What is a Certifying Statement for CEFR, and how do I apply?

The grade you achieved in your Cambridge IGCSE English language examination may not provide sufficient evidence of your English language proficiency for all purposes. Evidence of your proficiency in all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) according to the CEFR scale is also required in some circumstances and by some recognising institutions. For study at undergraduate degree level in the UK, you are typically required to have a minimum of CEFR Level B2 in all four language skills. The Certifying Statement for CEFR is a document which gives a breakdown of your Cambridge IGCSE English Language results into component grades and CEFR levels. The document provides:

• the Cambridge IGCSE grade achieved for each component (exam paper within the syllabus)
• a CEFR level for each of the four skills
• a generic CEFR table showing the associated CEFR levels for the Cambridge IGCSE grades for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) on the reverse of the statement

Please note: Cambridge candidates applying for a Certifying Statement for CEFR must have included the Speaking & Listening component if applying with Cambridge IGCSE First Language English Syllabus (0500), or the Oral component if applying with Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language Syllabus (0510).

To apply for a Certifying Statement for CEFR, please complete the application form. 

You cannot apply for a June 2020 Certifying Statement for CEFR as no exams were taken in that series, meaning no speaking and listening tests were carried out. This also applies to June 2021 if you did not take an exam and received school assessed grades.

Related links

• Go to the UKVI website for more information about the documents required for studying in the UK.
• Go to the UCAS website to learn more about the English proficiency tests accepted by UK universities.
• Go to the Cambridge IGCSE recognition section of our website to download documents which you can use to show evidence of your English language proficiency for university applications. These documents are an alternative to a Certifying Statement for CEFR.

Are there any alternatives to the Certifying Statement for CEFR?

You can download the documents below which give the CEFR levels by grade and skill for each of our Cambridge IGCSE English Language qualifications. You can use the relevant document, alongside your final certificate of results and a copy of your component grades (available on request from your school), to support your university application.

CEFR levels for Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500 and 0522)

CEFR Levels for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510 and 0511)

We strongly advise students to check which English language tests their selected higher education institutions accept before applying for a certifying statement. The details of English language requirements can be found on each university's website. These requirements may vary depending upon the course and the university. Please also note that not all universities will require a certifying statement when you are applying with a Cambridge IGCSE English language examination.