In 2020, Cambridge English Assessment will be updating A2 Key, A2 Key for Schools, B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for Schools exams to ensure they continue to meet the needs of students and teachers.
 The updates will include: - better alignment across A2 Key and
A2 Key for Schools, as well as B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for
Schools and above, showing clearer progression from one exam to the next
- grade
changes from Pass with Distinction/Pass with Merit/Pass to Grade A/B/C,
in line with other Cambridge English Qualifications
- separating
the Reading and Writing papers for B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminary for
Schools to give candidates a break between papers.
At a glance – what’s new?
Here are the main changes to the A2 Key exam from January 2020: - The
exam will be 10 minutes shorter, but it still covers all the same
language skills and tests at the same level as the current version.
- There are new or revised tasks in each of the papers.
- The way grades are reported has been updated – candidates will now receive a grade of A, B, or C.
|  | New exam format
A2 Key is made up of three papers developed to test your English skills. You can see exactly what is in each paper below. |
| Paper | Content | Marks (% of total) | Purpose | Reading and Writing
(1 hour) | 7 parts/ 32 questions | 50% | Shows you can understand simple written information such as signs, brochures, newspapers and magazines. | Listening
(30 minutes, including 8 minutes' transfer time) | 5 parts/ 25 questions | 25% | Requires you to be able to understand announcements and other spoken material when people speak reasonably slowly. | Speaking
(8–10 minutes per pair of candidates) | 2 parts | 25% | Shows you can take part in a conversation by answering and asking simple questions. Your Speaking test will be conducted face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. |
 At a glance – what’s new?
Here are the main changes to the B1 Preliminary exam from January 2020 - There will now be four papers instead of three – the Reading and Writing papers are now taken separately
- There are new or revised tasks in each of the papers.
- The way grades are reported has been updated – candidates will now receive a grade of A, B, or C.
|  | New exam format
The
updated exam is made up of four papers developed to test your English
skills. You can see exactly what’s in each paper below. |
| Paper | Content | Marks (% of total) | Purpose | Reading
(45 minutes) | 6 parts/ 32 questions | 25% | Shows you can read and understand the main points from signs, newspapers and magazines. | Writing
(45 minutes) | 2 parts/ 3 questions | 25% | Shows you can write using vocabulary and structure correctly. | Listening
(30 minutes, including 6 minutes transfer time) | 4 parts/ 25 questions
| 25% | You have to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials including announcements and discussions about everyday life. | Speaking
(12 minutes per pair of candidates) | 4 parts | 25% | Shows how good your spoken English is as you take part in conversation by asking/answering questions and talking, for example, about your likes and dislikes. Your Speaking test will be conducted face to face with one or two other candidates and two examiners. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. |
| Resources |
|  | Webinars
This Cambridge Assessment English webinars, focus on the revisions to A2 Key and Key for Schools, and B1 Preliminary and Preliminary for Schools, which will launch in 2020. They will begin with an overview of the revision process itself before going on to explain the changes that have been made to tasks within each paper, component by component. |
 | Visit the Teaching Support for 2020 Updates dedicated microsite
To prepare schools and teachers for these changes, Cambridge Assessment English has launched a new microsite (in English only).
It has been created to help schools and teachers confidently prepare learners for the new exams.
It provides you with:
-
an overview of changes to the exams
-
official Cambridge English preparation materials
-
a video explaining why the exams are being updated
-
handbooks for the revised exams
-
revised word lists
-
new sample papers
- support materials for preparation centres
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The official preparation materials, including the Prepare, Complete and
Compact courses for schools, have also been updated to reflect the
changes and provide further support.
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