About Cambridge English Qualifications

English certificate for life

Success in a Cambridge English Qualification provides you with an internationally recognised certificate showing the level you have attained in English. Cambridge exam certificates do not have an expiry date, so they are good for the rest of your life.

International House Bristol's exam centre offers the following Cambridge exams: B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET), B2 First (FCE) & B2 First for Schools (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE).

For more details, click on the sections below.

The second level of the University of Cambridge exams in general English.
This exam is set at Level B1 of the CEFR for modern languages.
Learners with an intermediate level of English
With wider grasp of vocabulary
Candidates should be able read simple textbooks & articles, write simple letters and detect opinions, attitudes and moods in spoken and written English.
B1 Preliminary is helpful for anyone who wishes to take B2 First (FCE) at a later stage.

B1 Preliminary is a truly international certificate, recognised around the world for business and study purposes.

A B1 Preliminary qualification shows that you have mastered the basics of English and now have practical language skills for everyday use.

Level	Intermediate, B1 of the CEFR(Opens in a new tab/window)
Skills	Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Scale score	140-159, see the Cambridge English Scale(Opens in a new tab/window)
Number of papers	4: Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Written length	About 2 hours
Speaking length	About 12 minutes

B2 First, also known as First Certificate in English (FCE), is an upper-intermediate B2 CEFR level qualification.

It tests your ability to communicate with confidence in English in a range of everyday situations.

For more information, please see the FCE page on the Cambridge English website http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/first/(Opens in a new tab/window).

Level	Upper-Intermediate, B2 of the CEFR(Opens in a new tab/window)
Skills	Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Scale score	160-179, see the Cambridge English Scale(Opens in a new tab/window)
Number of papers	4: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Written length	About 3 hours and 20 minutes
Speaking length	About 16 minutes

C1 Advanced (CAE) is the in-depth, high-level qualification that shows you have the language skills employers and universities are looking for.

More than 9,000 educational institutions, businesses and government departments around the world accept C1 Advanced as proof of high-level achievement in learning English.

Preparing for C1 Advanced helps learners develop the skills to make the most of studying, working and living in English-speaking countries.

Level	Advanced, C1 of the CEFR(Opens in a new tab/window)
Skills	Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Scale score	180-199, see the Cambridge English Scale(Opens in a new tab/window)
Number of papers	4: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Written length	About 3 hours and 45 minutes
Speaking length	About 17 minutes

C2 Proficiency (CPE) is Cambridge’s highest-level qualification – proof that you have near-native fluency in English.

A C2 Proficiency qualification shows the world that you have mastered English to an exceptional level. It proves you can communicate with the fluency and sophistication of a highly competent English speaker.

Preparing for and passing the exam means you have the level of English needed to study or work in a very senior professional or academic environment, for example on a postgraduate or PhD programme.

Level	Proficient, C2 of the CEFR(Opens in a new tab/window)
Skills	Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Scale score	200 - 220, see the Cambridge English Scale(Opens in a new tab/window)
Number of papers	4: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening & Speaking
Written length	About 3 hours and 45 minutes
Speaking length	About 18 minutes

Recognised worldwide

English certificate for life

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