Cartoons and films for B1 Preliminary (PET) prep

PET is now called B1 Preliminary. Most school students take B1 Preliminary for Schools, which is at CEFR B1. Compared with KET, PET listening has longer conversations, the speaking test asks each candidate to describe a photo alone, and the writing paper asks for an email and an article or story of about 100 words each. So the list moves from short everyday shows toward cartoons and films with a full plot and longer dialogue.

The short answer: the main list for PET is Arthur, Hilda, The Magic School Bus, and Horrid Henry. Wild Kratts and Ask the StoryBots add topics and knowledge. Films can now become a regular meal, such as Paddington, How to Train Your Dragon, and Zootopia.

First, find the right level

• Bluey and Charlie and Lola are still hard without subtitles: below A2. Build the base with the KET list first, such as our post "Cartoons for A2 Key (KET) prep: what to watch for each paper".
• Most of Arthur is clear, but the child cannot tell the whole story: between A2 and B1. Start with Arthur and The Magic School Bus.
• Arthur is clear, and the child can tell an episode in English: early B1. Add Hilda, Horrid Henry, and whole films.
• Most of a film with a clear plot is clear without first-language subtitles: B1 is fairly steady. Give more time to past papers and writing.

What PET tests, and where cartoons help

B1 Preliminary for Schools has four parts: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

• Listening: each recording is usually heard twice. There are short dialogues, longer interviews, and conversations. Questions often ask about a speaker's opinion and attitude, not only facts. Cartoons with a full plot help most here.
• Speaking: candidates take it in pairs. First they answer questions about themselves. Then each one describes a photo alone for about a minute. Next they work on a task together, and last they answer the examiner's follow-up questions. Describing a photo and giving reasons can both be practiced with cartoons.
• Writing: the first task is an email of about 100 words. The second is a choice between an article and a story, also about 100 words. Story writing can be practiced directly from cartoons.
• Reading: cartoons help little. They mainly make topic words and common patterns familiar. Reading still needs practice tests.

The main list: B1 core

1. Arthur. School, friends, family, and hobbies, with a small conflict and a solution in almost every episode. It fits listening questions like "who thinks what, and why did they change their mind".
2. Hilda. British pronunciation. There is adventure and fantasy, but the dialogue is clear, and episodes run over 20 minutes with a full plot. A good bridge from short shows to longer stories.
3. The Magic School Bus. One science topic per episode, with the teacher asking and the students explaining. Good for topic words and for explaining with "because, so, as a result".
4. Horrid Henry. British pronunciation, fast speech, lots of school and family conflict, and many spoken expressions. Watch it once Arthur is easy to follow.
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender. American pronunciation, clear dialogue, and a long story arc. It fits the later B1 stage, and can be a long-term series if the child likes it.

Topic words and knowledge

• Wild Kratts: animals, the environment, and nature.
• Ask the StoryBots: science answers to everyday questions. It is fast, so it fits after B1 as listening speed practice.
• Octonauts: simpler than the two above, for weaker learners who need more sea and animal words.

Pick by PET topic. If this week's topic is the environment, choose one or two episodes about it, then give an opinion in three sentences.

Films can now be a regular meal

At B1, a whole film is no longer only a weekend treat. Choose ones with a clear plot and dialogue that is not too fast:

• British pronunciation: Paddington 1 and 2, the Wallace & Gromit films
• American pronunciation with a clear plot: Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon, Coco
• More feelings and opinions: Inside Out, Zootopia

Split a film over two or three sittings, and watch one scene closely each time. Do not race through it and jump to the next.

How to use them for each part of the exam

Speaking: describe a photo

In the second part of the PET speaking test, each candidate describes a photo for about a minute. Cartoons make this easy to practice:

1. Pause on a frame with several characters and a lot going on.
2. The child talks for one minute: where it is, who is there, what they are doing, what they are wearing, what they might be thinking.
3. Use the present continuous, such as They are sitting ... and The girl is holding ....
4. When a word is missing, talk around it, such as It's a kind of ... or I think it's something for ....

Talking around a gap is exactly what the examiner wants to see. It is much better than stopping.

Writing: stories and articles

• Story: after an episode of Arthur or Hilda, write about 100 words in the past tense, with a start, a turning point, and an ending.
• Article: PET articles often ask for an opinion, such as "your favorite TV show". Write about the show the child is watching: what it is, why they like it, and who they would recommend it to.
• Email: imagine writing to a friend to recommend a film. Say what it is about, why it is worth watching, and when to watch it together.

Listening: hear attitudes and opinions

While watching Arthur or Horrid Henry, pause and ask: Does he agree? Why is he angry? Did he change his mind later? PET listening often tests attitudes like these, and cartoon conflicts are the most natural way to practice.

How to plan the prep period

More than three months before the exam:

• About 20 minutes a day: one show from the main list, plus one film a week split into sittings.
• Two one-minute picture descriptions a week.
• One story or article a week.
• One listening section from a past paper a week.

One to two months before the exam:

• Past papers and writing come first. Cartoons drop to 10 to 15 minutes as a listening warm-up.
• Keep only the show the child knows best. Do not start new ones.
• When a past paper shows a weak spot, such as missing a speaker's attitude, go back to a cartoon and find a similar conversation to listen to again.

How much is enough

• The child can watch an episode of Arthur without subtitles and tell the story and the ending in five to eight sentences.
• The child can talk for one minute about any frame without long stops.
• The child can give an opinion about an episode and a reason in one or two sentences.

Shows that don't fit PET prep

• The Simpsons and Family Guy: lots of slang, cultural jokes, and adult content. Not suitable for students preparing for an exam.
• The Amazing World of Gumball: very fast with a lot of wordplay. Better after B2.
• Peppa Pig or Bluey only: too easy for PET. They do not reach the longer conversations and opinions.

FAQ

How is the PET list different from the KET list?

KET relies on everyday shows a few minutes long. PET needs cartoons and films with a full plot and longer dialogue. Bluey and Charlie and Lola from the KET list can stay as a warm-up, while the main list moves up to Arthur and Hilda.

Should English subtitles be on?

Off for the first pass, for the story. On for the second pass, to catch lines. Off again for the third pass, to repeat them. First-language subtitles are best left off.

Can cartoons alone get a student through PET?

No. Cartoons mainly help listening, speaking, and story writing. Reading and the structure of the email and article need direct practice. Use shows as the base, and past papers as the focus before the exam.

What comes after PET?

Move toward FCE (B2 First). Start on faster cartoons and teen shows, such as The Amazing World of Gumball, or sitcoms and documentary clips.

Next step

Today, watch one episode of Arthur without subtitles, then ask the child to tell what happened. Five sentences or more means you can add another show from the main list. Fewer than that means going back to the KET list first.