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Wessex Outreach exam centre gives you access to paper-based Cambridge English examinations, provided directly within school to your international students sitting English exams.
Establish Cambridge English exams in your School
We provide a service to independent and state schools with the delivery of Cambridge English examinations directly within school, for international students learning English as an Additional Language. Hence our Wessex Outreach exam centre name.
Our mission is to make the most valuable English qualifications in the world more accessible to school age international students – thus further enhancing the value of the world class education that has attracted students to the UK.
Cambridge Assessment English are leaders in language assessment.
For every learner, every step of the way
Cambridge English welcome message
Cambridge English Qualifications help learners
What to expect on exam day
How We’re Different From Other Centres
Wessex Outreach model to providing Cambridge exams
We do the difficult tasks
Our team works on your booking enquiry so that you have all the Cambridge exam options – dates, levels, prices, venue – clearly explained.
Relationships worth counting
The best part is that we bring the exam session all to you on one day. There are no hidden fees, setup costs, or extended contracts.
We love our customers.
Find An Exam Centre
Traditional way of taking Cambridge exams
Find a provider
Go to the Cambridge Find an exam centre website and contact the nearest authorised exam centre to your school. Enquire about availability of exam levels and test dates on offer. These will vary.
Pain points
How do you find exam dates which fit in with your academic year and term times? Can you include the Speaking test on the same day as the other written exams?
Extra work and extra hours
Contacting many different Examinations Centres to discuss what you need and what they can deliver is a time-consuming and complex exercise.
We Hold Cambridge English Exams!
Everything done and first things first
You can count on Wessex Outreach. We are a family owned and operated exam centre and handle all Cambridge English exam bookings personally. Exams are our core business and we don’t offer teaching or preparation courses like some centres do. We are trustworthy and independent from any other educational establishment – this means that we operate with more flexibility and School customers with International Students are our first priority. We stand by our reputation.
Exam Dates & Fees
A comprehensive list of exam dates is available; please enquire to arrange a group booking.
Exam Registration
Our attention to detail is unmatched. We listen to your needs to provide a bespoke service to your satisfaction.
Results Service
We monitor the results release window and give you timely assistance with summary reports and student statement of results.
The world’s most recognised exams and tests.
FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions, we have answers
Have a question? We’re here to answer! If you don’t see your question in the list below, send us a message on our contact page.
How do I register my school to provide Cambridge English exams?
It is a very easy and quick process to register your school for taking exams with us – full details are provided here.
Then it comes down to identifying your requirements for Cambridge English Qualifications by exam level and checking exam date availability. You will be good to go for booking your exam sessions in no time.
The benefits of being a Cambridge English Preparation Centre are highlighted in this video.
How can we book our students for a Cambridge English exam?
Simply follow the steps on our how to book an English exam page.
Please send us your requirements and we will provide details of the available exam dates, entry deadlines and prices. Use our website contact form, or send us an email.
Top tip: do check out or teacher resources page.
What exam dates are available?
Please contact us about Cambridge exam dates as we offer a bespoke service bringing the exams to you. There are many dates available all through the year, so we are sure to find one to suit you. If you have very small student numbers, we may have an exam running in a school near you that you could join.
What is the cost of the exams?
The exam entry fees are shown on the dates & fees page. All amounts are in GB pounds £.
Can we enter more students after the closing entry date has passed?
Yes, if there are spaces available, you can certainly add more student entries to your original booking after the deadline; but you will have to pay a late entry fee, per extra student/candidate. Also, late entry is only accepted within 5 working days of the closing date as Cambridge English still need adequate time to produce and despatch all exam materials to the centre.
How should the school pay for the exams?
An invoice is produced at the time of booking the exam entries. Most schools make payment by bank transfer (either direct credit or faster payment); or sometimes by cheque. Our bank details are given on the invoice, together with payment terms. You will receive an official receipt for your records.
Where are the exams held?
Most of our paper-based exams are held within independent and state boarding schools by request. Or at school venues hosting overseas school groups.
You will find details about the exam venue on your student Confirmation of Entry notification(s). Some exams may be held elsewhere, but the venue will always fulfil our requirements both for safeguarding and security purposes.
What about the school Health and Safety and Safeguarding requirements?
We will meet with you and discuss any issues particular to your school establishment or your students. We will of course follow your established protocols, for example, fire regulations. All of our staff have DBS certification, and we are happy to supply details for your records.
Are the Speaking tests held on the same day?
Yes, they will usually be held on the same day as the written exams, at the same venue. If for any reason, they are to be held on a different date (for example, due to large numbers of students/candidates), you will be notified of arrangements in advance.
Why do Cambridge English Qualifications have a paired format for the Speaking test?
The Speaking tests are always face-to-face and have two examiners and two test takers.
This format is unique to Cambridge English Qualifications and is designed to optimise the range of interaction candidates produce. This creates a Speaking test which is more authentic and valid because it reflects real-life communication in everyday situations.
We can use this format because each qualification is focused at a specified level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the two test takers will therefore have a similar level of English.
A paired Speaking test also allows test takers to display their interaction skills in a way that can’t be tested in individual Speaking tests, as the examiner will usually control the interaction throughout the test.
The two examiners have different roles: the interlocutor takes part in the interaction whilst the assessor just observes. The interlocutor is trained to give both test takers equal opportunities to speak and to elicit the best possible performance from each test taker.
Having two examiners means they can observe a broader range of language and speaking performance than one alone. They also provide independent observations from two perspectives, which make the tests fairer and more reliable.
Where can students find learning resources, like activities and apps?
There are links to a host of available resources for learning English on the teacher resources page. This section also has links to guidance information for parents.
Other video resources include:
- What to expect on exam day;
- an example B2 First Speaking test; and
- three Examiners talking about Speaking Tests.
Do you provide computer-based Cambridge exams?
No, at the moment we are only running paper-based exams in schools but this may change in the future.
We are currently following developments with the new Cambridge English Qualifications Digital, which are fully on demand computer-based exams, from 1 April 2024.
What about our school timetable? Mealtimes for the students?
Whilst Cambridge English exams are quite long and we do have timeframes to meet, we are happy to fit in as much as possible with the normal school day, and of course with the students’ snack times and meal breaks.
What should the students bring to the exam?
They must bring their passports (or other national photo ID) to all the exams. This must match the ID number you give on their entry form.
We provide pens, pencils, and erasers, but students can bring their own highlighter pen if they wish. They are not allowed to use erasable pens or correction fluid/tape during the exam, as these can make writing unreadable.
We do not allow food and drink during the exam, but students may bring an unlabelled bottle of water if they wish. Any medical items, such as inhalers, are of course permitted, but must be on the desk for the invigilators to see.
How should we deal with electronic items?
Of course, any electronic item found on a student/candidate during an exam will result in a disqualification; so, in the first place we would discourage students from bringing these items with them to the exam venue.
We also check students before entry to all exam rooms and during the exam day; this is primarily to protect students from the consequences of a malpractice. Please note that students are not allowed to use any electronic devices in the breaks (between the written exam sessions) either.
Something has gone wrong. How do we make a complaint?
Wessex Outreach has a formal complaints procedure for when schools/candidates are unhappy with our service. We take complaints very seriously and value all customer feedback. You can find full details on the procedure here. It tells you what to do to register a complaint; and what you can expect from us.
Where you have a grievance, please be aware that you need to go through our internal complaints procedure before your complaint can be escalated to Cambridge English, if necessary.
What happens if a student is absent on the exam day? Will they still get a result?
Unfortunately not; Cambridge English does insist that students take the exam to get a result. But a refund of the entry fee may be possible in a limited range of circumstances. Please contact the centre immediately for more details on the procedure in this event.
When (and how) do we get the results and the certificates?
The continued impact from COVID-19 unfortunately means the processing of results for exams is taking longer than usual. Results for paper-based exams are currently released around 6-9 weeks after the date of the exam. Cambridge English will continue to review the situation regularly and will reduce the results window as soon as circumstances allow.
When you book your school’s Cambridge English exam entries with Wessex Outreach you will be informed of key deadlines; these include how and when you will get your exam results and an approximate date when the certificates will be available.
Results are released as quickly as possible within a period of time known as a results release window. All results are released as soon as they are ready, which is why some students may receive their results before others.
Please let your students and parents know when the results will be released.
We understand how important it is for schools and students (candidates) to know what they can expect and when. Here is some further information about access to results, and the delivery of certificates:-
Results Service for Candidates
Each student is provided with a Confirmation of Entry, telling them the final date by which their results will be available. They can register on the Results Online website (using the Candidate ID Number and Secret Number provided) to receive an email as soon as their results become available and to access their own results online. The student can also share their result with educational institutions or employers directly from the website.
For help as a student registering to view your results, please see the support article here. If you have lost your ID and secret number please contact us at Wessex Outreach and we will be able to re-issue these to you.
Access for Schools
Whole school results? Wessex Outreach monitors the results release window and can give you timely assistance with summary reports and candidate: statement of results, all in PDF format. If you like, we can also send you reminders before the release date – just let us know if you want this.
Access by the teacher only? If you prefer, we can provide you with access to the Preparation Centre Results Service so that you can check your students’ results directly. More details here. If you have trouble with the login, please contact us and we can reset the access provided for the account. You can also add additional users on the website.
Either way, we are always happy to assist with results release, so please send us an email with your requirements or whenever you have an enquiry.
In the meantime, here is a video explaining exam results, which you may find insightful. Please feel free to share it with your parents/students.
Certificates available
Certificates are issued after the results window closes; and then despatched to the exam centre (this takes around three weeks).
At Wessex Outreach we will let you know when the certificates arrive here at the centre. We check the certificates locally against the school entries; and then securely post the certificates to you at school (free of charge), or hand deliver them into school with a personal visit.
What if you have a query concerning a student result?
If a student/candidate believes that their exam result is not fair, they should speak with their school teacher first. If necessary, the school can immediately request the exam centre to submit a Results Enquiry with Cambridge English on behalf of the candidate. This involves two stages.
- Stage 1 is a full clerical re-check (does not apply to the Speaking test); and will be completed within five working days of receiving the request.
- Stage 2 is a re-mark of written tests (including review of the Listening test where relevant, but does not apply to the Speaking test); the outcome of the enquiry will be sent within three weeks.
- Please note that Stage 1 must be completed before Stage 2 can be requested.
There are costs and deadlines required for each stage, so please contact Wessex Outreach for this information.
The Cambridge English website gives full details about the procedure here.
Exam security and quality
As world leaders in the field of language assessment, Cambridge English place exam quality, fairness and security at the centre of everything they do. Every learner gets a fair opportunity to prove their skills and you get reliable information you 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. Read more and watch a video about exam security.
Who accepts Cambridge English exams and tests?
Cambridge English exams are recognised by over 25,000 universities, employers and governments around the world.
You can search the Cambridge English recognition database here.
How to send your exam result to an organisation
There is also a guide available for students/candidates explaining how to easily submit their result to any chosen organisation – download the PDF guide.
Customer Reviews
What schools are saying…
“By offering the B2 First Cambridge English qualification, we are supporting our international students with an invaluable opportunity to provide evidence of their language skills. This in turn may support their future education and business life decisions. We are delighted to be partnering with Wessex Outreach centre for this, as their strong reputation precedes them.”
You should also know…
If you don’t see your specific needs mentioned here, please do get in touch. School bookings can be varied in their requirements, so contact us and we can talk about how we can help.
Make an enquiry today…