Cambridge English Exam Practice
Free practice tests covering the whole Cambridge ladder — from Young Learners (Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers, A2 Flyers) up through A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency. Choose your level to begin.
The Cambridge English ladder explained
Cambridge English Qualifications are a connected ladder of exams. Each one certifies a single level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), so you always know exactly what your certificate means and which exam to take next. You climb the ladder one step at a time, and every certificate is valid for life.
- Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers, A2 Flyers — the Young Learners English (YLE) tests, designed for children. They use pictures, colour and simple tasks to make a child's first exams fun and stress-free; there is no pass or fail, only shields.
- A2 Key (KET) — the first main qualification, proving you can use everyday written and spoken English at a basic level.
- B1 Preliminary (PET) — intermediate English for work, study and travel.
- B2 First (FCE) — upper-intermediate English, accepted by thousands of universities and employers worldwide.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) — high-level English for demanding academic and professional settings.
- C2 Proficiency (CPE) — the highest level, showing English at near-native command.
How the papers and scoring work
Every Cambridge exam tests the same core skills across separate papers. The Young Learners tests have three papers — Listening, Reading & Writing and Speaking — and are scored with up to five shields per skill instead of a pass mark. From A2 Key upwards the exams are reported on the Cambridge English Scale, and from B1 Preliminary the Reading and Writing papers are assessed separately, exactly as in the real test. On 7ESL the objective papers are marked instantly, and the writing and speaking tasks come with model answers so you can compare your own response.
Which Cambridge level is right for me?
Pick the level that matches your age and current English. Children usually begin with Starters and move up through Movers and Flyers; teenagers and adults often start at A2 Key or B1 Preliminary; and stronger learners aim for B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, which are the levels most universities and employers ask for. If you are between two levels, try a practice test at the lower one first — it should feel comfortable but not too easy.
Cambridge English practice — frequently asked questions
What is the Cambridge English ladder?
It is a series of exams that each certify one CEFR level, from Pre A1 Starters for young children up to C2 Proficiency. You take them one step at a time, and each certificate is valid for life.
What is the difference between the Young Learners tests and Key, Preliminary and the rest?
The Young Learners tests (Starters, Movers, Flyers) are picture-based exams for children with shields instead of a pass or fail. A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are the main qualifications for teenagers and adults, reported on the Cambridge English Scale.
How many practice tests are there?
There are ten free practice tests for every Cambridge level on 7ESL — eighty in all — each with the full set of papers and a fresh set of topics.
Are these official Cambridge tests?
No. They are original 7ESL practice materials that follow the public format of each exam. 7ESL is not affiliated with Cambridge Assessment English.
7ESL practice material written in the official Cambridge English exam format. 7ESL is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Cambridge Assessment English. “Cambridge English”, “Starters”, “Movers”, “Flyers”, “A2 Key”, “B1 Preliminary”, “B2 First”, “C1 Advanced”, “C2 Proficiency” and related names are trademarks of their respective owners.