Cambridge English exams for higher education institutions

Higher education institutions

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A complete portfolio for all your language needs

As the team behind Cambridge English Qualifications, IELTS and Linguaskill we offer the world’s most trusted exams and tests for higher education.

The diagram below gives you an overview of what we offer mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the Cambridge English Scale. The CEFR is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language.

The full CEFR chart *Linguaskill reports up to a maximum score of 180+ , which equates to C1 (or above) on the CEFR scale.

Download a larger version of the Cambridge English Scale

Our qualifications for higher education

Cambridge English Qualifications are about more than just exams and grades. Preparing for these in-depth qualifications helps students develop the range of skills they need to succeed.

Each exam targets a specific level of ability to provide an in-depth assessment of students’ skills for recognising organisations, and clear learning objectives for teachers and learners.

We recommend the following Cambridge English Qualifications for study at further and higher education institutions.

B2 First

B2 First gives students the practical English skills they need for foundation programmes, technical and vocational courses, and courses taught in the medium of English.

C1 Advanced

C1 Advanced is the ideal qualification to prepare students for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

C2 Proficiency

C2 Proficiency proves that students have the language ability to study demanding subjects at the highest levels, including postgraduate and PhD programmes.

Using our exams in your institution

For admissions requirements

Accept our secure exams and tests as part of your admissions criteria and you will have access to millions of students from around the world. More than 6.5 million people take our qualifications and tests in 130 countries.
For student visa requirements

Our exams and tests are accepted for student visa applications in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. Choosing our qualifications for your admissions requirements often means that students need only take one English language exam.
For on-course success

For us, learning English is more than just grades and taking a snapshot of a student’s level. Our in-depth qualifications help students develop the confidence to communicate effectively and provide a reliable indicator of language ability, strengthening your students’ ability to match expectations.
For your students’ ongoing language support

If you need to measure your students’ level of English for their language support requirements, course placement, progression over time or graduation, we can help you do so accurately and efficiently. We have everything you need to make informed decisions.
For graduate employment

Make sure your students leave with a valuable qualification that is trusted by many of the world’s top employers. Preparing for our exams helps students develop the range of English language skills employers want in the workplace.
For your English language teaching and academic staff

Around the world, there is growing interest in English-medium courses. We can support your internationalisation objectives and improve your teaching quality by ensuring your faculty are confident working in English.

Our guide to Cambridge English Qualifications for higher education

Comparing scores

Find out how to compare Cambridge Scale scores to IELTS and CEFR levels

Exam security and quality

How do we ensure that our exams are accurate and fair to all candidates?

Our multilevel tests

IELTS

IELTS is a multilevel exam that identifies English proficiency at all levels, from non-user through to expert. There is a choice of two tests – Academic and General Training – to serve both academic and non-academic purposes.

Linguaskill

Linguaskill helps you check the English language of individuals and groups of candidates for admissions, course placement, progression measurement or graduation. It can easily be administered at your own venue, with results available within 48 hours.

A complete portfolio for all your language needs

Our qualifications for higher education

B2 First

C1 Advanced

C2 Proficiency

Using our exams in your institution

For admissions requirements

For student visa requirements

For on-course success

For your students’ ongoing language support

For graduate employment

For your English language teaching and academic staff

Comparing scores

Exam security and quality

Our multilevel tests

IELTS

Linguaskill