EnglishYour B1 Bridge Check
What can you already do in English?
- What is easy for you: speaking, listening, reading, writing, or grammar?
- What is your biggest challenge?
- Which area do you want to improve: tenses, articles, or modals?
- B1 target: explain experiences, plans, opinions, and reasons.
Think of two real examples.
- What can you already do in English?
- Give two real examples.
Complete:
Today I want to improve ______.
Words for Learning Progress
Read, repeat, and personalise the words.
Read, repeat, and use the words in a sentence.
- improve [/ɪmˈpruːv/]
- become better
I want to improve my speaking. - revise [/rɪˈvaɪz/]
- study again to remember something
I revise grammar every week. - practise [/ˈpræktɪs/]
- do something regularly to develop a skill
She practises English online. - struggle with [/ˈstrʌɡl wɪð/]
- have difficulty with something
I struggle with articles. - make progress [/meɪk ˈprəʊɡres/]
- improve over time
We are making progress. - fluent [/ˈfluːənt/]
- able to speak easily and smoothly
He is becoming fluent. - accurate [/ˈækjərət/]
- correct and without mistakes
Her grammar is accurate. - confident [/ˈkɒnfɪdənt/]
- sure that you can do something well
I feel confident today. - assess [/əˈses/]
- judge or measure something
Let’s assess your level. - set a goal [/set ə ɡəʊl/]
- decide what you want to achieve
Set a clear learning goal. - overcome [/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/]
- succeed in dealing with a difficulty
She overcame her fear. - feedback [/ˈfiːdbæk/]
- comments that help you improve
My teacher gives feedback.
Complete the idea:
I want to ______ because I sometimes ______.
Speak:
I am confident about ______, but I struggle with ______.
The Grammar Map
Tenses: choose the time picture first
Meaning | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Habit or routine | Present Simple | I revise on Mondays. |
Happening now or temporary | Present Continuous | I am revising now. |
Finished past event | Past Simple | I revised yesterday. |
Background action in progress in the past | Past Continuous | I was revising when you called. |
Spontaneous decision or prediction | will | I’ll help you. |
Prior plan or intention | be going to | I’m going to revise tonight. |
Ask:
- Is it a habit, happening now, finished, background, spontaneous, or planned?
- What time clue can you see?
Tense | Positive form | Example time clues |
|---|---|---|
Present Simple | I/you/we/they work; she works | usually, every day, often |
Present Continuous | am/is/are + verb-ing | now, at the moment, today |
Past Simple | worked / went | yesterday, last week, ago |
Past Continuous | was/were + verb-ing | while, at 8 p.m., when |
Articles: make a decision for every noun
Noun meaning | Article choice | Example |
|---|---|---|
One non-specific singular countable thing | a/an | I bought a book. |
Known, specific, or unique thing | the | The book is on the table. |
Things in general: plural or uncountable | Ø | Ø Books are useful. / I need Ø information. |
Article decision:
- Is it one singular countable noun? → a/an or the
- Is it known, specific, or unique? → the
- Is it a general plural or uncountable noun? → Ø
Modals: choose the purpose
Modal | Main meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
can | ability | I can understand podcasts. |
could | polite request | Could you repeat that? |
must | strong rule or personal necessity | You must wear a seatbelt. |
should | advice | You should practise regularly. |
have to | external necessity | I have to take an exam. |
Common mistakes
Common error | Better version | Why? |
|---|---|---|
I am revise now. | I am revising now. | Use be + verb-ing for an activity happening now. |
I was revise when you called. | I was revising when you called. | Use was/were + verb-ing for past background. |
I will going to study tonight. | I am going to study tonight. | Use either will + base verb or be going to + base verb. |
I like the music. | I like Ø music. | Use Ø for music in general. |
She can to speak English. | She can speak English. | Use a base verb after can. |
I must to go now. | I must go now. | Use a base verb after must. |
Make the Best Choice
Say the reason for each choice: time meaning, noun meaning, or modal meaning.
Connect the tense to its example
Connect each tense with the correct example.
- Present Simple
- She works from home.
- Present Continuous
- She is working now.
- Past Simple
- She worked yesterday.
- Past Continuous
- She was working at 8 p.m.
Connect the future form to its meaning
Connect each future form with the correct situation.
- will
- I’ll answer the phone.
- be going to
- We’re going to visit our aunt this weekend.
Connect the modal to its purpose
Connect each modal with its main purpose.
- can
- ability
- could
- polite request
- must
- strong rule
- should
- advice
- have to
- external necessity
Check the article rules
Look again at specific and general nouns
Choose the verb form from the context
- My brother usually [___] English after dinner.
- Please be quiet; I [___] to the teacher.
- While we [___] home, it started to rain.
- I think I [___] more confident after this course.
My English Journey
A year ago, Maya studied English only when she had time. She knew many words, but she did not use them confidently. While she was preparing for an exam last spring, she started listening to short podcasts every day. Now she usually revises vocabulary on the bus, and she is reading a detective story in English. Her teacher says that Maya is making progress because she practises regularly. Next month, she is going to join a speaking club with a friend. She thinks it will be difficult at first, but she will keep trying. Maya has a clear goal: she wants to speak more fluently and accurately. English is a useful skill for travel and work, so she must make time for it.
- Why did Maya start listening to short podcasts every day?
- What two English activities does Maya do now?
- What is Maya going to do next month?
- Why does Maya believe she must make time for English?
Difficult words
- confidently — in a sure, relaxed way
- preparing — getting ready for something
- detective story — a story about solving a crime or mystery
- regularly — often and in a routine way
- fluently — smoothly and easily
- accurately — correctly, with few mistakes
- useful skill — an ability that helps in real life
Your B1 Roadmap
Key grammar points
Area | Quick reminder |
|---|---|
Present | Habit → Present Simple; now or temporary → Present Continuous |
Past | Finished → Past Simple; background or in progress → Past Continuous |
Future | Spontaneous decision or prediction → will; prior plan → going to |
Articles | One singular countable noun → a/an or the; known/specific → the; general plural/uncountable → Ø |
Modals | Ability → can; polite request → could; strong rule → must; advice → should; external necessity → have to |
Vocabulary review
- improve
- revise
- practise
- struggle with
- make progress
- fluent
- accurate
- confident
- assess
- set a goal
- overcome
- feedback
Complete your exit sentence:
I am going to ______ to improve my English.
Before choosing an article, ask:
What noun am I talking about: one, known, or general?
Next B1 steps: present perfect, comparatives, conditionals, relative clauses, and reported speech.
