B1 Intermediate English: what learners can do and how to practise
At CEFR B1 Intermediate level, a learner is working towards three skills in reading and writing. This guide explains each one in plain English, with something to try at home and practice prompts you can use today.
What this level focuses on
Understanding High-Frequency Everyday Language
Curriculum reference: CEFR B1 Reading
Understanding the common words and phrases people use about family, work, school and daily life.
Try at home
Listen to or read a short everyday dialogue and note the three most useful new phrases.
Writing Simple Connected Text on Familiar Topics
Curriculum reference: CEFR B1 Writing
Writing a few linked sentences on a topic you know, using simple linking words.
Try at home
Write five sentences about your hobby using 'and', 'but' and 'because'.
Describing Experiences & Giving Reasons for Opinions
Curriculum reference: CEFR B1 Writing
Writing about things that happened and explaining why you feel the way you do.
Try at home
Write about a recent trip and give two reasons you liked or disliked it.
How much should they write?
A good target for a middle years piece at this level is several paragraphs, which is about 170 words when practising in LiteracyLab AI. Short and regular beats long and rare: one carefully improved piece teaches more than three rushed ones.
Three practice prompts to try this week
- Write a speech persuading your school to try one new idea.
- Explain how a piece of technology has changed the way people live.
- Write a diary entry from a character at the most important moment of a book you have read.
Want more? Try the free prompt generator for this age group.
Common questions
How much should a learner at this level write?
Several paragraphs, or about 170 words is a sensible target for practice. Quality matters more than length.
What are the main skills at this level?
Understanding High-Frequency Everyday Language; Writing Simple Connected Text on Familiar Topics; Describing Experiences & Giving Reasons for Opinions. Each is explained above with something to try at home.
How do I know if my child is on track?
Compare their writing with the three focus areas above and ask their teacher for a view. A tool such as LiteracyLab AI can show, for each piece, what worked and the next step, but your child's teacher knows their progress best.
How to give feedback at home
- Ask for a short plan before writing, then compare the finished piece with the plan.
- Focus on one skill at a time, such as paragraphing or varied sentence openings, and revisit it across pieces.
- Encourage a proofreading pass at the end: spelling, then punctuation, then sense.
Get feedback on a piece of writing
LiteracyLab AI reads a child's own writing and gives specific feedback: what worked, one thing to try next, and a corrected version, matched to their year and curriculum. The Free plan includes 3 pieces a month and needs no card.
CEFR levels describe what a learner can do in a language, not their age or school year, so these pages are organised by level.