No. Candidates of any age can take A2 Key for Schools, B1 Preliminary for Schools, and B2 First for Schools. 

The content of these exams is aimed at school-age candidates, so may not be appropriate for older candidates.

A2 Key for Schools, B1 Preliminary for Schools, and B2 First for Schools follow exactly the same format as the standard versions of those exams.

The level of the exams is the same and candidates will be tested in all the same skills. The content of the exams will be a bit different, however, as the school’s versions are specifically tailored to suit the interests and experience of school-age candidates. Students who successfully take A2 Key for Schools, B1 Preliminary for Schools, and B2 First for Schools will receive the same internationally accepted certificate as candidates who take the standard versions of those exams.

All Cambridge English Qualifications and learning activities focus on four key skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is important to develop a range of skills so that children develop the skills needed in the real world.

Your child probably already uses one type of English, depending on what they’ve started learning at school. That’s perfectly OK. There’s no right or wrong type of English. Cambridge Assessment English accepts different varieties of English in their exams.

Learners often want to study ‘standard English’. But it doesn’t really exist. In countries such as the UK and Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, there are over 100 different regional and local varieties of English. In addition, the majority of people who use English come from other countries around the world (over 1 billion people!) English speakers are used to hearing lots of different accents and types of English – it’s a really important part of learning the language.

Cambridge English Listening tests include a variety of accents, so encourage your child to practice listening to lots of different types of English.

Not all resources are right for second language learners. There are lots of factors to consider. For example, is it at the right level? Is it the right length? Does it use appropriate vocabulary and grammar? Cambridge Assessment English resources are carefully written with all these considerations in mind.

As part of the University of Cambridge, research is at the heart of everything they do. Their resources and exams are based on research into how children learn best.

Cambridge Assessment English research surveys have found that children are really motivated, happy, and proud to receive an internationally recognized certificate from a department of the University of Cambridge. Teachers value the qualifications as a gentle introduction, which helps children develop confidence and prepares them for taking more difficult exams in the future. They say that children are more motivated, pay more attention, and work harder when they are working towards a Cambridge English Qualification.