The Cambridge English Scale for institutions

Results that better meet your needs

The Cambridge English Scale was developed in response to your feedback and aims to provide you with clearer and more detailed information on candidate performance.

Our exams on the Cambridge English Scale
Cambridge English: First, Advanced and Proficiency began reporting results on the Cambridge English Scale in January 2015. From February 2016, Cambridge English: Key,  Preliminary and Business Certificates will also report on the Scale.

The diagram below gives you an overview of where our exams sit on the scale and how they compare to one another, to IELTS and to the CEFR.

See a larger version of the Cambridge English Scale diagram here

Benefits/key features:

• Scores for each language skill – Students receive individual scale scores for the four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) plus a score for Use of English in certain exams. These scores replace the candidate profile, making it easy to specify the exact level of English you need.
• Scores given on a single scale – The new scale makes it easier to interpret results, as scores are given on the same scale for each skill and for overall exam performance. The score for overall exam performance replaces the standardised score.
• IELTS has been mapped to the scale – As the producer of IELTS, we can provide a reliable comparison between IELTS band scores and Cambridge English Scale scores. This makes it easy for you to align Cambridge English exams to your existing IELTS requirement. 
• All exams report on the same scale – Results across our range of exams report on the same scale, making it easy to understand how student performance on one exam relates to performance on another.

Updating your requirements

You’ll need to update your requirements to ensure that candidates know they can use their Cambridge English Scale results when applying to your institution.

The score converter below will help you to set your requirements.

If you already accept our exams, you can input your current requirement and it will give you the equivalent Cambridge English Scale score.

Similarly, if you accept IELTS, it’s now easier than ever to set an equivalent result. Simply input your IELTS requirement and the equivalent Cambridge English Scale score will be given.

Example requirements

Specify the Cambridge English exam and the scale score(s) you require.

Foundation/pre-sessional Cambridge English: First Overall Cambridge English Scale score of 162.    No less than 154 in each skill.

Undergraduate/postgraduate Cambridge English: Advanced Overall Cambridge English Scale score of 185. No less than 176 in each skill.

If you need any advice or guidance on setting your requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us at recognition@cambridgeenglish.org and we’ll be able to help.

Setting your requirements

You can use our comprehensive guide to using our exams to help you decide which exam to accept, and at what level.
It includes:

• details about our exams for further and higher education
• exam content and task types
• marking methodology and sample performance at various levels. 

Download our guide to setting admissions requirements.

Comparing results
For further information about the methodology and analysis that informs the comparison of results between IELTS, the Cambridge English Scale and our exams, read our guide The methodology behind the Cambridge English Scale.