reader. Band 1 = limited content, frequent errors that impede communication.
Sample PET Writing item
A typical writing task you'd see in a PET mock exam.
Write an article for an international magazine answering the question: 'Has technology made our lives better or worse?' Give specific examples and reach a clear conclusion.
What examiners look for
- Address every bullet point in Part 1 — missing one drops the Content band hard.
- Use simple linking words confidently (because, so, but, however, finally) rather than reaching for complex ones you might misuse.
- Stay within ±10% of the word count. Going significantly under loses Content; going significantly over loses Organisation.
Practise PET Writing now
Free to start. Auto-marked with detailed per-question explanations.