EnglishLooking Back at Your Progress
Speak for 60–90 seconds.
Think back to the beginning of this course. What have you learned? What can you do now that you couldn't do before?
Use these stems:
- At the beginning, I couldn’t …
- Now I can …
- I have improved …
- One piece of evidence in my portfolio is …
Add three notes:
- I can now …
- I am better at …
- I still need to improve …
Choose one task, text, recording, or conversation that makes you proud. Explain why it is evidence of progress.
Language for Evaluation
Read the examples aloud. Then choose four words to describe your course progress.
- evaluate [/ɪˈvæljueɪt/]
- judge or assess carefully
We evaluate progress every month. - progress [/ˈprəʊɡres/]
- improvement over time
Her progress has been noticeable. - strengths [/streŋθs/]
- things you do well
Speaking is one of my strengths. - weaknesses [/ˈwiːknəsɪz/]
- areas that need development
I know my grammar weaknesses. - portfolio [/pɔːtˈfəʊliəʊ/]
- a collection of your best work
My portfolio includes my best work. - criteria [/kraɪˈtɪəriə/]
- standards used to judge work
Accuracy is one assessment criterion. - fluent [/ˈfluːənt/]
- able to communicate smoothly and easily
She is becoming more fluent. - accurate [/ˈækjərət/]
- correct and careful
His writing is accurate. - feedback [/ˈfiːdbæk/]
- comments that help you improve
The teacher gave useful feedback. - evidence [/ˈevɪdəns/]
- facts or work that show something is true
This recording is evidence of progress. - achievement [/əˈtʃiːvmənt/]
- something successful that you have done
Passing the test was an achievement. - improve [/ɪmˈpruːv/]
- become better or make something better
I want to improve my listening.
Useful combinations:
Verb + noun | Adjective + noun |
|---|---|
evaluate progress | fluent speaker |
identify strengths and weaknesses | accurate writing |
meet criteria | useful feedback |
provide evidence | clear achievement |
Say two portfolio statements.
- My portfolio provides evidence that I have improved because …
- Feedback helped me identify a strength/weakness: …
Your B1 Grammar Master Board
Tenses and time
Rule: Choose a tense from the time reference and the meaning: routine, action in progress, finished event, present result, duration, or earlier past.
Area | Core use | Example |
|---|---|---|
Present Simple | routines, facts, permanent situations | I usually revise in the evening. |
Present Continuous | current or temporary activity | I’m revising for my assessment now. |
Past Simple | finished past event | I completed the task yesterday. |
Past Continuous | background action in a past story | I was studying when she called. |
Present Perfect Simple ★ | result, experience, unfinished time | I’ve finished my portfolio. |
Present Perfect Continuous ★ | duration or repeated activity until now | I’ve been working on it all day. |
Past Perfect | an event before another past event | They had left before I arrived. |
Future with will | instant decision, prediction | I’ll help you later. |
Going to | intention or evidence-based prediction | I’m going to apply for an exam. |
Future Continuous | arrangement in progress at a future time | I’m meeting my teacher tomorrow. |
Future Perfect | completed before a future point | I’ll have finished by June. |
Time line:
Present Simple → Present Continuous → Past Simple → Past Continuous → Present Perfect Simple → Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect → Future forms
Habits, clauses, and modals
Rule: Use used to for past states and habits. Use would for repeated past actions, not states.
Area | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
Used to | past state or habit that is no longer true | I used to be shy. |
Would | repeated past action | We would practise weekly. |
Defining relative clause | identifies which person or thing | The book that I bought is useful. |
Non-defining relative clause | adds extra information | My teacher, who lives nearby, helped me. |
Obligation modal | must / have to for necessity | You must submit it today. |
Advice modal | should for advice | You should check your work. |
Deduction modal | must / might / can’t for certainty or possibility | It might be correct. |
Passive forms and reporting
Rule: Use the passive when the action or result is more important than the person who does it.
Structure | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Basic passive | be + past participle | The report was checked. |
Present perfect passive | have been + past participle | The work has been evaluated. |
Causative | have + object + past participle | I had my pronunciation checked. |
Reporting passive ★ | is/was said/believed + infinitive | He is said to be fluent. |
Reported statement ★ | reporting verb + backshift where needed | She said she was ready. |
Reported question ★ | question word + statement order | He asked where I lived. |
Reported command ★ | reporting verb + object + infinitive | They told us to wait. |
Reported-question rule: Do not use question inversion after asked, wanted to know, or wondered.
- Direct: “Where do you live?”
- Reported: She asked where I lived.
Conditionals, wishes, and formal links
Rule: Choose the conditional by reality and time.
Type | Meaning | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Zero | general result | if + present, present | If water boils, it evaporates. |
First | real future possibility | if + present, will + verb | If I practise, I will improve. |
Second ★ | unreal or unlikely present/future | if + past, would + verb | If I had time, I’d read more. |
Third | unreal past result | if + past perfect, would have + participle | If I had revised, I would have passed. |
Wish / if only ★ | regret or unreal desire | wish + past / past perfect | I wish I had started earlier. |
Formal linking words: however, therefore, in addition, consequently, although, whereas.
I would like to enquire about the course. However, I need more information before I apply.
Quantifiers
Rule: Use quantifiers according to countability and amount.
Countable nouns | Uncountable nouns | Both |
|---|---|---|
a few, few, fewer, too many | a little, little, less, too much | some, any, enough, a lot of |
- I have a few mistakes.
- I have too little confidence.
- There are fewer errors now.
- There is enough evidence in my portfolio.
Common accuracy checks
Common problem | Check | Better form |
|---|---|---|
Present Perfect with yesterday | Is the time finished? | I finished it yesterday. |
Missing article | Is this a singular countable noun? | I wrote a report. |
say / tell confusion | Does an object follow? | She told me; she said that … |
Inversion in reported questions | Use statement word order. | He asked where I lived. |
Double negatives | Use one negative form. | I don’t know anything. |
make / do confusion | Learn noun collocations. | make progress; do homework |
Rapid Accuracy Check
Explain the evidence for each choice: time phrase, meaning, word order, or subject–action relationship.
Identify the grammar pattern
Connect each grammar label with its example.
- Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been preparing my portfolio.
- Past Perfect
- She had completed the form before the interview.
- Reporting passive
- The results are believed to be reliable.
Identify the grammar pattern
Connect each grammar label with its example.
- Second Conditional
- If I had more time, I would join the course.
- Defining relative clause
- The teacher who helped me was patient.
- Used to
- I used to translate every word.
Identify the grammar pattern
Connect each grammar label with its example.
- Obligation modal
- You must upload the document today.
- Causative
- I had my presentation recorded.
- Reported command
- She told me to speak more slowly.
Check the time reference
Check reported-question order
Check past habits and states
Choose the future form
By the end of this month, I [___] my portfolio.
Choose the unreal present form
If I [___] more confident, I would speak more in class.
Choose the passive form
The final report [___] by the teacher yesterday.
Choose the reported form
She asked me where I [___] .
A Year of English
At the beginning of the year, I used to avoid speaking because I thought every mistake was serious. Since September, I have completed several units, and I have been practising for at least twenty minutes on most days. Last winter, I was preparing a presentation when my teacher asked me to record it. I had never listened to myself before, so I was surprised by my progress. The recording, which was added to my portfolio, was evaluated using clear criteria. I had my pronunciation checked, and I was told that I should link words more naturally. If I practise regularly, I will become more fluent. If I were less afraid of errors, I would speak even more; I wish I had joined a conversation club earlier. In the future, I am going to take an exam, and by then I will have improved my accuracy. However, I still make a few mistakes and have too little confidence. Therefore, I would like to continue studying formally at B2.
Difficult words
- avoid — stay away from or not do something
- criteria — standards used to judge quality
- pronunciation — the way words are spoken
- naturally — in a normal, smooth way
- fluency — the ability to speak smoothly
- accuracy — being correct
- formally — in a professional or official style
Read for evidence
- Why did the writer avoid speaking at the beginning of the year?
- What happened while the writer was preparing a presentation?
- What feedback did the writer receive about pronunciation?
- What does the writer plan to do after reaching B1?
Your B1 Portfolio Note
What you can do now
- Choose tenses by time and meaning.
- Use perfect tenses to connect past actions with another time point.
- Describe unreal situations with conditionals and wish.
- Report statements, questions, and commands accurately.
- Use passive forms when the action is the focus.
- Check clause structure, articles, word order, and agreement.
- Link formal ideas clearly with words such as however, therefore, and in addition.
- Evaluate progress using evidence and feedback.
Review words
evaluate · progress · strengths · weaknesses · portfolio · criteria · fluent · accurate · feedback · evidence · achievement · improve
Your next step
Complete the statement:
My strongest B1 area is …; my next B2 focus is … because …
Possible B2 priorities:
- greater accuracy with complex clauses
- a wider range of collocations
- more nuanced modal meanings
- more independent formal writing
