What is the Cambridge English Scale?

It is a single numeric scale, running from 80 to 230, used to report results across all Cambridge English exams. Each exam covers a slice of the scale, so a B2 First score of 180 and a C1 Advanced score of 180 sit at the same point and mean comparable ability, which makes results easy to compare across exams.

What grades can each Cambridge exam award?

Each exam awards Grade A, B, or C as a pass, plus a Level below the target where you still get a certificate at the next CEFR level down. For B2 First, Grade A is reported as C1; for C1 Advanced, Grade A is reported as C2; and a score below the pass band earns a certificate at the level beneath the exam's target.

How do Cambridge grades map to CEFR?

Each exam targets one CEFR level: B2 First targets B2, C1 Advanced targets C1, and C2 Proficiency targets C2. Scoring at the top of an exam's range can certify the level above, while a score just below the pass band certifies the level below, so the exact score matters, not just the exam name.

What score do I need to pass?

On the Cambridge Scale, B2 First passes from 160 with Grade C at 173, C1 Advanced passes from 180 with Grade C at 180, and C2 Proficiency passes from 200 with Grade C at 200. Distinction and Merit grades sit in higher bands within each exam, which this tool shows for your specific score.

Do Cambridge certificates expire?

The certificates themselves do not have an expiry date and are valid for life. However, some universities and employers prefer a result from the last two years as evidence of current ability, so check the policy of the organisation you are applying to.

Cambridge B2/C1/C2 Score Guide

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Cambridge English exams report results on the unified Cambridge English Scale, a single number from 160 to 230 for the B2, C1, and C2 exams. Because the scale is shared, the same number means the same ability regardless of which exam you sat. This guide turns your score into the grade and CEFR level it certifies.

How it works

Each exam targets one CEFR level and carves out a slice of the scale. The tool stores the official grade bands for B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency and looks up where your score falls. Within an exam you can earn Grade A, B, or C as a pass, and the bands also certify the level above or below the target. For example, a Grade A on B2 First (180 and above) certifies C1, while a score in the 160 to 172 range on B2 First still earns a B1 certificate. The tool reports both the grade label and the resulting CEFR level for your exact score.

This is why the precise number matters and not just the exam name. Two candidates who both passed C1 Advanced may hold different CEFR certifications if one scored a Grade A into C2 territory and the other a Grade C at the bottom of the band.

Tips and notes

If you are targeting a specific CEFR level for a university or visa, aim comfortably above the grade boundary rather than at it, because a marginal pass can land you a certificate at the level below the exam’s target. Cambridge certificates have lifetime validity, but many institutions still prefer a result from the last two years, so plan your test date with the application deadline in mind.