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 gives students the practical English skills they need for foundation programmes, technical and vocational courses, and courses taught in the medium of English.
What can students with B2 First do?
- Understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing.
- Keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, expressing opinions and presenting arguments.
- Produce clear, detailed writing, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.
- Make simple notes for essay or revision purposes, capturing the most important points.
- Scan texts for relevant information.
C1 Advanced is the ideal qualification to prepare students for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
What can students with C1 Advanced do?
- Contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within their own area of work.
- Read quickly enough to cope with an academic course.
- Scan texts for relevant information and grasp the main topic of a text.
- Write a piece of work whose message can be followed throughout.
- Keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping with abstract expressions.
- Take reasonably accurate notes in meetings or write a piece of work which shows an ability to communicate.
- Make critical remarks/express disagreement without causing offence.
C2 Proficiency proves that students have the language ability to study demanding subjects at the highest levels, including postgraduate and PhD programmes.
What can students with C2 Proficiency do?
- Talk about complex or sensitive issues, and deal confidently with difficult questions.
- Understand colloquial asides and cultural allusions.
- Write confidently on any given topic.
- Make accurate and complete notes during a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
- Negotiate and persuade effectively at senior management level in international business settings.
Your guide to meeting English language requirements with Cambridge English
If you are applying to a university where the language of instruction is English, you will need to demonstrate that you have the necessary English language skills. Cambridge English Qualifications are recognised by thousands of universities worldwide and can help you achieve your academic goals.
What level of English do you need?
It is important to consider both the level of English needed for your courses and which exam is most suited to your needs. This will depend on the level of study and the subject(s) being studied.
Each of the Cambridge English exams is targeted at a different level of the CEFR (VÍNCULO EN BLANK), which means they assess a candidate on a wide range of skills and knowledge at that level. The context of questions is also appropriate to the level being assessed, with higher levels having a greater academic focus.
As a guide, we recommend the following qualifications for the different levels of study:
| Foundation/ pre-sessional | Undergraduate & postgraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| B2 First | C1 Advanced | C2 Proficiency |
| Targeted at CEFR Level B2. | Targeted at CEFR Level C1. | Targeted at CEFR Level C2. |
| Reports on the Cambridge English Scale between 122 and 190. | Reports on the Cambridge English Scale between 142 and 210. | Reports on the Cambridge English Scale between 162 and 230. |
These levels reflect the academic demands of your course, so make sure you are preparing for the correct one.
Understanding the Cambridge English Scale
Each Cambridge English qualification provides a score on the Cambridge English Scale, which is a precise way of demonstrating your English level to universities.
The Cambridge English Scale makes it easy to:
- Specify the overall score you need.
- Specify minimum scores for the individual skills.
You can use the table below to ensure that the Cambridge English Scale score you ask for is at the same level as your CEFR requirements.
| CEFR | Cambridge English Scale Score |
|---|---|
| C2 | 200+ |
| C1 | 180 |
| B2 | 160 |
| B1 | 140 |
Example requirement for an undergraduate course:
If a university requires C1 Advanced, they may ask for the following:
- An overall score of 180;
- At least 175 in each of the four skills: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Always check the exact requirements of your chosen university.
Already have a score?
Use the interactive converter to compare your current IELTS, TOEFL or older Cambridge English scores with the Cambridge English Scale.
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