Results
B1 Preliminary results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale.
You will receive a separate score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), giving you a clear understanding of your performance. These four scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. You will also be given a grade and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level.
For more information about the Cambridge English Scale, download our factsheet
When will I get my B1 Preliminary Statement of Results?
All candidates receive a Statement of Results, and if you are successful in the exam you will also receive a certificate.
Your Statement of Results is released online, approximately four to six weeks after the exam for paper-based exams, and two to three weeks after the exam for computer-based exams. The fastest way to get your results is to sign up to our free online results service.
When will I get my B1 Preliminary certificate?
We send your certificate to your exam centre about three weeks after results are available. Your exam centre then sends it on to you.
- If you took a paper-based exam, your certificate will be sent to your centre seven to nine weeks after the date of your exam.
- If you took a computer-based exam, your certificate will be sent to your centre five to six weeks after your exam date.
B1 Preliminary Scale Scores
Depending on which university, college or organisation you are applying to, you may be asked to achieve a specific score or grade, either overall or for a particular skill. For B1 Preliminary, the following scores will be used to report results:
| Cambridge English Scale Score |
Grade |
CEFR level |
| 160–170 |
Pass with Distinction |
B2 |
| 153–159 |
Pass with Merit |
B1 |
| 140–152 |
Pass |
B1 |
| 120–139 |
Level A2 |
A2 |
The exam is targeted at Level B1 of the CEFR. The examination also provides reliable assessment at the level above B1 (Level B2) and the level below (Level A2).
Scores between 102 and 119 are also reported on your Statement of Results, but you will not receive the Preliminary English Test certificate.
The relationship between the CEFR levels, the Cambridge English Scale and the grades awarded in B1 Preliminary is illustrated below:
