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Security you can rely on

As world leaders in language assessment, Cambridge English puts exam quality, fairness and security at the heart of everything it does. Every learner is given a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and receives reliable information they can trust.

Cambridge English Qualifications have enhanced security built into every stage of the exam process. From the production of papers to the day of the exam, they ensure the exams are fair to all learners and reflect their true level of English.

Here’s how your exam is kept secure:

  • Secure exam materials: All exam papers are prepared, printed and transported under strict security controls.
  • Certified test centres: Every authorised Cambridge English centre follows a detailed code of practice to ensure high standards during registration, testing and results handling.
  • Candidate photos: A photo of each test taker is taken on the day of the exam and can be used by universities to confirm your identity through our online Results Verification Service.
  • Independent marking: Speaking tests are conducted in person and marked by trained local examiners. Writing tests are anonymised and marked by certified assessors who have no access to your identity or location.
  • Data analysis for fairness: Cambridge English uses advanced statistical checks to detect and investigate unusual patterns in test results before they are released.

Ensuring quality and fairness

As part of the University of Cambridge, with over 100 years of experience in assessment, the Cambridge English exams are backed by cutting-edge research and a global team of language testing experts.

The following sections explain how quality and fairness are maintained throughout the entire exam process:

Systems and processes for designing, developing and delivering examinations and assessment services are certified as meeting the internationally recognised ISO 9001 standard for quality management.

In developing the exams, Cambridge English refers continually to two independent and international frameworks for describing language ability:

Together they make it easy for people to understand their level of ability and the kind of exam that they need.

Cambridge English works closely with key organisations to further advance knowledge about language learning and assessment and to develop international standards that are transparent to all:

  • Council of Europe – all of the exams are developed using the principles and approaches of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – an internationally recognised system for describing language ability.
  • ALTE – Cambridge English works closely with testing organisations, schools and academics throughout the world to support the development of language testing, in theory and practice.
  • English Profile – Cambridge English collaborates with respected partners on this long-term research project to develop the CEFR for the English language.

Because Cambridge English is a department of a not-for-profit organisation, it is perhaps unique in sharing the findings of much of its research with other academics and specialists in the language testing community.

The purpose of all of the reviews is to ensure that the exams are relevant, reliable, accurate and meet the needs of test takers. Continuously reviewing and improving the exams means Cambridge English can take account of:

  • changes to teaching practice
  • the latest findings in language assessment research
  • feedback from schools and centres
  • feedback from candidates.

At Cambridge English, the reliability and quality of the exams is ensured through regular inspections, designed to confirm that Exam Centres comply with their regulations and provide candidates with a positive experience on test day.

All authorised exam centres are subject to unannounced visits at a minimum frequency, which may vary depending on the number of exams they deliver. These visits are intended to observe how the tests are run and to verify that exam procedures are being followed correctly.

Cambridge English's inspection programme is unique — no other English language certification body has a quality assurance system quite like it.

The purpose of these visits is to make sure the exams are administered in a consistent and standardised way, no matter where they take place. This ensures that every candidate has the same fair opportunity when taking the exams and that the results accurately reflect their true language ability.

Naturally, the exam regulations are also designed to prevent and detect fraud or malpractice, helping to maintain the integrity of the qualifications and the strong international reputation they enjoy.

Cutting-edge technology

Cambridge English continually innovates to deliver real benefits for the institutions and learners that use the assessments. Working with world-leading experts in linguistics, artificial intelligence, psychometrics and data science, technology is used to enhance fairness and access while implementing appropriate levels of security.

Why this matters for you

When you earn a Cambridge English qualification, you gain more than just a score: you earn a globally respected certificate that proves your English skills are real and reliable, and ready for the future.

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