Cambridge exams for children
Which exam in which school year
| Exam | Level | We recommend it for | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre A1 Starters | Pre A1 | Ages 8 to 9, grade 3 | about 45 minutes | €79 |
| A1 Movers | A1 | Ages 9 to 10, grade 4 or 5 | about 1 hour | €89 |
| A2 Flyers | A2 | Ages 10 to 11, grade 5 or 6 | about 1 hour 15 minutes | €89 |
| A2 Key for Schools | A2 | Ages 12 to 13, grade 6 or 7 | about 2 hours | €119 |
| B1 Preliminary for Schools | B1 | Age 14 and over, grade 8 and secondary school | about 2 hours 20 minutes | €129 |
What your child gains from the exam
- A goal they can see. An exam at the end of the school year gives a child a reason to learn, and a certificate with their name on it is a reward they can show.
- An outside assessment. The exam is not written or marked by your child's teacher. You get independent confirmation of how much your child knows, measured on the same scale as in other countries.
- Exam experience without fear. Nobody fails the exams for children. Your child gets used to sitting an exam early and without pressure, so later exams, from B2 First to the state school-leaving exam (državna matura), are less frightening.
What the exam looks like
Each of the three exams has three parts: Listening, Reading and Writing, and Speaking. The tasks use pictures, short stories and conversation, and the whole exam takes from 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter. In the Speaking test your child talks one to one with the examiner for a few minutes.
For each part your child receives from one to five shields. The shields show what your child already knows and where there is still room to improve.
What comes after Flyers
The exams follow on from one another and all are reported on the same scale. After the exams for children come A2 Key and B1 Preliminary in the for Schools version, and at secondary school B2 First, at level B2, which is also the level of the higher-level state school-leaving exam (državna matura) in English.
How your child prepares
Best of all where they already learn English: at a language school or at their own primary school, with a teacher who knows the exam. There is no need for special cramming. It is enough for your child to do one or two sample tests before the exam and to know what to expect.
Your child does not have to attend a preparation centre to take the exam. You can also apply for your child yourself, directly with us.
Three questions to ask a language school
Are you choosing a school, or would you like to know more about the one your child already attends? Ask:
- 1Do your learners take an international exam, and which one in which year?
- 2Who, apart from the child's teacher, confirms how much the child has progressed?
- 3Do you enter the children for the exam, and does the child receive the certificate at school?
The schools on our list of preparation centres already have an answer to these questions: their learners regularly take Cambridge exams.
List of preparation centresIs your child's school not on the list?
Tell us which school it is. We will contact it and explain how its learners can take a Cambridge exam.
Questions from parents
Is the exam stressful for a child?
The exams for children are designed not to be. The tasks use pictures, colouring and short stories, nobody fails, and every child receives a certificate. It helps if your child sees a sample test before the exam, so they know what to expect.
Can my child take the exam without going to a language school?
Yes. You can apply for your child yourself, using the application form. We advise you to do a sample test from the Cambridge website with your child before the exam.
Where is the exam held?
In Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Čakovec and Vinkovci, depending on the session. The sessions are on the Dates and fees page.
What if my child is ill on the day of the exam?
With a medical certificate, sent no later than seven days after the exam, you can ask for your payment to be transferred to the next session. Cambridge decides on the request, and a transfer is possible once. The details are in the rules.
When does my child get the certificate?
Results of the paper-based exam usually arrive in 4 to 6 weeks, and the certificate three to four weeks after the results. For the digital exam (Starters and Movers), results arrive in 5 to 10 working days. Children entered through a preparation centre receive their certificate at their school.