1.2 Cambridge English Scale Scoring & Results

1.2 Cambridge English Scale Scoring & Results

Performance on the Cambridge A2 Key for Schools examination is reported using the Cambridge English Scale, a standardized psychometric scoring framework that spans from 80 to 230 points across all Cambridge English Qualifications. This single scale allows educational institutions, teachers, and learners to track language progression from elementary levels through to advanced fluency. OpenExamPrep provides this independent guide to assist candidates and educators in understanding how test performance translates into scale scores, letter grades, and official credentials.

For A2 Key for Schools, certificates are awarded for scores between 100 and 150, and scores from 80 to 99 are reported without a certificate. The benchmark passing score is 120, the lowest score for a certificate at Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

---

Grade Boundaries and CEFR Levels

Candidate performance is categorized into clear achievement tiers based on the overall Cambridge English Scale score:

• Grade A (140–150): Candidates scoring 140–150 demonstrate exceptional competence extending into CEFR Level B1 (the level of B1 Preliminary). Candidates receive the official Cambridge A2 Key for Schools certificate stating that they demonstrated ability at Level B1.
• Grade B (133–139): Candidates scoring 133–139 demonstrate strong mastery of the A2 syllabus. They receive the Cambridge A2 Key for Schools certificate at CEFR Level A2.
• Grade C (120–132): Candidates scoring 120–132 achieve a standard pass at CEFR Level A2. The score of 120 is the official pass threshold. Candidates receive the Cambridge A2 Key for Schools certificate at Level A2.
• CEFR Level A1 (100–119): Candidates scoring 100–119 do not achieve Level A2, but demonstrate foundational competence at CEFR Level A1. Rather than receiving a failing mark, these candidates receive an official Cambridge English certificate confirming achievement at Level A1.
• Scores Below 100:
  • 80–99: Performance falls below Level A1. Cambridge reports the score on the Statement of Results, but no certificate is awarded.
  • Below 80: No Cambridge English Scale score is reported for A2 Key for Schools.

---

The Four-Skill Equal Weighting & Averaging Formula

A critical feature of the Cambridge English Scale is that each of the four language skills—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking—contributes equally (25% each) to the final overall score. Although Reading and Writing are administered within a single 60-minute paper, Cambridge calculates and reports them as two separate scale scores.

The Overall Scale Score Calculation

Raw marks for each skill are converted to Cambridge English Scale scores. Cambridge's guide to converting practice test scores gives these anchor points for A2 Key and A2 Key for Schools:

These figures apply only to official Cambridge practice tests. Live-exam boundaries vary from session to session, so Cambridge advises reviewing any practice score within about three scale points of a boundary. The overall score is the unweighted mean of the four skill scores:

$$\text{Overall Scale Score} = \frac{\text{Reading Score} + \text{Writing Score} + \text{Listening Score} + \text{Speaking Score}}{4}$$

Cambridge rounds the average to the nearest whole number, so an average of 119.75 becomes 120 (a Grade C pass at Level A2), while 119.25 becomes 119 (Level A1).

The Compensatory Scoring Principle

The examination employs a compensatory scoring model. Candidates do not need to achieve 120 in every single skill to pass. A stronger performance in one skill can compensate for a weaker performance in another:

• Reading Scale Score: 126
• Writing Scale Score: 124
• Listening Scale Score: 114 (below A2 threshold)
• Speaking Scale Score: 123
• Calculation: (126 + 124 + 114 + 123) ÷ 4 = 487 ÷ 4 = 121.75, which rounds to 122

Despite achieving a Listening score in the A1 range (114), the candidate's strong performance across Reading, Writing, and Speaking elevates their overall average to 122, earning an overall Grade C pass at CEFR Level A2. Cambridge states that there is no minimum score required in each paper.

---

Score and Grade Reference Table

The following table outlines the scale score bands, corresponding grades, CEFR levels, and certification outcomes:

---

Statement of Results vs. Official Certificate

Candidates receive their outcomes through two distinct official documents:

Statement of Results (SoR)

The Statement of Results is available through Cambridge's free online Results Service for Candidates (your centre supplies the ID number and secret number you need to register). Digital exam results are available 5 to 10 working days after the session, and paper-based results normally 4 to 6 weeks after it. Your Confirmation of Entry states the final date by which results will be available. The Statement of Results shows:

• The candidate's overall score on the Cambridge English Scale.
• The overall grade achieved (Grade A, Grade B, Grade C, or Level A1).
• The overall CEFR level achieved.
• Individual scale scores for each of the four skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).
• A reference number. Schools and other organisations can check results online with this number and the candidate's date of birth.

Official Cambridge Certificate

The Certificate is issued after the Statement of Results and is sent through your exam centre. Ask the centre when certificates usually arrive:

• Awarded only to candidates achieving a scale score of 100 or higher (Grade A, Grade B, Grade C, or Level A1). Candidates scoring 80–99 do not receive a certificate.
• Shows the Cambridge English Scale score for each of the four skills, the overall score, the grade, the CEFR level, and the level on the UK National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
• Is the same certificate that A2 Key candidates receive, according to Cambridge's handbook for teachers.