Support for learners in bilingual education

We offer English language and international curriculum, baseline assessments and resources to support bilingual education in English. Our resources are designed for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners and are used by over 1.5 million learners worldwide. They encourage active learning and successful development of knowledge, skills and understanding through engaging content and differentiated activities.

There is also the opportunity for learners to gain internationally recognised Cambridge qualifications such as Cambridge English Qualifications and Cambridge IGCSEs.

Understand and support learners’ readiness for bilingual education in English

Understand learners’ current English language levels

The Cambridge English Skills Test helps schools to quickly and accurately check students’ English level. The test is online, on-demand and tests all four language skills (Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening) from CEFR A1 to C1 in modules.

It is highly flexible and multi-purpose. It can be used as an end of course/year test to highlight areas a student needs to work on or to check if they’re ready to take a Cambridge English Qualification or start studying another subject in English. 

Develop learners’ English language proficiency

Choose from a wide range of classroom resources to support English language development.

For English as a Second Language (ESL), our international curriculum-aligned Cambridge Global English resources are available for primary through to upper secondary.

Popular resources for English as an Additional Language (EAL) include:

• Kid’s Box New Generation
• Super Minds Second Edition
• Shining Lights.

Understand learners’ aptitude for different subjects

Use learner aptitude data to inform which subjects you choose in your bilingual programme.

Cambridge Insight delivers a comprehensive suite of cognitive and non-cognitive assessments that go beyond curriculum recall to measure true learner potential.

These baseline assessments are suitable for ESL learners as they maintain a low language load (CEFR A2), allowing students from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds to show their full potential.

Support learners to study other subjects in English

We offer English as a Second Language (ESL)-friendly resources for the full Cambridge Pathway of subjects. These can be mapped to local curricula or used to deliver international bilingual pathways within your school.

Demonstrate learners’ knowledge, understanding and skills with internationally recognised qualifications

To prove their English language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, students can progress through the Cambridge English Qualifications. These CEFR-based qualifications are recognised by over 18 000 organisations worldwide.

To demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in other bilingual subjects, learners may also progress to Cambridge IGCSE qualifications. These are available in more than 70 subjects and recognised internationally by more than 2200 universities as a valuable upper secondary qualification.