How Linguaskill fills the gap
The 2023 commercial apprenticeship reform has produced its first graduating class this summer, and with it, a concrete gap: English no longer appears as a standalone grade on the EFZ. Schools, teachers, and learners across Switzerland are now working out how to make English competence visible in a way that carries weight beyond the certificate. The Swiss Exams Linguaskill Academy was developed with this situation in mind: a structured preparation and certification programme combining live online lessons with the official Cambridge Linguaskill exam, running outside school hours every Tuesday from 17:30.
What Linguaskill Academy Offers
Linguaskill itself is an adaptive, digital multilevel test covering B1 to C2 according to the CEFR. Every candidate receives a certificate at the level they achieve, results arrive within three to five working days, and the qualification is recognised by employers and universities well beyond Switzerland. Two course formats are available: a full programme of 15 hours over eight weeks including mock tests and learning materials at CHF 820, or a more compact theory programme over six weeks at CHF 540. Both include the exam. Registration for the summer course closes 28 June 2026, and for the autumn course on 9 August 2026.
How It Fits Into the School Year
Schools can register learners individually or as a group, with Swiss Exams handling the administrative coordination in either case. For the class of 2026, the courses are timed to follow the final qualification exams, so the focus on graduation is not disrupted. Cambridge research on Linguaskill suggests the qualification has tangible career effects: 72% of graduates report a positive impact on their career, and 80% feel more confident using English at work. Schools that already offer Cambridge English qualifications through Swiss Exams -- such as WSKVW Winterthur and Talent Campus Bodensee -- have integrated Linguaskill as a natural extension of that work.