Reading - Signs & Notices
B1
Cambridge English B1 Exam
Look at the text of each sign. What does it suggest? Select the option that best captures the meaning of the sign.
Hospital Ward Safety Signs
Sign 1
For infection control, you must clean your hands before entering and when leaving the ward.
What does this sign suggest?
You should clean your hands only if you touch a patient.
You have to wash or sanitise your hands both before you go in and after you come out.
You must clean your hands only when entering the ward.
Sign 2
Visitors must wear a face mask at all times. Masks are available at the nurses’ station.
What does the text say?
All visitors have to keep a mask on, and they can get one from the nurses’ desk.
Visitors should wear a mask only if they cannot get one at the nurses’ station.
Visitors must wear a face mask only when they are at the nurses’ station.
Sign 3
Do not sit on patients’ beds. Use the visitor chairs provided beside each bed.
What does this sign suggest?
You should sit on the beds only when the chairs are full.
You aren’t allowed to sit on the beds; you should use the chairs instead.
Do not sit on patients’ beds unless you use the visitor chairs.
Sign 4
No food or hot drinks in this area. Water in a closed bottle is permitted.
What does the text say?
You can only bring sealed water here; eating and hot drinks are not allowed.
You should avoid food and hot drinks because there is no café nearby.
No food or hot drinks are permitted unless you bring water.
Sign 5
In an emergency, you must not use the lift. Follow the green EXIT signs to the stairs.
What does this sign suggest?
You should use the stairs only if the lift is busy during an emergency.
In an emergency, you must use the lift and then follow the green EXIT signs.
If there is an emergency, you have to take the stairs and follow the exit signs, not the lift.
About Reading Signs & Notices — Cambridge English B1
This Cambridge English B1 Reading Signs & Notices exercise shows short public messages — signs, labels, emails and notes. For each one, choose the option that best explains its meaning.
It tests your understanding of everyday English and the real purpose behind short, functional messages you meet in daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reading Signs & Notices?
You read a short message such as a sign, label or note and choose the option that best explains what it means or wants you to do.
What does it test?
Understanding the purpose and meaning of short, real-world English messages.
Any tips for Signs & Notices?
Ask yourself who wrote the message and why — the correct option matches its real purpose, not just individual words in it.
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What to do
This part of the reading test consists of five images with messages. Each image has 3 possible answer options. What does the notice say?
Read the notices and messages first. Don’t look at the choices until you understand the texts.
Compare each option with the text before choosing your answer. Remember that the wrong, answers might seem to be correct at first, so it is important to read the chosen option again to check that the meanings match.
Strategy
- Read the text and decide what situation it could appear in.
- Look at the images, the design often suggests the correct answer.
- Read the three options.
- Compare each option with the text before choosing an answer.
- Read the chosen option again to be sure it is a right answer.