What a language certificate actually gives students
A recognised language certificate is more than an exam result. It is a portable, independently verified record of ability that follows a student into higher education, apprenticeships, job applications, and international opportunities.
For students who sit a Cambridge English, Linguaskill, IELTS, or Goethe exam, the certificate they receive is valid indefinitely, internationally recognised, and tied to the CEFR framework, the same standard used by Swiss universities, employers, and immigration authorities. Unlike a school grade, it is not subject to interpretation. It says exactly what a student can do in the language, and it says it in a way that anyone, anywhere, can understand.
For students uncertain about their next step, that kind of clarity has real value.
What Swiss Exams Academy offers
Swiss Exams Academy is an online preparation programme for Cambridge Linguaskill, run by Swiss Exams and delivered by expert teachers. Sessions take place live online on Tuesdays from 17:30, outside school and working hours — and both course formats include the official Linguaskill exam in the fee.
Course formats
Two courses are available, both including the official Linguaskill exam:
Full Online Sprint Course & Exam — CHF 820 Fifteen hours of live instruction over 8 weeks, including mock tests and all study materials. Sessions run every Tuesday from 17:30. Covers all exam components across theory and practice.
Online Sprint Theory Course & Exam — CHF 540 A focused 6-week course for students who already have a solid foundation and want to concentrate on exam technique and strategy. Sessions run every Tuesday from 17:30.
A note on KV students and the English certificate gap
With the KV reform, the standalone Schlussprüfung in English has been discontinued. Language competence is now assessed within the Handlungskompetenzbereiche (HKBs), and a separate English grade is no longer issued as part of the EFZ. For KV apprentices completing their training, this means finishing without an independent, internationally recognised English certificate — which matters when entering a job market where English proficiency is increasingly expected.
Swiss Exams Academy's Full Online Sprint Course for Cambridge Linguaskill Business is a practical response to this. The course runs over 8 weeks with 15 hours of live online preparation, sessions scheduled at 17:30 to fit around working and school timetables. It leads to the Cambridge Linguaskill Business certificate — a multi-level CEFR credential (B1–C2) taken digitally at a Swiss Exams test centre, with results within 3–5 working days.
For KV graduates entering the workforce, having that certificate in hand makes a concrete difference when competing for positions where English is part of the role.
Upcoming course dates
The next Swiss Exams Academy cohort runs September / October / November 2026. Registration closes 9 August 2026.
This gives students who register before the end of summer a clear path: prepare during the autumn term, sit the exam, and have a certified result before the end of the year.
What you can do now
If you have students planning to sit a language exam in 2026 or early 2027, sharing the Swiss Exams Academy programme with them before the summer break gives them time to consider their options and register before the August deadline.
For schools or vocational institutions with questions about group registration or which pathway suits a particular cohort, the Swiss Exams team is happy to advise.