Cambridge English
A ladder your child climbs one level at a time
Cambridge English qualifications are recognised internationally and do not expire. We prepare children for them, level by level, from around age seven.
The six levels
Each level builds on the one before. Most children start at Pre A1 Starters or A1 Movers and move up a level roughly each year.
Six Cambridge levels, climbed one at a time — Pre A1 Starters through to B2 First for Schools.
| Level | CEFR | Age | Length | Papers | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre A1 Startersalso called Starters | Pre A1 | 7–8 | ~45 min | Reading & Writing, Listening, Speaking | A confident first step into English testing |
| A1 Moversalso called Movers | A1 | 8–9 | ~50 min | Reading & Writing, Listening, Speaking | Everyday words and simple conversation |
| A2 Flyersalso called Flyers | A2 | 9–10 | ~60 min | Reading & Writing, Listening, Speaking | Ready for English at secondary level |
| A2 Key for Schools | A2 | 11+ | ~70 min | Reading & Writing, Listening, Speaking | English for basic everyday purposes |
| B1 Preliminary for Schools | B1 | 13+ | ~120 min | Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking | Practical, independent communication |
| B2 First for Schools | B2 | 15+ | ~210 min | Reading & Use of English, Writing, Listening, Speaking | Upper-intermediate English for study and work |
Lengths are approximate and set by Cambridge, not by us. Check the current specifications on Cambridge’s own website before entering.
How we prepare
We place, then prepare
A short assessment decides which level your child is ready for. Age is a guide, not the answer.
The four papers, separately
Reading, writing, listening and speaking are each practised on their own before they are practised together.
Speaking with someone unfamiliar
The speaking paper unsettles children most, so rehearsal happens with an adult they do not know well.
Full papers, under time
Closer to the date, whole papers are sat to length so exam day holds no surprises.
Not sure which level to aim for?
That is the normal starting point. A short assessment tells us where your child is, and we go from there.