Working with teachers
Supporting teachers
As part of our mission to provide learners throughout the world with access to language assessment of the highest possible quality, we view providing support to teachers as a high priority.
By providing teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to help prepare candidates more effectively, we:
- raise the standards of language teaching and improve opportunities for test takers
- make life for teachers easier and more rewarding.
We therefore have a wide range of support materials and services for teachers:
Teaching Resources online
Teachers can download a wealth of materials for each exam from our Teaching Resources website, including:
- a full syllabus
- detailed information on each paper
- teaching tips
- classroom activities and lesson plans
- information on assessment
- downloadable Handbooks
- exam reports
- links to other useful sites
Teacher Portfolio
The Teacher Portfolio is a free online system that any teacher can use to make and keep a record of their achievements and reflect on their teaching practice and experiences.
Find out more about the Teacher Portfolio and register.
In print
Cambridge ESOL produces a wide range of publications that help teachers to understand our exams and to effectively prepare students for them. Most of these can be purchased for a small charge, but many publications can also be downloaded free from our website.
Handbooks for teachers
These detailed guides can be downloaded free from our Resources area and feature:
- the full specification of the exam
- guides to each of the papers or components
- full sample papers
- detailed information on how the exam is assessed
Cambridge First
Published three times a year, Cambridge First provides up-to-date information on developments in our exams and how they are used around the world. Cambridge First is distributed to centres free of charge and can be downloaded free from our website.
Research Notes
A quarterly journal covering Cambridge ESOL's extensive research and validation programme. It contains reports on a wide range of academic and practical subjects relating to language assessment. Research Notes can be downloaded free.
Exam reports
Our exam reports for our General English suite of exams (KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE) and YLE, give an overview of candidate performance in each of the exam papers, and tips for effective candidate preparation. They can be downloaded free from our Resources area.
Past papers
Full sets of question papers for different exam sessions can be purchased in convenient booklet format incorporating mark schemes, answer keys and an audio CD of the Listening test.
Download an order form to purchase past paper packs.
Speaking test video pack
These are detailed teacher's guides and worksheets for examinations which have a speaking element and come with a video/DVD recording of the complete Speaking test.
Download an order form to purchase Speaking test video packs.
Face-to-face
Every year, Cambridge ESOL holds more than 500 seminars in over 30 countries. The Teacher Seminar Programme covers the full range of our exams.
Find out more about the seminar programme in a particular area, or contact the nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre.
Conferences
We attend the leading language teaching conferences around the world. Wherever possible, our presenters and research team present papers and workshops at these conferences.
We are always pleased to meet teachers at these events, and answer your questions, provide background information, receive feedback or help you in any other way.
