2.2 Grades A, B, C and Certificates

Cambridge A2 Key KET

Track your progress as you read

Finished sections get a check mark.

1 Introduction & Exam Overview

1.1 What Is Cambridge A2 Key (KET)? 1.2 Exam Format: Three Papers 1.3 Who Takes A2 Key and How It Is Delivered 1.4 Study Hours and Preparation Path

2 Scoring, Grades & Results

2.1 The Cambridge English Scale 2.2 Grades A, B, C and Certificates 2.3 How Your Overall Score Is Calculated

3 Reading Parts 1–3: Understanding Texts

3.1 Reading Overview (Parts 1–5) 3.2 Reading Part 1: Short Texts and Main Message 3.3 Reading Part 2: Multiple Matching 3.4 Reading Part 3: Longer Text Detail and Gist

4 Reading Parts 4–5: Vocabulary and Grammar Cloze

4.1 Reading Part 4: Multiple-Choice Cloze 4.2 Collocations and Phrasal Verbs for Part 4 4.3 Reading Part 5: Open Cloze 4.4 Grammar Words for Open Cloze

5 Writing Part 6: Guided Message

5.1 Writing Overview (Parts 6–7) 5.2 Part 6 Guided Writing Task 5.3 Model Emails and Content-Point Checklists

6 Writing Part 7 & Assessment Criteria

6.1 Part 7 Picture Story 6.2 Narrative Language and Connectors 6.3 Writing Assessment: Content, Organisation, Language

7 Listening Parts 1–3

7.1 Listening Paper Overview 7.2 Listening Part 1: Short Dialogues and Pictures 7.3 Listening Part 2: Gap Fill Notes 7.4 Listening Part 3: Conversation Multiple Choice

8 Listening Parts 4–5 & Detail Skills

8.1 Listening Part 4: Gist and Main Message 8.2 Listening Part 5: Matching 8.3 Numbers, Times, Prices and Spelling

9 Speaking Test

9.1 Speaking Test Format 9.2 Speaking Part 1: Interview 9.3 Speaking Part 2: Discussion 9.4 Speaking Assessment Criteria

10 A2 Grammar Essentials

10.1 Present and Past Tenses 10.2 Future Forms, Modals and Obligation 10.3 Comparatives, Superlatives, Adverbs and Word Order 10.4 Questions, Negatives and There Is/Are

11 A2 Vocabulary Topics

11.1 People, Home and Daily Routines 11.2 Free Time, Hobbies, Travel and Transport 11.3 Food, Shopping, Money and Health 11.4 Places in Town, Services and Simple Technology

12 Functional Language for Exam Tasks

12.1 Requests, Offers, Invitations and Suggestions 12.2 Opinions, Agreeing, Disagreeing and Preferences 12.3 Describing People, Places and Events; Simple Narration

13 Exam Day and Test Strategy

13.1 Digital vs Paper-Based and the 2026 Change 13.2 What Happens on Exam Day 13.3 Full Practice Tests and Timing Plans

14 Results and Next Steps

14.1 Interpreting Your Statement of Results 14.2 From A2 Key to B1 Preliminary

2.2 Grades A, B, C and Certificates

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Grade C is 120–132 and is a pass at CEFR A2

Grade B is 133–139 and is a strong A2 pass

Grade A is 140–150 and leads to a B1 certificate even though you took A2 Key

An overall score of 100–119 (below 120 but at least 100) can lead to an A1 certificate

Every candidate receives a Statement of Results; the certificate type depends on the overall scale score
Last updated: July 2026

Grades on A2 Key: A, B, and C

When your overall Cambridge English Scale score reaches 120 or higher , you pass A2 Key at (or above) the target level and receive a grade :

Grade Overall scale score CEFR level certified How to think about it
Grade C 120–132 A2 Solid pass at the exam’s target level
Grade B 133–139 A2 Strong A2 performance near the top of the band
Grade A 140–150 B1 Exceptional A2 Key result; certificate issued at B1

These boundaries are official Cambridge reporting bands for A2 Key. Learn them as fixed numbers—especially 120 , 133 , and 140 —because exam advice, school targets, and employer requirements often quote them.

Quick answer: 120–132 = Grade C (A2 pass) . 133–139 = Grade B (strong A2) . 140–150 = Grade A (B1 certificate) .

Grade C (120–132): Pass at A2

Grade C is a full pass. You have shown CEFR A2 ability overall. There is no “half pass” or “provisional C.” For visas, school progression, or personal goals that require “A2 Key pass,” Grade C is enough.

Psychologically, candidates sometimes treat Grade C as disappointing. Strategically, it is the primary success line of the exam. If your mock average sits at 122–125, protect that buffer with balanced skill work rather than chasing Grade A vocabulary that you cannot control under timed conditions.

Typical Grade C profile examples (illustrative skill mixes that could average in the C band):

Reading 128, Writing 118, Listening 125, Speaking 122 → overall near the low–mid C range after averaging
Even skills around 125–130 across the board → comfortable Grade C

(Remember: Cambridge’s official overall is the average of the four skill scale scores; paper raw marks are converted before averaging.)

Grade B (133–139): Strong A2

Grade B still certifies A2 , not B1. The difference from Grade C is strength within the A2 band. You are closer to B1 and usually show fewer weak skills.

Why Grade B matters in practice:

Motivation and feedback: Schools often set Grade B as an internal stretch target.

Readiness signal: Overall 135+ suggests you may be ready to begin B1 Preliminary preparation soon.

Still A2 on the certificate language for level: Do not claim “I have B1” with Grade B alone; B1 certification starts at Grade A (140+).

Grade A (140–150): B1 certificate from A2 Key

Grade A is the standout outcome. Your overall score is 140–150 , which Cambridge maps to CEFR B1 . You receive a B1 certificate even though the exam you booked was A2 Key.

Important clarifications:

You did not sit B1 Preliminary. Your certificate recognises level of performance , not a change of exam title in your registration history.

Grade A is not required to “really pass.” Grade C is a real pass at A2.

Skill profiles still matter. A Grade A overall can hide one skill near 130 if others are very high; check the Statement of Results before skipping B1 prep in a weak skill.

Grade A is an excellent springboard into B1 Preliminary (PET), but plan the next exam based on skill scores , not only the headline grade.

Below the A2 Pass: A1 Certificate (100–119)

If your overall score is below 120 but at least 100 , you do not receive Grades A–C for A2 Key. Instead, Cambridge may award an A1 certificate reflecting demonstrated A1 performance.

Overall scale score Typical outcome
140–150 Grade A → B1 certificate
133–139 Grade B → A2 certificate (strong pass)
120–132 Grade C → A2 certificate (pass)
100–119 No A2 grade → A1 certificate possible
Below 100 No A1/A2 Key certificate for that performance band
How to talk about an A1 result honestly
Accurate: “I received an A1 certificate from my A2 Key session.”
Misleading: “I failed completely and have nothing.” (You may still hold A1 recognition.)
Also misleading: “I passed A2 Key.” (A1 is below the A2 pass line of 120.)

Use the A1 outcome as diagnostic information: which skills were under 120? Those become the study plan for a retake.

Statement of Results for Everyone

Regardless of grade, all candidates receive a Statement of Results (SoR) . The certificate is the formal award document; the Statement of Results is the detailed score report.

What the Statement of Results typically shows
Overall Cambridge English Scale score
Grade (A, B, or C) when you pass at A2 or above, or indication of A1 where applicable
CEFR level associated with the result
Individual skill scores for Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
Candidate and session identification details used by centres and institutions

The SoR is what teachers and many admissions officers actually read when they want more than a single grade letter. Always keep a digital or paper copy.

Certificate vs Statement of Results

Document Purpose
Statement of Results Detailed scores and grade/level for every candidate
Certificate Formal award at A2, B1 (Grade A), or A1 (when eligible)

Certificates are issued later than the Statement of Results in many sessions. Do not assume that “no certificate email yet” means you failed—check the SoR timeline for your format (digital vs paper), covered in Section 2.3.

Decision Scenarios
Scenario 1: School requires “A2 Key pass”

Any Grade C, B, or A meets a plain “pass A2 Key” requirement. Grade A exceeds it with B1 certification. An A1 certificate does not meet an A2 pass requirement.

Scenario 2: You want evidence of B1 English

Only Grade A (140–150) from A2 Key certifies B1. If you need reliable B1 for work or study, consider whether sitting B1 Preliminary is more appropriate once your skill profile is consistently above 140 on Key-level mocks—or prepare for Preliminary directly if you are already strong.

Scenario 3: Overall 118 with Speaking 130

You may receive an A1 outcome overall despite a strong speaking score. Celebrate the strength, but retake planning should target Reading/Writing/Listening so the average clears 120.

Scenario 4: Overall 141 with Writing 125

You can hold a B1 certificate (Grade A) while Writing remains closer to mid-A2. Before starting a B1 writing-heavy course, strengthen Part 6 and Part 7 skills so the next qualification does not expose that gap.

Practical Target Setting

Goal Overall scale target Notes
Secure A2 pass ≥125 in mocks Buffer under the 120 line
Strong A2 (Grade B) ≥135 Useful stretch for school cohorts
B1 certificate via Key ≥142 in mocks Buffer under 140 for Grade A
Avoid A1-only outcome Keep every skill from collapsing One skill at 100 can drag a 128 average down
Traps to avoid

Treating Grade C as failure — it is the designed pass.

Claiming B1 with Grade B — B1 certification starts at 140 .

Ignoring the SoR — grades without skill scores hide weaknesses.

Comparing raw mock percentages to grades without conversion — grades are on the scale , not on “% of items correct.”

Master these grade and certificate rules, then learn how Cambridge turns paper marks into the four skill scores and the overall average in the next section.