ESOL Examinations Logo

Experts in Language Assessment

Preparation and practice materials - FAQs

(Back to top)

Do I need to follow a course to take the exams?

No. Although most candidates do follow a course before taking the exam, it is not a requirement. Contact your local centre to find out about registering for the exam as an individual. Note that only centres listed as ‘Open’ will accept candidates who have not taken a course at the centre.

Contact your local centre

(Back to top)

Where can I study for Cambridge English exams?

Cambridge ESOL is not able to recommend courses or course providers. If you would like to take a Cambridge English exam, your local British Council office will be able to assist you.

Find local British Council office

If you are thinking of studying English in the UK, you can find out details of around 450 schools and colleges – all accredited by the British Council – on the English UK website.

Go to English UK website

(Back to top)

I need to take Skills for Life, but I don’t want to take a course – what can I do?

Most Skills for Life centres obtain their funding by offering courses for learners, so you may not be able to find a centre in your area that can enter you for an exam without first taking a course.

(Back to top)

What materials can I use to study for my Cambridge English exam?

There is a huge range of books and materials to help you prepare for Cambridge English exams, including resources from independent publishers, eLearning courses, online practice tests, sample papers and more. You can contact publishers directly for materials they offer related to the exams and you can view a full list of resources by following the link below.

View list of publishers

View full list of resources

(Back to top)

Where can I find past/sample papers or questions for Cambridge English exams?

You can find details of the various resources available to buy or download for free from the ‘Preparation’ tab on the page for each exam or by following the link below.

View full list of resources

(Back to top)

How do I view downloadable documents such as handbooks and sample papers?

Most downloadable documents on our website are available as PDF files. To view, save and print these documents you will need the latest version of Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded free from: www.adobe.com

If you are still having problems viewing our PDF documents in your browser, and you have Acrobat Reader, right-click on the document link and choose ‘Save Target As …’ (on certain browsers, wording may differ). When prompted, name the file, save it to your hard drive and open the document.

Please be aware that many of the files on this site are quite large and may take some time to download depending on the speed of your internet connection.

Please contact Cambridge ESOL using the enquiry form if you continue to have issues viewing our downloadable materials. We will be happy to assist you with any problems.

Contact Cambridge ESOL

(Back to top)

Are there word lists for Cambridge English exams?

Cambridge ESOL publishes vocabulary lists for exams at CEFR levels A1–B1:

YLE Vocabulary List (inside the handbook)

Cambridge English: Key Vocabulary List

Cambridge English: Preliminary Vocabulary List

Cambridge English: BEC Preliminary Vocabulary List

Examinations which are at CEFR Level B2 (independent user) and above do not have specific language specifications or a vocabulary list.

(Back to top)

Is there a word list for the Skills for Life tests?

No. The content of the tests is based on the relevant sections of the UK Government's Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, which outlines functional and structural language appropriate to each level.

(Back to top)

How can I order Cambridge ESOL resources online?

  • Ordering publications – buy from our publication eShop using a credit or debit card.
  • Ordering online practice tests – buy from our Cambridge ESOL eShop using a credit or debit card.
  • Ordering 100% online self-study courses and modules – buy online from our Cambridge ESOL eShop using a credit or debit card.
(Back to top)

What is the difference between the publication eShop and the Cambridge ESOL eShop?

  • You can order materials from the publication eShop and you don’t need to create an account for this.
  • You can order online practice tests and 100% online self-study courses and modules from the Cambridge ESOL eshop and you need to create an account for this.
(Back to top)

I placed an order on the publication eShop/Cambridge ESOL eShop; how long will this take to arrive?

Please allow 30 days for your order to arrive. If your order has not been received after this time, please contact esolinfo@cambridgeesol.org

(Back to top)

What types of credit/debit cards are accepted for online orders?

You can use any credit or debit card to purchase products, apart from American Express.

(Back to top)

Can I pay for online purchases over the telephone, by cash or by cheque?

No. We can only accept payment via credit or debit card and these can only be processed online.

(Back to top)

Can I order materials online and have them shipped to a friend or family member in another country?

Yes, the delivery address can be different to the billing address. However, the card you use must belong to you or be used with the consent of the owner.

(Back to top)

My credit/debit card has been declined on the publication eShop/Cambridge ESOL eShop – why?

When making an order, it is very important that the following information is entered exactly as it is held by your card issuer, otherwise your order will be declined:

  • First line of address
  • Postal/zip code
  • CVC code (this is the last three digits on the signature strip at the back of your card).

If any of this information is incorrect, we will be unable to process your order. If you continue having problems, please contact your card issuer for assistance, or try ordering using a different card.