A2 Key for Schools
A Key for Schools qualification shows that a student can use English to communicate in simple situations. It’s a logical next step after Young Learners and a good place for older children to start learning English too.
The exam gives students the confidence to go on to study for higher-level English exams, such as Preliminary for Schools.
Key for Schools is targeted at the same CEFR level as Key for schools, but with content aimed at school-age learners rather than adults.
Exam Format
Key for Schools is made up of three papers developed to test your English skills: Reading and Writing (1 hour 10 minutes), Listening (30 minutes, including 8 minutes' transfer time), Speaking (8–10 minutes per pair of candidates).
Preparation
You can find many free resources to help you prepare for the exam. Download our free sample papers to prepare the reading, the listening and the writing part. All answers will be provided.
Dates
There are many exam dates throughout the year offering both paper-based and computer-based Key for Schools.
Results
Key for Schools results are reported on the Cambridge English Scale.
You will receive a separate score for each skill, giving you a clear understanding of your performance. These scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. You will also be given a grade and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level.