B1 Preliminary (PET) Practice Paper 21

alice: Hi, I'm interested in the study abroad programme. Could you tell me about the application process? george: Of course. First, you need to fill out an online application form and submit your academic transcript. alice: Okay, and is there a deadline for that? george: Yes, applications close on the thirtieth of November for programmes starting the following September. alice: I see. Do I also need a letter of recommendation? george: Yes, you'll need one letter from a professor who knows your academic work well. alice: Understood. How competitive is the programme, roughly speaking? george: Last year, we received around two hundred applications for forty places, so it is quite competitive. alice: That's useful to know. When will successful applicants be informed? george: Successful candidates are usually contacted by email in early February, about two months after the deadline. alice: Thank you so much, this has been really helpful.

When Priya was offered a scholarship to study engineering abroad, she felt both thrilled and terrified. The scholarship covered tuition fees and accommodation, but she would need to leave her family, friends, and familiar routines behind for three years. After discussing the opportunity with her parents, who encouraged her to accept it despite their own sadness about the distance, Priya decided to take the risk. The first semester was harder than she expected. Lectures were delivered quickly, and Priya sometimes struggled to follow technical vocabulary in a second language. She joined a study group with other international students, which helped enormously, since they could explain difficult concepts to each other in simpler terms. By the end of her first year, Priya's grades had improved significantly, and she had made close friends from several different countries. Looking back, she realises that the discomfort of those early months taught her more about resilience than any exam ever could. She now encourages other students considering scholarships abroad not to let fear stop them from taking similar opportunities.

My brother recently decided to study abroad for a year as part of his university degree. Before he left, he ___1___ quite anxious about living in an unfamiliar country without his usual support network. His university ___2___ an orientation programme for international students, which helped him settle in more easily than he expected. During his first few weeks, he found it useful ___3___ a list of new vocabulary related to his subject, since many technical terms were unfamiliar. He also joined a sports club, which he says ___4___ him make friends much faster than staying in his room studying alone would have done. By the end of the first term, he ___5___ far more confident speaking in seminars and asking questions. He told me that if he ___6___ the opportunity again, he would take it without hesitation. Looking back, the experience ___7___ him independence and confidence that he says will benefit him for the rest of his life. He now strongly ___8___ other students to consider studying abroad if they get the chance.