B2 First for Schools

No. Cambridge states that B2 First for Schools and B2 First are at the same CEFR level and follow the same format. The difference is audience: B2 First for Schools is tailored to the interests and experience of school-age learners, while B2 First is designed for adults. Results carry the same scale score range of 160–179.

The exam is at CEFR level B2, and results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale in the range 160–179. Cambridge does not publish a separate pass mark on this page, so check your Statement of Results for how your scale score maps to a grade.

Reading and Use of English lasts 1 hour 15 minutes; Writing lasts 1 hour 20 minutes; Listening lasts about 40 minutes; Speaking lasts 14 minutes per pair of candidates, or 20 minutes per group of three. Cambridge gives the whole exam as about 3.5 hours. The formats are identical for digital and paper-based exams.

Each of the two Writing tasks requires 140–190 words. Part 1 is one compulsory essay in which you use two given ideas plus one of your own. Part 2 offers a choice of four questions, including one set text question, and the text types include article, email or letter, review, story (B2 First for Schools only) and report (B2 First only).

You take it with another candidate and there are two examiners: one talks to you, the other listens. Part 1 is a conversation with the examiner. In Part 2 you speak alone for 1 minute about a pair of photographs, then respond for 30 seconds to your partner's photographs. Part 3 is a 2-minute discussion with your partner followed by a 1-minute decision-making task, and Part 4 is a 4-minute discussion of the same topic.

Yes. Cambridge lists the test format as digital or paper-based, and states that the formats are the same for both the digital and paper-based exams. Cambridge also notes that digital exams offer faster results. Preparation does not need to change, so choose whichever route your exam centre offers.

You hear each recording twice. The paper has four parts: eight short unrelated recordings with multiple-choice questions, a 3–4 minute monologue with sentence completion, five short related monologues matched to statements, and a 3–4 minute interview or exchange with multiple-choice questions.

Start with Reading and Use of English, because its four Use of English parts test grammar and vocabulary you will reuse in Writing and Speaking: multiple-choice cloze, open cloze, word formation and key word transformations. Then practise timed Writing tasks, since Part 1 is a compulsory essay and Part 2 requires choosing one task from four.

In Reading and Use of English, Part 4 key word transformations allow up to 2 marks but require the key word to be used correctly while keeping the meaning; Part 5 and Part 6 are worth 2 marks each. In Writing, ignoring the 140–190 word range or the task instructions costs marks. In Speaking Part 2, candidates who describe photographs without comparing them or expressing opinions miss the point of the task.

This page does not cover them. Cambridge directs candidates to its exam dates, results and find-an-exam-centre pages, and your local centre administers registration and fees. Check those official pages for current dates and retake arrangements rather than relying on second-hand information.