Sense of purpose
COVID-19 has meant huge disruption to learning. The best way to get learners back on track and rebuild their motivation and sense of purpose is to give them goals to work towards, whether they are back in the classroom or learning online. Preparing for a Cambridge English Qualification means that a learner knows where they are going for the next few weeks or months and gives structure to their learning, whatever age or stage of learning they are at.
Positive impact on learning
Taking an exam is not just about the end goal and the certificate. A good exam should have a positive impact on learning, and Cambridge English Qualifications are designed with this in mind. Each exam has objectives for each of the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, which are broken down into relevant sub-skills at each level, e.g. at B1 level: replying to an email, listening for detail, or talking about likes. This means that teachers and learners have goals for each week and each lesson, and time is spent on developing all four skills in authentic situations. If there is no exam to prepare for, lessons may be less focused, less time may be spent on some skills, and learners may feel less motivated as there is less sense of direction.
Support for parents
Parents can help their child, at any age, with both practical and emotional support, helping to ensure they stay motivated. We provide a range of support to help with this, taking into account that parents may not speak English or have much time.
For young learners (age 5-12), parents can use our tips for supporting their child, 30 days of fun activities, and booklet of ideas for learning at home. Teachers can watch our webinar on tips for parents on supporting young learners at home.
While young learners need more support from a teacher or parent, developing autonomy in learners in secondary school is important in helping them not just improve their English but also in developing their self-study and critical thinking skills. For Levels A2–C1, use our self-access plans for learners and online activities.
Safe environment to take exams
At Cambridge Assessment English, our priority is the health and safety of our candidates and their families. We are working with our exam centres to ensure appropriate measures are in place for the exam day. Our centres are required to adhere strictly to national and local regulations and guidelines, and we have provided additional support to help them to conduct the examinations in accordance with international best practice. If an exam has to be cancelled, it can be rearranged when it is safe to do so.
Recognition of success
When a child receives their exam result, they feel very proud and it gives them a boost to their confidence. Results for Cambridge English Qualifications are designed to give learners, parents and teachers a clear understanding of the progress they have made, what they can do in English and what the next steps are in their learning journey.
Standing out
In these difficult times, having a qualification that demonstrates a student’s ability in English can help them to stand out when they leave school and apply for university or jobs. While this may seem a long way off for younger learners, it is important to ensure that they don’t fall behind now as this could have an impact on what they will achieve when they are older. Each Cambridge English Qualification is designed to build step by step on the one before, so each step is an important milestone in working towards their final goals.
Whether you’re back in the classroom, are teaching online or are doing a combination of both, we have everything you need to feel confident and prepared. Discover our range of practical resources and tools.