Meeting your school’s testing needs

The Cambridge English Skills Test helps schools like yours to quickly and accurately check the English level of students. The test is online, on-demand and tests all four language skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening) from A1-C1 on the CEFR in modules.

It’s highly flexible and multi-purpose, whether you need an end of course/year test, to check if a student is ready to take a Cambridge English Qualification or highlight areas they need to work on.

Why choose the test for your school?

Made for schools

Test content is suitable for secondary school learners

Results you can trust

Accurate results you can trust to make decisions confidently

Adaptive

One test for all abilities from A1-C1 makes the test ideal for mixed-ability groups

Quick and easy

Simple set-up and automarking save you time and resource

Fast results

AI-powered for results within 48 hours

Getting your students ready for the test

Help your students to familiarise themselves with the test by using our free preparation resources.

Sample tests

Assessment criteria

Speaking Assessment Criteria

Writing Assessment Criteria

Sample writing responses

Candidate advice pdfs

Test designs and specifications

These materials will help you understand more about the research behind the test.

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Overview

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Speaking

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Listening

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Reading

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Writing

Cambridge English Skills Test Schools: Adaptive Testing

Explore more about the test

What reporting is available for teachers and academic managers?

Teachers and academic managers will have access to a powerful results dashboard to monitor the performance of groups of candidates, for example, a class or a school. It will allow the comparison of one class with another class, or one class over time, and it can be done by overall CEFR level or by language skill.

What do candidates receive once they have completed the test?

Candidates will receive a Results Report showing the scores they have achieved in each module and overall. The Report features can-do statements, which describe what the learner could be expected to do at their ability level.

How long is the test?

The test is divided into four language skills modules of differing length:

Reading – 30-40 mins* (approx.)

Listening – 30-40 mins* (approx.)

Writing – 45 mins

Speaking – 20 mins

*The Reading and Listening modules are adaptive, which means they end when the algorithm establishes the test-takers level. Maximum test length is 59 mins.

What security is in place to prevent malpractice?

Cambridge will provide standard best practice guidelines for administering the test securely and make periodic checks for systematic malpractice.

How are the results of the test marked?

Reading and Listening modules are automarked for immediate results. Writing and Speaking are marked by AI and human examiners for results within 48 hours.

What is meant by adaptive testing and how does this work?

Computer adaptive testing is the process by which the test adapts to the performance of the candidate. Future questions become harder or easier depending on whether the candidate answers a question correctly or incorrectly. The test continues until the algorithm is confident that it has determined the candidate’s ability level. Adaptive testing means that one test is suitable for candidates of all levels, making it ideal for mixed-ability groups. It also means that the test is completely personalised for a more motivating test experience, and as each test is unique, malpractice is less likely.

What test administration support is available?

Support is available via our Support Site, where we have interactive articles that cover all administrative functionality and give advice on the use of hardware such as headphones and webcams.

There is also a 24/7 Helpdesk

Are Access Arrangements available for candidates?

Yes. We offer modified materials for access arrangements, including:

Extra time
Braille papers
Enlarged print papers
Brail and written prompts
Hearing impaired versions
Screen reader versions

Do candidates have to take all four skills modules?

No, as well as the four skills package, you can choose one or two skills packages (plus a 3-skills package for the Schools version).

Do candidates have to take all the skills modules in one sitting?

No, the different skills modules can be sat at different times or on different days.

How does My Best Score work?

My Best Score means that candidates can retake a skills module within six months and their best score will always be the one recorded.

Is the test recognised as a certificate of English proficiency?

The Cambridge English Skills Test is for internal use only and does not have any external recognition. For recognised English proficiency certification, we offer IELTS, Cambridge English Qualifications and Linguaskill.