Cambridge English: Main Suite
Cambridge English exams are designed for learners at all levels from the elementary level Cambridge English: Key (KET) to the very advanced level Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE). These exams give candidates proof of their ability to use English in a wide variety of contexts, relevant to work, study and leisure activities.
Why choose Cambridge English?
- Develop real-life English skills
- Exams for a range of levels and uses
- Accepted for work, immigration and study globally
- Fully supported by a range of learning and teaching resources
- International and available worldwide
- Secure, reliable and fair
- Backed by world-class research
Key (KET/KETfS)
Benefits of Cambridge English: KEY
- KEY is a qualification at pre-intermediate level. It demonstrates that a person can use English to communicate in simple situations and has achieved a good foundation in learning English.
- KEY for Schools, a version of Cambridge English: Key with exam content and topics targeted at the interests and experience of school-age learners is also available.
- KEY is aimed at learners who want to:
- Understand and use basic phrases and expressions
- Introduce themselves and answer basic questions about personal details
- Interact with English speakers who talk slowly and clearly
- Write short, simple notes
- KEY is recognised around the world for business and study purposes.
- KEY is targeted at Level A2 of the CEFR. Achieving a certificate at this level proves that a person can use English to communicate in simple situations.
| Reading& Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 10 mins | 30 mins | 8-10 mins per pair of candidates |
Shows candidates can:
- Understand and use basic phrases and expressions
- Understand simple written English
- Introduce yourself and answer basic questions about yourself
- Interact with English speakers at a basic level
Exam Length: About 2 hours
Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET/PETfS)
Benefits of Cambridge English: Preliminary
- Preliminary is a qualification at intermediate level that is officially recognised by administrative, industrial and service-based employers and educational institutions around the world. It demonstrates that a person can deal with everyday English at an intermediate level.
- Preliminary for Schools, a version of Cambridge English: Preliminary with exam content and topics targeted at the interests and experience of school-age learners is also available.
- Preliminary is aimed at learners who want to:
- Understand the main points of straightforward instructions or public announcements
- Deal with most of the situations they might meet when travelling as a tourist in an English-speaking country
- Ask simple questions and take part in factual conversations in a work environment
- Write letters/emails or make notes on familiar matters
- Preliminary is accepted by a wide range of educational institutions for study purposes. Besides that, it is also recognised by thousands of employers as a qualification in intermediate English, suitable for industrial, administrative and service-based roles.
- Preliminary is targeted at Level B1, which is intermediate on the CEFR scale. At this level users can understand factual information and show awareness of opinions, attitudes and mood in both spoken and written English. It can be used as proof of a candidate’s ability to use English to communicate with native speakers for everyday purposes.
| Reading& Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 30 mins | 36 mins | 10-12 mins per pair of candidates |
Shows candidates can:
- Read simple textbooks and articles in English
- Write letters and emails on everyday subjects
- Take meeting notes
- Show awareness of opinions and mood in spoken and written English
Exam Length: About 2 hours 20 mins
Cambridge English: First (FCE/FCEfS)
Benefits of Cambridge English: First (FCE/FCEfS)
- First was originally offered in 1939 and is a qualification at upper-intermediate level that is officially recognised by universities, employers and government around the world. Regular updating has allowed the examination to keep pace with changes in language teaching and testing while ensuring the exam remains reliable, relevant and user friendly for candidates.
- First is aimed at learners who want to:
- Start working in an English-speaking environment
- Study at an upper intermediate level, such as foundation or diploma.
- Live independently in an English-speaking country
- First is accepted by a wide range of educational institutions for study purposes. It is also recognised by thousands of employers as a qualification in upper-intermediate English.
- First is targeted at Level B2 o the CEFR scale. Level B2 is required in everyday written and spoken situations and achieving a certificate at this level proves that a candidate is becoming skilled in English.
| Reading & Use of English | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 15 mins | 1 hour 20 mins | 40 mins | 14 mins per pair of candidates |
Shows candidates can:
- Communicate effectively face to face, expressing opinions and presenting arguments
- Follow the News
- Write clear, detailed English, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view
- Write letters, reports, stories and lots of other types of text
Exam Length: 3 hours 30 mins
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Benefits of Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
- Advanced was originally introduced in 1991 and is a high-level qualification that is officially recognised by universities, employers and government around the world. Regular updating has allow the exam to keep pace with changes in language teaching and testing while ensuring the exam remains reliable, relevant and user friendly for candidates.
- Advanced is usually taken by high achievers who want to:
- Follow an academic course at university level
- Communicate effectively at managerial and professional level
- Participate confidently in workplace meetings or academic tutorials and seminars
- Carry out complex and challenging research
- Stand out and differentiate themselves
- Advanced is accepted by more than 4,000 organisations, employers and governments around the world as being reliable, accurate and fair test of English. This includes universities and colleges in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and more. On top of that, it has also been used for visa purposes for some English-speaking country.
- Advanced is targeted at Level C1 – the second highest level on the CEFR scale. Level C1 is required in demanding academic and professional settings and achieving a certificate at this level proves that a candidate has reached a very high advanced level of English.
| Reading & Use of English | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 30 mins | 1 hour 30 mins | 40 mins | 15 mins per pair of candidates |
Shows candidates can:
- Follow an academic course at university level
- Communicate effectively at a managerial and professional level
- Participate with confidence in workplace meetings or academic tutorials and seminars
- Express yourself with a high level of fluency
Exam Length: About 4 hours
Cambridge English: Advanced (CPE)
Benefits of Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
- Proficiency was originally introduced in 1913 and is a high-level qualification that is officially recognised by universities, employers and governments around the world. Following extensive research, these updates have allowed the exam to keep pace with changes in language teaching and testing while ensuring the exam remains reliable, relevant and user-friendly for candidates.
- Proficiency is aimed at learners who have achieved an extremely high level of skill in the English language and want to:
- Study demanding subjects at the highest levels, including postgraduate and PhD programmes
- Actively engage in academic life by participating confidently in tutorials and seminars
- Lead on complex and challenging research projects
- Negotiate and persuade effectively at senior management level in international business settings.
- Proficiency is recognised by thousands of employers globally as a qualification demonstrating an exceptional level of English. It is also recognised by a wide range of educational institutions for study purposes.
- Proficiency is targeted at Level C2 – the highest CEFR level – and provides universities and employers with detailed evidence that successful candidates are able to use English at near-native levels in a wide range of situations.
| Reading & Use of English | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 30 mins | 1 hour 30 mins | 40 mins | 16 mins per pair of candidates |
Shows candidates can:
- Study demanding subjects at the highest level, including postgraduate and PhD programmes
- Negotiate and persuade effectively at senior management level in international business settings
- Understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing
- Talk about complex or sensitive issues, and deal confidently with difficult questions