Results and certificates | British Council

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Results

Due to Covid-19, results for paper based exams are available between 6 and 9 weeks after you take the exam and computer based just 2 weeks after you take the exam.

Cambridge English Language Assessment will not give feedback on your performance for individual questions. All the available information is given in your Statement of Results.

Individual candidates

Candidates now have direct access to their results via the Cambridge English Online Results Service. Each candidate's personal timetable will include login details and candidates will also receive an e-mail notifying them that the results release period has begun.

Schools and Institutions

All Preparation Centres that register candidates for Cambridge English Language Assessment examinations will be able to access their students' results and Statement of Results directly on the Cambridge English site for Preparation Centres. Following registration, you will receive an e-mail with login details.

Certificates

If you have passed your exam, your certificate will be sent to your British Council examination centre approximately 9 weeks after your results are released. Certificates for computer based exams are available 6 weeks after you take the exam. You will also receive an e-mail notifying that your certificate is available for collection.

No certificate will be issued without a valid proof of identity.

If you cannot collect the certificate in person, you can authorise another person. To do so – you can download the form below.

We will send your certificate by post based on an email request. However, for security reasons, we do not recommend this option. Please note that if the certificate is lost in transit between the exam centre and the candidate, it is possible to apply for a replacement certificate within the timeframe of 6 to 12 months after the exam date. If this condition is not met, a replacement certificate cannot be provided and you will be liable for all costs we incur in providing a certifying statement.

Certificates for Young Learners

You will receive an award from Cambridge English Language Assessment, showing your performance in each part of the test – Listening, Reading and Writing and Speaking.

For each part of the test you get one or more Cambridge shields (up to a maximum of five) so you could get a total of 15 shields for the whole test.

Young Learners certificates are issued approximately 8 weeks after the date of your examination. You can collect the certificate in person at the British Council centre or from your school where you sat the exam or if you wish, we can send it to you by post. Everyone who completes their test receives an award, which focuses on what they could do, it gives them credit for having taken part in the test.

Result Verification Service

Result Verification Service is used by universities, immigration authorities and other professional organisations to verify a candidate’s result. You choose which of these organisations can see your photo, by giving them your ID number and a password which you can set up through the Cambridge English online service website.

Extended certification

From March 2011 Cambridge English has introduced Extended Certification, which is aimed at giving many candidates additional credit for the language skills they have demonstrated in a Cambridge English examination. It also aims to help universities, employers and other organisations get a clearer picture of how candidates' results relate to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). It works in two ways:

A candidate who performs particularly well in the exams can get credit at a higher level on the CEFR. For example, candidates who get grade A in Cambridge English: Advanced receive a CAE certificate indicating that they are at C2 level.
Candidates can also receive credit for their English language skills, even if they do not achieve a passing grade. So a candidate who does not get enough marks for a grade C in Cambridge English: Advanced can still be awarded a certificate showing performance at level B2 if they show this level of ability in the exam.

For further information and sample certificates:

Results enquiries

If you feel that your exam was unfairly marked, Cambridge English has a rigorous and thorough Result Enquiry Procedure to ensure all components are checked and, if requested, re-marked. If you want to query your result, this must be submitted through the British Council on your behalf.

Results Enquiry Procedure has two stages:

Stage	What is the enquiry process?	How long does it take?	What does it cost?
Stage 1	A clerical re-check	Approximately 5 days	25 GBP
Stage 2a	A re-mark of all written papers* (for PET, PETfS and BEC Preliminary)**	Approximately 3 weeks***	75 GBP
Stage 2b	A re-mark of all written papers* (for FCE, FCEfS, CAE, CPE and BEC Vantage and Higher)**	Approximately 3 weeks***	116 GBP

* Please note that this process does not apply to any Speaking test component.

** Results enquiries are not available for A2 Key (KET) and A2 Key for Schools (KETfS)

*** To request a Stage 2 enquiry, a candidate must have received their results and completed Stage 1 of the Results Enquiry Process.

Name errors on certificates

If your name is spelt incorrectly (spelling mistake or word order) on the certificate, please contact us. If you have changed your name by deed poll or for reasons of marriage or divorce, the name on your certificate cannot be amended.

A new certificate will be issued free of charge if your request is made no later than six months after the certificate has been issued. There is a charge for any amendments requested more than six months after the certificates have been issued. No requests will be accepted if more than two years have passed since the certificates’ issue date.