2.2 Grades A, B, C and Certificates

Grades on A2 Key: A, B, and C

When your overall Cambridge English Scale score reaches 120 or higher, you pass A2 Key at (or above) the target level and receive a grade:

These boundaries are official Cambridge reporting bands for A2 Key. Learn them as fixed numbers—especially 120, 133, and 140—because exam advice, school targets, and employer requirements often quote them.

Quick answer: 120–132 = Grade C (A2 pass). 133–139 = Grade B (strong A2). 140–150 = Grade A (B1 certificate).

Grade C (120–132): Pass at A2

Grade C is a full pass. You have shown CEFR A2 ability overall. There is no “half pass” or “provisional C.” For visas, school progression, or personal goals that require “A2 Key pass,” Grade C is enough.

Psychologically, candidates sometimes treat Grade C as disappointing. Strategically, it is the primary success line of the exam. If your mock average sits at 122–125, protect that buffer with balanced skill work rather than chasing Grade A vocabulary that you cannot control under timed conditions.

Typical Grade C profile examples (illustrative skill mixes that could average in the C band):

• Reading 128, Writing 118, Listening 125, Speaking 122 → overall near the low–mid C range after averaging
• Even skills around 125–130 across the board → comfortable Grade C

(Remember: Cambridge’s official overall is the average of the four skill scale scores; paper raw marks are converted before averaging.)

Grade B (133–139): Strong A2

Grade B still certifies A2, not B1. The difference from Grade C is strength within the A2 band. You are closer to B1 and usually show fewer weak skills.

Why Grade B matters in practice:

• Motivation and feedback: Schools often set Grade B as an internal stretch target.
• Readiness signal: Overall 135+ suggests you may be ready to begin B1 Preliminary preparation soon.
• Still A2 on the certificate language for level: Do not claim “I have B1” with Grade B alone; B1 certification starts at Grade A (140+).

Grade A (140–150): B1 certificate from A2 Key

Grade A is the standout outcome. Your overall score is 140–150, which Cambridge maps to CEFR B1. You receive a B1 certificate even though the exam you booked was A2 Key.

Important clarifications:

1. You did not sit B1 Preliminary. Your certificate recognises level of performance, not a change of exam title in your registration history.
2. Grade A is not required to “really pass.” Grade C is a real pass at A2.
3. Skill profiles still matter. A Grade A overall can hide one skill near 130 if others are very high; check the Statement of Results before skipping B1 prep in a weak skill.

Grade A is an excellent springboard into B1 Preliminary (PET), but plan the next exam based on skill scores, not only the headline grade.

Below the A2 Pass: A1 Certificate (100–119)

If your overall score is below 120 but at least 100, you do not receive Grades A–C for A2 Key. Instead, Cambridge may award an A1 certificate reflecting demonstrated A1 performance.

How to talk about an A1 result honestly

• Accurate: “I received an A1 certificate from my A2 Key session.”
• Misleading: “I failed completely and have nothing.” (You may still hold A1 recognition.)
• Also misleading: “I passed A2 Key.” (A1 is below the A2 pass line of 120.)

Use the A1 outcome as diagnostic information: which skills were under 120? Those become the study plan for a retake.

Statement of Results for Everyone

Regardless of grade, all candidates receive a Statement of Results (SoR). The certificate is the formal award document; the Statement of Results is the detailed score report.

What the Statement of Results typically shows

• Overall Cambridge English Scale score
• Grade (A, B, or C) when you pass at A2 or above, or indication of A1 where applicable
• CEFR level associated with the result
• Individual skill scores for Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
• Candidate and session identification details used by centres and institutions

The SoR is what teachers and many admissions officers actually read when they want more than a single grade letter. Always keep a digital or paper copy.

Certificate vs Statement of Results

Certificates are issued later than the Statement of Results in many sessions. Do not assume that “no certificate email yet” means you failed—check the SoR timeline for your format (digital vs paper), covered in Section 2.3.

Decision Scenarios

Scenario 1: School requires “A2 Key pass”

Any Grade C, B, or A meets a plain “pass A2 Key” requirement. Grade A exceeds it with B1 certification. An A1 certificate does not meet an A2 pass requirement.

Scenario 2: You want evidence of B1 English

Only Grade A (140–150) from A2 Key certifies B1. If you need reliable B1 for work or study, consider whether sitting B1 Preliminary is more appropriate once your skill profile is consistently above 140 on Key-level mocks—or prepare for Preliminary directly if you are already strong.

Scenario 3: Overall 118 with Speaking 130

You may receive an A1 outcome overall despite a strong speaking score. Celebrate the strength, but retake planning should target Reading/Writing/Listening so the average clears 120.

Scenario 4: Overall 141 with Writing 125

You can hold a B1 certificate (Grade A) while Writing remains closer to mid-A2. Before starting a B1 writing-heavy course, strengthen Part 6 and Part 7 skills so the next qualification does not expose that gap.

Practical Target Setting

Traps to avoid

1. Treating Grade C as failure — it is the designed pass.
2. Claiming B1 with Grade B — B1 certification starts at 140.
3. Ignoring the SoR — grades without skill scores hide weaknesses.
4. Comparing raw mock percentages to grades without conversion — grades are on the scale, not on “% of items correct.”

Master these grade and certificate rules, then learn how Cambridge turns paper marks into the four skill scores and the overall average in the next section.