How the Cambridge exams are structured
Each Cambridge exam tests four skills across a set of papers: Reading and Use of English (one combined paper at B2 First and above, with grammar/vocabulary tasks alongside reading), Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Speaking is usually done in pairs with two examiners — one leads the tasks, one observes — which makes it feel more like a real conversation than a one-way interview.
The exams are pitched at a level, but they measure a range around it. So B2 First doesn't only confirm B2 — a strong performance can certify C1, and a weak-but-passing one can still certify B1. That built-in range is why picking the right exam matters less than it does for DELE: you get a meaningful result even if you land a little above or below the target.
How the Cambridge exams are scored
Results report on the Cambridge English Scale, a single number that runs across the exams. Each skill gives a scale score, and these average to an overall score and grade (for example, grades A, B, or C are all passes, with grade A on B2 First reaching into C1). The scale is what lets one exam certify the level above or below — the number tells the institution exactly where you landed, not just that you passed.
Writing and Speaking are rated by trained examiners against published criteria (range, accuracy, organisation, interaction). Because the overall is an average of the four skills, the same lesson holds: a single weak skill — for many candidates, Speaking — can pull a passing-looking profile under the line. Find it and drill it before exam day.
| CEFR level | Cambridge exam | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | A2 Key (KET) | Entry certificate · Certificado inicial |
| B1 | B1 Preliminary (PET) | Intermediate · Intermedio |
| B2 | B2 First (FCE) | Most-taken; grade A reaches C1 · El más presentado; la calificación A llega a C1 |
| C1 | C1 Advanced (CAE) | Common UK university requirement · Requisito habitual de universidades del RU |
| C2 | C2 Proficiency (CPE) | Highest level · Nivel más alto |
Which Cambridge exam should you take?
Sit the exam pitched at the level you're targeting, plus realistic prep. B2 First is the standard "I work well in English" credential; C1 Advanced is what many UK and international universities ask for; C2 Proficiency is for very advanced users. Because each exam measures a range, you're not punished for landing slightly off — but you still want to aim where your real level is, not where you hope it is. Confirm your level honestly first, then choose.