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.
Playground Rules & Prohibitions
Sign 1
Children must wear shoes on all playground equipment. Bare feet are not allowed for safety reasons.
What does this sign suggest?
Children should wear shoes only on the climbing frame, not on other equipment.
Kids have to keep their shoes on when using the playground equipment.
Bare feet are allowed on all playground equipment if you are careful.
Sign 2
No food or drinks inside the play area. Please use the picnic tables next to the gate.
What does the text say?
You must bring your own food and drinks to use the picnic tables.
Food and drinks are allowed inside the play area if you sit near the gate.
You can eat and drink only at the tables outside the play area.
Sign 3
Please wait your turn on the slide. Only one child can go down at a time.
What does this sign suggest?
Children can go down together if they are careful and hold on.
Only one child must wait at the slide at a time.
Children should take turns and use the slide one by one.
Sign 4
Climbing on the outside of the fence is forbidden. Use the gate to enter and leave the playground.
What does the text say?
Climbing on the outside of the fence is allowed if you use the gate afterwards.
You must not climb the fence; you should go through the gate instead.
You can climb the fence as long as an adult is watching you.
Sign 5
Children under 8 must be with an adult in the splash area. Older children may enter alone.
What does this sign suggest?
Kids younger than 8 need an adult with them in the splash area, but older ones can go in by themselves.
All children must be with an adult in the splash area at all times.
Children under 8 may enter the splash area alone if they are older children.
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.