B1 Preliminary for Schools Dates France: September 2026

France lists three B1 Preliminary for Schools sessions in September 2026: paper in Paris on September 5, digital in Epernay on September 12, and digital in Reims on September 26.

The Paris entry deadline was July 27 and had passed by late August. Epernay closes September 5, while Reims closes September 6 even though its exam is twenty days later.

Key takeaways

• B1 Preliminary for Schools runs on September 5, 12 and 26 in France.
• Paris is paper based; Epernay and Reims are digital.
• The Paris paper deadline has passed.
• Epernay and Reims close September 5 and 6.
• The adult B1 Preliminary calendar is separate and has only one September entry.

In this guide: schedule | deadlines | paper or digital | adult distinction | Speaking | scores | results | later dates | research | FAQ

France B1 Preliminary for Schools September schedule

The three dates create a progression from paper to digital and from Paris to the Marne department. They do not share a common deadline.

The adult B1 Preliminary France date contains only Reims September 26. This article owns the Schools version and does not mix the two sets of entries.

Deadline order is not exam date order

Reims is the latest exam but closes only one day after Epernay. Waiting until mid-September removes both digital choices.

Contact the centre before the deadline because the public table does not show remaining seats. After confirmation, start a free SpeakShark conversation for general spoken English and use Cambridge's own B1 samples for the exam.

Paper Paris versus digital Epernay and Reims

Paper and digital versions lead to the same qualification and use the same tasks. The operational differences matter:

Digital means attendance at an authorised centre, not an at-home test. Cambridge's digital exam-day page covers the supervised process.

If the Paris paper deadline has passed, do not substitute a Schools session from another country without checking travel and centre entry rules.

Schools and adult B1 use separate calendars

Both exams target B1 and use equivalent scoring. The Schools version changes topic context for younger candidates.

The higher number of Schools dates does not make it easier or automatically suitable for an adult candidate. Confirm which version the receiver accepts.

For the next level, see B2 First for Schools France and adult B2 First France.

Speaking is scheduled by each centre

B1 Preliminary Speaking has four parts. Cambridge's France table lists no Speaking dates.

Ask each centre for:

1. Speaking day and reporting time.
2. Final venue.
3. Required identity document.
4. Candidate pairing arrangements.
5. Confirmation of Entry timing.

Our guides cover Part 1 interview, Part 2 extended turn, Part 3 discussion, and Part 4 conversation.

The two Cambridge examiner roles explains the test-room setup. For everyday confidence, practise free with SpeakShark while using official Cambridge tasks for exam-specific work.

B1 score outcomes

The exam reports Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. A receiver can require more than the minimum certificate outcome.

Use the Council of Europe CEFR descriptions, CEFR speaking levels, and Cambridge criteria by level to understand the target.

Cambridge certificates do not expire, though a receiver can impose recency. See English certificate expiry compared.

Result timing by session

These are planning windows, not guaranteed dates. Ask whether the receiver accepts the official online Statement before the certificate arrives.

Use the free speaking-level check if B1 readiness is uncertain.

Later Schools dates in France

The France table listed later B1 Preliminary for Schools sessions in Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, Strasbourg and Colmar. The next published Paris paper date was October 17, with a September 7 deadline.

If the September digital cutoffs have passed, move to a verified later centre rather than relying on an unofficial calendar.

For C1 and C2, see the France C1 Advanced schedule and France C2 Proficiency date.

How to register

1. Confirm the Schools version suits the candidate and receiver.
2. Choose an open centre and deadline.
3. Contact the authorised centre for capacity, fee and venue.
4. Confirm Speaking and identity requirements.
5. Enter and pay before September 5 or 6.
6. Keep the Confirmation of Entry.

After registration, start free daily speaking practice and use official Cambridge resources for the exam.

How we researched this guide

We checked Cambridge's France calendar, global B1 dates, digital guidance, centre finder and score information on August 28, 2026.

We counted only B1 Preliminary for Schools rows. That produced three sessions with one paper and two digital entries. Adult B1 rows were excluded.

We did not invent fees, seats, venue or Speaking dates. No real questions or unofficial answers were copied.

We are a speaking improvement tool. We are not an exam preparation provider, and we are not affiliated with Cambridge English, the IELTS partners, Pearson or any exam board. For test format, booking and official practice material, go to the exam body directly. Use SpeakShark to make your spoken English stronger, and use official material to learn the test.

FAQ

Cambridge's France calendar lists paper-based B1 Preliminary for Schools in Paris on September 5, digital in Epernay on September 12, and digital in Reims on September 26. The published deadlines are July 27, September 5 and September 6. Confirm capacity and Speaking dates with each centre.

The published registration deadline was July 27, so it had passed by the August 28 audit. Contact Kangourou only to ask whether a cancellation or waiting-list route exists. Do not assume the exam date itself keeps registration open, and do not use an unofficial seller that merely repeats September 5.

The latest published deadline is September 6 for the Reims digital exam on September 26. Epernay closes September 5 for its September 12 session. The Paris paper deadline was July 27. Reims therefore closes twenty days before the exam even though it is the last session in the month.

No. Both target CEFR B1, use the same format and scoring scale, and lead to equivalent certificates. The Schools version uses topics designed for school-age candidates. Choose it for candidate fit and receiver acceptance, not because France offers more September dates than the adult version.

Cambridge normally publishes digital Statements of Results in one to two weeks and paper results in four to six weeks. Certificates follow later. Epernay and Reims therefore have faster expected result windows than the Paris paper route, but the receiving school or institution decides whether the online Statement is sufficient.

The France calendar does not list Speaking appointments. Cambridge says Speaking dates are controlled locally, so they can differ from September 5, 12 or 26. Ask Kangourou, Saint Victor or Ecole Internationale Henri Farman for the complete timetable and final venue before arranging travel.

Use official Cambridge resources and start free daily speaking practice for general English. Premium costs $10 for one month, $25 for three months, or $69 for one year. See pricing.

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Sources

1. Cambridge France calendar, checked for dates, versions, cities, deadlines and centres.
2. Cambridge global exam dates, checked for paper dates.
3. Cambridge digital exam guidance, checked for centre-based delivery.
4. Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools, checked for level and format.
5. Saint Victor, Sainte Marie, linked as the Epernay centre.
6. SpeakShark pricing, checked for current free and paid options.

Dates, deadlines, availability, fees, venues and Speaking appointments can change. Confirm every detail with the named centre before paying or arranging travel.