LanguageCert B1 Achiever: Complete Guide for Candidates [2026]

Do you want to certify your B1 level with an international certification? Now you can do it online, from home, with the B1 Achiever from LanguageCert.

Updated on 18/02/26

The LanguageCert B1 Achiever is one of the most popular English exams in Spain for certifying a B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). If you are thinking about taking this exam, whether for university, for civil service exams or simply to prove your level of English, this guide will be very useful for you.

In this article, I am going to tell you everything you need to know about the B1 Achiever: exactly what it is, what the exam format is like, what types of tasks you will find, how it is marked, how much it costs and where you can find preparation materials. Let’s get started.

What is the LanguageCert B1 Achiever?

The LanguageCert B1 Achiever is a general English exam that assesses the four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

This exam is officially recognised by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), the British government’s regulatory body for qualifications, which gives it international validity. In Spain, the LanguageCert B1 Achiever is recognised by universities, educational institutions and public administrations.

One of the most interesting features of the B1 Achiever is that you can take the Written Exam and the Spoken Exam separately, on different dates and at different centres if you prefer. This gives you a lot of flexibility to organise yourself according to your needs.

Why take the B1 Achiever?

The B1 level remains one of the most in-demand levels in Spain, especially in academic and professional contexts. Many Spanish universities require a B1 to obtain a degree, and some civil service exams (such as those for Correos) also require certification of this level.

The B1 Achiever has several advantages compared to other B1 level exams:

• Fast results: you can get your results in just 3 working days if you take the exam by computer or online from home.
• Flexibility: you can choose between three exam modes (computer, paper or online from home) and take the Written and Spoken parts separately.
• Competitive price: the cost of the exam is reasonable compared to other certifications.
• Official recognition: it is regulated by Ofqual and accepted by public and private institutions, although, as I always say, it is essential to check the official calls before taking an exam to obtain a specific certificate.
• No expiry date: your certificate does not expire; it is valid for life (although some institutions may request certificates with a specific maximum age).

B1 Achiever exam format

The B1 Achiever is divided into two independent exams: the Written Exam (which includes Listening, Reading and Writing) and the Spoken Exam (which corresponds to Speaking).

Exam delivery modes

You can take the B1 Achiever in three different modes:

1. Computer-based: you take the exam at an authorised centre using a computer.
2. Paper-based: you take the exam in the traditional way, writing by hand on paper.
3. Online from home (Online Proctored): you take the exam from your home or office, supervised in real-time by an invigilator via your webcam.

The choice of mode does not affect the content of the exam, only the way you take it. However, the turnaround times for results vary depending on the mode you choose.

General exam structure

Here is a summary of the full B1 Achiever structure:

As you can see, the Written Exam lasts a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes (30 minutes of Listening plus 2 hours and 10 minutes of uninterrupted Reading & Writing), while the Spoken Exam is much shorter, at 12 minutes.

B1 Achiever: Listening

The Listening is the first part of the Written Exam and assesses your ability to understand conversations and spoken texts in English.

Listening format

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Number of tasks: 4
• Number of questions: 26 in total
• Score: 25 points

You will hear recordings of conversations, announcements, radio programmes and monologues. All recordings are played twice, so you will have two opportunities to catch the information.

Types of tasks in the Listening

The B1 Achiever Listening consists of four different tasks:

• Part 1: You listen to 7 short sentences between 2 people (one being a formal conversation) and you must answer multiple-choice questions with 3 options each. Total: 7 questions.
• Part 2: You listen to 3 short conversations between 2 people to identify the topic, purpose, context, speakers, general idea, relationship between speakers, roles, functions, attitudes, feelings and opinions. You must choose the appropriate answer for each multiple-choice question with 3 options. Total: 6 questions.
• Part 3: You listen to a recording to identify specific information and must write down answers in a notepad, each answer consisting of 1 to 3 words. Total: 7 questions.
• Part 4: You listen to a discussion to identify the general idea, examples, facts, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause and effect. You must choose the appropriate answer for each multiple-choice question with 3 options. Total: 6 questions.

B1 Achiever: Reading

The Reading is the second part of the Written Exam and assesses your ability to read and understand different types of texts in English.

Reading format

• Duration: 2 hours and 10 minutes uninterrupted (together with Writing)
• Number of tasks: 4
• Number of questions: 26 in total
• Score: 25 points

The texts you will read may include magazine or newspaper articles, advertisements, emails, letters, information leaflets, reviews and website excerpts. The topics are varied and accessible for a B1 level.

Types of tasks in the Reading

The B1 Achiever Reading includes four tasks:

• Part 1: You read 5 short texts, each with 1 gap evaluating structure, lexis, cohesive elements and coherence. You must choose the appropriate answer for each multiple-choice question with 3 options. Total: 5 questions.
• Part 2: You read an incomplete text and have 6 multiple-choice options to complete it (1 option is a distractor). You must choose the appropriate sentence for each gap in the text. Total: 6 questions (with 1 distractor).
• Part 3: You read 4 short texts (email, article, advertisement, etc.) that provide the answers to 7 questions. You must decide which text answers each question. Total: 7 questions.
• Part 4: You read a continuous text (narrative, descriptive, expository, biographical or instructional) and must answer questions with short answers of 1 to 3 words. Total: 8 questions.

B1 Achiever: Writing

The Writing is the third and final part of the Written Exam. Here you have to demonstrate your ability to write texts in English clearly, coherently and appropriately.

Writing format

• Duration: 2 hours and 10 minutes uninterrupted (together with Reading)
• Number of tasks: 2
• Score: 50 points in total (25 points per task)

Both tasks have the same weight in the score, so it is important that you dedicate enough time to both. A good strategy is to spend about 30 minutes on each task, although you can adjust this according to your needs.

The Writing tasks

• Part 1: You must write a formal response of 70-100 words for a public audience. You have to respond appropriately to a given text (a letter, poster, diary, timetable, leaflet, etc.) addressed to a specific reader and addressing a clearly defined number of content points.
• Part 2: You have to write an informal letter to a friend of 100-120 words. You must write about a topic of personal interest and include 2 functions (for example: inviting a friend to stay, describing what you will do).

Writing assessment criteria

Examiners assess your Writing according to four criteria aligned with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) descriptors:

1. Task Fulfilment: measures the extent to which you have completed/addressed the task and if you have done what was asked.
2. Accuracy and Range of Grammar: measures the range, appropriateness and accuracy of the grammar.
3. Accuracy and Range of Vocabulary: measures the range, accuracy and appropriateness of the vocabulary, as well as spelling accuracy.
4. Organisation: measures how coherently the ideas are connected in the text and how accurate the punctuation is.

It is important to note that no credit is given for off-topic responses, so always make sure to answer exactly what is asked of you in each task.

B1 Achiever: Speaking

The Speaking is the Spoken Exam of the B1 Achiever. It is conducted individually with an examiner and assesses your ability to communicate orally in English.

Speaking format

• Duration: 12 minutes
• Number of tasks: 4 parts
• Format: individual (you and the examiner)
• Score: 50 points in total

The exam is recorded to ensure the quality of the assessment. Don’t worry if you get nervous; it’s completely normal. The examiner will try to make you feel comfortable and make the conversation as natural as possible.

The parts of the Speaking

The B1 Achiever Speaking is divided into four parts:

• Part 1: You must give and spell your name, state your country of origin and answer 5 personal questions about yourself.
• Part 2: The examiner presents 2 or 3 situations. You are expected to answer questions and initiate interactions.
• Part 3: You must hold a brief conversation to make a plan, organise or decide something using visual prompts.
• Part 4: You have 30 seconds of preparation time, then you must speak about a topic provided by the examiner for 1 and a half minutes, and finally answer follow-up questions.

Speaking assessment criteria

The examiner assesses your Speaking according to four main criteria. Each of the four parts of the exam has the same importance, and you receive a score from 0 to 3 in each criterion.

The four assessment criteria are:

1. Task Fulfilment and Coherence: your ability to manage the tasks appropriately for the level and connect your ideas in a coherent speech.
2. Accuracy and Range of Grammar: your ability to vary and demonstrate control of grammatical structures appropriate for the task.
3. Accuracy and Range of Vocabulary: your ability to vary and demonstrate control of the lexis and register appropriate for the task.
4. Pronunciation, Intonation and Fluency: your ability to produce the sounds of English in an understandable way, with appropriate stress and intonation, and maintain the flow of speech.

The maximum raw score you can obtain is 12 points (3 points × 4 criteria), which is then converted into a scaled score from 0 to 50 points.

Duration of the B1 Achiever exam

The total duration of the LanguageCert B1 Achiever exam depends on whether you take only the Written Exam, only the Spoken Exam or both. Below I detail the duration of each part:

• Written Exam:
  • Listening: 30 minutes
  • Reading & Writing: 2 hours and 10 minutes uninterrupted
• Spoken Exam:
  • Speaking: 12 minutes

Therefore, if you take the full Written Exam, you will be at the exam centre for 2 hours and 40 minutes. If you also take the Speaking, you will have to add 12 more minutes, although you should keep in mind that the Speaking can be done on a different day to the Written Exam.

Scoring and results

The marking system for the B1 Achiever is quite clear and easy to understand. Let’s see how it is scored and what your final mark means.

Marking system

The Written Exam and the Spoken Exam are marked independently, as they are two separate exams. Each has a maximum score of 100 points:

• Written Exam: 100 points (Listening: 25 points, Reading: 25 points, Writing: 50 points)
• Spoken Exam: 50 points (which are multiplied by 2 to get a score out of 100)

To pass each exam, you need to obtain at least 50 points out of 100, which is equivalent to 50% correct answers.

In addition to passing or failing, the B1 Achiever uses a more detailed grading system that indicates your exact level within B1 or if you have reached a higher or lower level:

As you can see, if you obtain a score of 95 or more, you will have demonstrated a B2 level, which will appear on your certificate. If you obtain between 40 and 49 points, you will not pass the B1, but you will receive a certificate accrediting an A2 level.

When do you receive the results?

The turnaround time for results depends on the exam mode you have chosen:

• Computer-based or Online: approximately 3 working days
• Paper-based: approximately 10 working days

Results are published in your personal account on the LanguageCert portal. You will receive an email notifying you when they are available.

Certificate and digital badge

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official certificate. You can choose between receiving a paper certificate by post or downloading it in PDF format from your LanguageCert account.

In addition to the certificate, you will also receive a digital badge that you can share on your professional LinkedIn profiles, social networks or digital CV. This badge is electronically verifiable, meaning that any person or institution can check its authenticity by clicking on it.

The B1 Achiever certificate does not expire; it is valid for life. However, some institutions or companies may request that your certificate has a maximum age (for example, 2 or 3 years), so it is a good idea to check the specific requirements of each place.

LanguageCert B1 Achiever Prices

The prices for the B1 Achiever vary depending on the exam mode you choose and the exam centre. Below I show you the official prices for February 2026:

As you can see, you can take the Written Exam and the Spoken Exam separately (€70 each) or do both together for €140. This gives you a lot of flexibility to organise yourself according to your needs and budget.

Bear in mind that these are the official LanguageCert prices, but some exam centres may apply a small surcharge for administrative costs. I recommend that you check the exact prices with the centre where you are going to take the exam.

LanguageCert B1 Achiever exams in PDF

One of the best ways to prepare for the B1 Achiever is to practice with sample exams and familiarise yourself with the format and types of tasks. Below I leave you a selection of practice materials that you can download for free.

Spoken Exam (Speaking):

• Sample Interview (Video + PDF)
• B1 Achiever Spoken Sample Test PDF 1
• B1 Achiever Spoken Sample Test PDF 2
• B1 Achiever Spoken Sample Test PDF 3
• B1 Achiever Spoken Sample Test PDF 4

Written Exam:

• B1 Achiever Written Sample Test PDF 1
• B1 Achiever Written Sample Test PDF 2
• B1 Achiever Written Sample Test PDF 3
• B1 Achiever Written Sample Test PDF 4
• B1 Achiever Written Sample Answer Sheet PDF

I recommend that you download all these materials and practice with them. The sample exams will give you a very clear idea of what to expect on exam day. Additionally, the sample interview video is especially useful to see how a B1 Achiever Speaking actually develops and what is expected of you in each part.

Practising with these official materials is one of the best investments of time you can make in your preparation. It will help you reduce exam day anxiety and feel much more confident when the time comes.

Video: B1 Achiever Speaking Test

Frequently asked questions

Where can I take the B1 Achiever exam?

The B1 Achiever can be taken at exam centres authorised by LanguageCert throughout Spain. You can also take it online from your home if you choose the Online Proctored mode. To find your nearest centre and check available dates, visit the following link on the official LanguageCert page: https://www.languagecert.org/en/exam-types/test-centre-exams

Can I take the Written Exam and the Spoken Exam on different dates?

Yes, you can take the two exams separately on different dates, and even at different exam centres if you prefer. This gives you a lot of flexibility to organise yourself. You will receive a certificate for each exam you pass, and once you have passed both, you can request a combined certificate accrediting the four skills.

How long is the B1 Achiever certificate valid for?

The B1 Achiever certificate does not expire; it is valid for life. However, some universities, companies or institutions may request that your certificate has a maximum age (normally 2 or 3 years). I recommend that you check the specific requirements of the place where you need to present your certificate.

Is the B1 Achiever officially recognised in Spain?

Yes, the B1 Achiever is officially recognised in Spain. As it is regulated by Ofqual (the British qualification regulatory body), it has international validity and is accepted by Spanish universities, educational institutions and public administrations to accredit the B1 level of English.

Can I use a dictionary in the exam?

No, the use of a dictionary or any other support material is not allowed during the exam. Nor can you use a mobile phone or any electronic device (except for the computer provided to you in the computer-based mode).

What happens if I fail a part of the exam?

If you fail the Written Exam or the Spoken Exam, you can retake that part of the exam whenever you want. There is no limit on attempts, nor do you have to wait for a specific period to retake the exam. The parts of the exam that you have passed remain valid, so you only need to repeat the part that you failed.

Do I need a minimum level of English to take the B1 Achiever?

There are no prerequisites for taking the B1 Achiever. Anyone can sign up, regardless of their current level of English. However, it is advisable that you have an English level close to B1 before taking it, to have a better chance of passing. If your level is lower (A2 or less), perhaps it would be better for you to prepare more first or consider taking a lower-level exam.

How much time do I need to prepare for the B1 Achiever?

Preparation time depends on your current level of English. If you already have a high A2 level, you probably need between 100-200 hours of study to reach a solid B1 level. If you start from a low A2 level, you may need more time. The important thing is that you practice the four skills regularly and that you familiarise yourself well with the exam format.

Is it better to take the exam on paper or by computer?

It is a matter of personal preference. The computer-based mode has the advantage that you receive the results much faster (3 days instead of 10), and for some people, it is more comfortable to write on a computer than by hand. However, if you prefer the traditional paper format or feel more comfortable writing by hand, that option is also perfectly valid. The content of the exam is exactly the same in both modes.

And that is everything you need to know about the LanguageCert B1 Achiever. I hope this guide has been useful and helps you prepare with confidence for your exam. Remember to practice with the official materials, familiarise yourself well with the format of each part of the exam and, above all, maintain a positive attitude.

If you prepare well and follow the advice I have given you, I am sure you will get your B1 certificate. Good luck with your exam!

And until the next article, don’t forget to keep smiling!