About Cambridge Primary English (0058)

Cambridge Primary English is designed for learners who have English as a first language and can be used in any cultural context.
Our Cambridge Primary English curriculum empowers learners in their application of English, and encourages life-long enthusiasm for
reading, writing and spoken communication. It develops communication skills in English that learners can apply in everyday situations and in
study. It also equips them with transferrable language skills for interrogating and producing spoken and written texts, and working
collaboratively. Together the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills acquired through Cambridge Primary English support learners’
overall intellectual, creative and social development.

Curriculum Framework
The Curriculum Framework details the key benefits and aims of the Cambridge Primary English programme and provides a comprehensive set
of learning objectives detailing what learners should know and be able to do by the end of each stage:

 Cambridge Primary English Curriculum Framework (0058) (PDF) 830KB 

To assist you with your planning we have provided a separate document that contains the learning objectives only:

Cambridge Primary English learning objectives only (0058) (Excel) 50KB 

Progression from Stage 1 to 6

We have introduced a new document to help you with your planning. The progression grid demonstrates how the learning objectives support
learners to progress in their knowledge, understanding and skills from Stage 1 to Stage 6.

Cambridge Primary English progression grid (0058) (Excel) 1051KB 

Teacher Guide
The Teacher Guide will help you to plan and deliver lessons using effective teaching and learning approaches. It includes step-by-step
guidance on the planning process, effective teaching for Cambridge Primary English, creating a positive learning environment, and
monitoring learners’ progress and evaluating evidence to inform next steps for teaching and learning.
This Teacher Guide should be read alongside the Cambridge Primary English Curriculum Framework and the accompanying Schemes of work.

 Cambridge Primary English Teacher Guide (0058) (PDF) 1MB 

Schemes of work
Our Schemes of work help you to plan your teaching of Cambridge Primary English. They contain:
a long-term plan which groups the learning objectives into units and suggests how long to spend teaching each unit
suggested units showing how the learning objectives in the curriculum framework can be grouped and ordered
at least one suggested teaching activity for each learning objective
a list of subject-specific vocabulary that will be useful for your learners
sample lesson plans

You can use the activities as suggested, or adapt the material to suit your context.
Schemes of work give examples of texts that can be used with some of the activities. These are indicative examples only, as Cambridge
Primary English does not require learners to read any set texts. You may use any relevant, age-appropriate texts to support the Cambridge
Primary English curriculum.

English schemes of work 

Cambridge Primary Progression Tests

Cambridge Primary Progression Tests are teacher-marked assessments that can be taken at any point during a school year for a given stage.
Updated annually, and available for Stages 3 to 6, the tests are included as part of your programme fee – there is no extra charge.
There are two question papers at each stage:
 Stages 3 to 6 Duration Marks

Paper 1: Written test (non-fiction) 60 minutes 50 marks

Paper 2: Written test (fiction) 60 minutes 50 marks

Total: 100 marks

The test papers include a range of different question types, including short answer and multiple-choice questions. Writing is assessed using
an extended writing task in each paper, and all questions are compulsory in both.
Speaking and Listening skills are not assessed in the Cambridge Primary English Progression Tests.
The table below shows the approximate coverage of the strands in the Progression Tests:

Stage Reading Writing

3 50% 50%

4 50% 50%

5 50% 50%

6 50% 50%

Test papers
Download and print any of our test papers from the list below:

Stage 3 

Stage 4 

Stage 5 

Stage 6 

Percentage ranges for grades in Cambridge Primary Progression Tests

The table below shows the minimum percentage scores on the 2023 Cambridge Progression tests required to achieve each of the
performance bands:

Performance band Minimum percentage score on Progression Test

- English

Basic 10

Aspiring 20

Good 30

High 45

Outstanding 55

Sample papers
The sample papers below are examples of the new test papers. They have not been used as Cambridge Primary Progression tests or
Checkpoint tests.

Stage 3 

Stage 4 

Stage 5 
Stage 6 

Past papers
You can download previous versions of Cambridge Primary Progression tests here:

2022

Stage 3 

Stage 4 

Stage 5 

Stage 6 

Analysing results
You can use our analysis tool to analyse results, highlight learners’ strengths and weaknesses and make targeted improvements to teaching
and learning. You can compare results within a class, school or the average of all learners who have taken the same tests. Progress can be
monitored by comparing results on a year on year basis.
You will not be able to use the Report dashboard to record results for the sample or past papers.

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English tests skills, knowledge and understanding at the end of the programme. It is usually taken at the end
of Stage 6, assessing curriculum content from Stage 6, and the tests are marked in Cambridge. You must run Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
tests within the window given in our key dates.
For more information about administering Cambridge Primary Checkpoint including a step-by-step guide and exam timetables, visit
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/.
To enter your learners for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint, go to the Making entries area on Cambridge International Direct.
Speaking and Listening skills will not be assessed in Cambridge Primary English Checkpoint.

Checkpoint performance band thresholds - May 2023

The table shows the Checkpoint performance bands and the minimum Checkpoint score required for each performance band.
The table also shows the minimum raw mark (threshold) required for each Checkpoint performance band. The minimum raw mark is the
minimum total raw mark from all the Checkpoint tests in this subject.
The maximum Checkpoint score is 50.
The maximum total subject raw mark for Checkpoint Primary English is 100.

Checkpoint performance band Minimum Checkpoint score Minimum raw mark required for the Checkpoint performance band

Basic 1 6

Aspiring 11 12

Good 21 22

High 31 35

Outstanding 41 49

Information about the thresholds

The thresholds (minimum number of total raw marks) required to achieve each Checkpoint performance band are generally different for
different Checkpoint subjects, between different Checkpoint examination series, and between Primary Checkpoint and Lower Secondary
Checkpoint. This is because the thresholds take account of the difficulty of the tests that the learners took. If the test is more difficult, the
learner will not need to achieve as many marks to reach a given performance band. Likewise, if the test is easier, the learner will need to
achieve more marks to demonstrate the same level of performance.
The relationship between total raw marks and Checkpoint score is not a simple relationship, like a percentage score. This is because the
Checkpoint scores are determined using an established statistical technique called Rasch analysis which takes into account the difficulties of
the individual questions on the test.
A learner not achieving the Basic performance band will be unclassified.

Information about Checkpoint performance bands

The Checkpoint performance bands and Checkpoint scores represent the level of performance (skill, knowledge, and understanding) shown
by learners in each subject. The same range of Checkpoint scores always corresponds to each Checkpoint performance band, for example the
Checkpoint score range 21 to 30 always corresponds to the performance band ‘Good’. This applies to all Checkpoint subjects and for both
Primary and Lower Secondary Checkpoint.
The meaning of the Checkpoint performance bands is summarised in the table below.

Checkpoint Checkpoint performance band descriptor

performance band

Learners have generally shown a basic level of achievement. Whilst demonstrating a limited level of
Basic understanding, knowledge and skills of the curriculum content, they would benefit from a focus on all areas of
the curriculum they found challenging.

Aspiring Learners may show aspects of Basic performance and Good performance.

Learners have generally shown a good level of achievement. They have demonstrated a secure level of
Good understanding, knowledge and skills of most of the curriculum content, but would benefit from a focus on the
specific areas of the curriculum identified.

High Learners may show aspects of Good performance and Outstanding performance.

Learners have generally shown an outstanding level of achievement. They have demonstrated a comprehensive
Outstanding level of understanding, knowledge, and skills of the curriculum content, and should be very well prepared for the
next stage of learning.

Sample papers
The Cambridge Primary English Checkpoint and Cambridge Primary English Progression Tests for Stage 6 both follow the same format:

Stage 6 Duration Marks

Paper 1: Written test (non-fiction) 60 minutes 50 marks

Paper 2: Written test (fiction) 60 minutes 50 marks

Total: 100 marks

Therefore, you can use the Stage 6 sample Progression tests as sample Checkpoint tests.

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint past papers

After each test series, you can download Cambridge Primary Checkpoint question papers and mark schemes.
Where insert texts are copyright, the inserts are not included below.

English (0058) April 2023 

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint end of series reports

We provide an end of series report after every Checkpoint series.

 Cambridge Primary Checkpoint End of Series Report May 2023 (PDF) 506KB 

Mapping
Mapping to the national curriculum for England
We have mapped the new Cambridge Primary English Curriculum Framework to the national curriculum for England. The guide below outlines
the similarities and differences between them.

 Cambridge Primary English and the national curriculum for England (0058) (PDF) 819KB 

Mapping to the Common Core State Standards (US)

Cambridge Assessment International Education has mapped the Cambridge Primary (Stages 1 to 6) to the Common Core State Standards
Grades K to 5 for schools in the US. The mapping document below shows where the standards are covered in the Cambridge Primary English
Curriculum Framework:

 Cambridge Primary English CCSS mapping (0058) (PDF) 898KB 

Endorsed resources
We work with a range of third-party publishers to produce high-quality resources to support our frameworks. Each endorsed title has been
reviewed by subject experts and evaluated against detailed criteria to make sure it:
aligns with the Cambridge Primary Curriculum Framework
has an appropriate focus on knowledge and skills
is truly international
promotes effective teaching and learning.

In order to provide choice for Cambridge International schools, we encourage publishers to develop resources of varying styles and
approaches so that teachers can find resources that offer the best support for their own particular classroom.
Please note that there is no requirement for endorsed textbooks to follow the teaching order suggested in the Cambridge Scheme of work. If a
resource is endorsed, you can be confident that all the learning objectives are covered.
Find out more information about endorsed resources for the Cambridge Primary English Curriculum Framework.
Please note that there is no expectation or requirement for schools to use a particular resource, or indeed any published resources at all.