B2 First for Schools Dates France: September 2026

France has four B2 First for Schools centre listings across three dates in September 2026. Epernay runs digital on September 12, Paris runs paper on September 19, and Reims plus Paris run digital on September 26.

The deadlines are not chronological with the exam dates. The September 19 paper entry closed August 12, Reims September 26 closes September 6, and Paris September 26 stays open until September 20. Candidates need to choose a centre by deadline and availability, not by exam date alone.

Key takeaways

• France lists B2 First for Schools on September 12, 19 and 26.
• There are three digital listings and one paper listing.
• The September 19 Paris paper deadline has already passed.
• Reims closes 20 days before its September 26 exam, while Paris closes 6 days before the same exam date.
• B2 First for Schools and adult B2 First target the same level and use equivalent scoring.

In this guide: schedule | deadline comparison | Paris options | Schools versus adult | digital or paper | Speaking | scores | later dates | research | FAQ

France B2 First for Schools September 2026 schedule

The official Cambridge France table showed:

Three exam dates create four centre choices because September 26 has both Reims and Paris. The two centres use deadlines fourteen days apart.

Cambridge's global calendar confirms September 19 as the fixed paper date for B2 First for Schools. The Epernay, Reims and Paris digital sessions are centre-controlled dates.

The B2 First for Schools versus adult B2 First guide explains why the qualification level is the same even though candidate topics differ.

Four listings, four registration decisions

The same September 26 exam date has a twenty-day entry gap in Reims and a six-day gap in Paris. That difference comes from centre administration, not exam difficulty.

Contact the centre before the cutoff because capacity may end sooner. Cambridge publishes the deadline but not a live seat count or fee.

After registration, start a free SpeakShark conversation for general spoken-English practice and use Cambridge's own materials for the exam tasks.

The two Paris routes

Paris appears twice:

• September 19 paper, deadline August 12.
• September 26 digital, deadline September 20.

Both are listed through Kangourou. The paper deadline had passed by late August, so the digital session is the remaining published September Paris route unless the centre confirms a cancellation place for paper.

Do not assume the two sessions use the same venue or Speaking date. Ask the centre for the full Confirmation of Entry.

Epernay's centre is Saint Victor, Sainte Marie. Reims uses Ecole Internationale Henri Farman. A candidate outside Paris may find one of those cities practical, but travel should be booked only after entry confirmation.

B2 First for Schools is not an easier exam

B2 First and B2 First for Schools both target CEFR B2. Cambridge states that they use the same exam format, scoring and certificate level. The Schools version frames topics for school-age candidates.

The September France calendar should not be used to move an adult candidate into the Schools version without checking suitability and receiver acceptance.

Our B2 First Speaking guide covers the common four-part format. The Schools versus adult speaking scores compares Cambridge's published candidate evidence rather than assuming the topic label changes the standard.

Digital and paper result timing

Digital and paper lead to the same qualification, but the result speed can matter for school or admission deadlines. The online Statement of Results is official and can be verified before the physical certificate arrives.

Cambridge's digital exam-day guidance describes computer delivery for written components. Speaking remains a human test.

For the format details, use the individual guides to B2 Speaking Part 1, Part 2 long turn, Part 3 collaborative task, and Part 4 discussion.

Speaking dates come from the centre

The public France table gives no Speaking timetable. Cambridge says local centres control Speaking dates, so it can occur on the main date or another nearby day.

Ask the centre:

1. What day and time is Speaking?
2. Is the candidate paired with one or two others?
3. Where is the final venue?
4. What original ID is required?
5. When will the Confirmation of Entry be sent?

The two Cambridge examiner roles explains why one examiner speaks and the other mainly observes.

For everyday confidence, practise free with SpeakShark while using official Cambridge sample tasks for exam-specific work.

Score and certificate outcomes

B2 First for Schools uses the Cambridge English Scale:

The exam reports Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking and Use of English scores. A receiving institution can impose an overall or component threshold beyond earning a certificate.

The Council of Europe CEFR descriptions explain the level framework. The Cambridge speaking criteria by level shows how B2 marking differs from C1 and C2.

Cambridge certificates do not expire, although a school or authority can impose recency. See English certificate expiry compared.

Later B2 First for Schools options in France

The France calendar listed later sessions including:

• October 17 digital in Lyon.
• November 14 digital in Lyon.
• November 17 paper in Nice.
• November 27 digital in Sophia Antipolis.
• December 5 paper in Dijon.
• December 12 digital in Lyon and paper in Paris and Vichy.

Moving to October or November can be safer if the September deadlines leave too little time. The receiving deadline and candidate readiness should decide.

If the target is C1, compare the France C1 Advanced September schedule. If the target is C2, the France C2 Proficiency date has a separate entry.

How to register

1. Confirm that the Schools version is appropriate and accepted.
2. Choose Epernay, Reims or Paris based on the open deadline.
3. Contact the named authorised centre.
4. Confirm capacity, fee, venue and Speaking date.
5. Submit candidate details and payment before the deadline.
6. Save the Confirmation of Entry and result credentials.

Use the free speaking-level check if B2 readiness is uncertain. A date cannot substitute for a level assessment.

How we researched this guide

We checked Cambridge's official France calendar, global 2026 dates, digital guidance, centre finder and B2 candidate information on August 28, 2026.

We counted only French B2 First for Schools entries in September. That produced four centre listings on three dates, with one paper route and three digital routes.

We did not combine adult B2 First entries, invent fees or assume the listed main date is Speaking. 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 B2 First for Schools on September 12 in Epernay, September 19 in Paris, and September 26 in Reims and Paris. Epernay, Reims and the September 26 Paris session are digital; the September 19 Paris session is paper based. Each centre uses a separate deadline.

The Epernay digital session on September 12 closes September 5. The Reims digital session on September 26 closes September 6. The Paris digital session on September 26 closes September 20. The Paris paper session on September 19 had an August 12 deadline, which had already passed by the August 28 audit.

The September 19 paper deadline has passed, but the published Paris digital session on September 26 closes September 20. Contact Kangourou to confirm that capacity remains and ask about the final venue and Speaking date. A listed future deadline does not guarantee a seat until the last day.

No. Both qualifications target CEFR B2, use the same exam format and scoring scale, and lead to an equivalent certificate. The Schools version uses topics designed for school-age candidates. Choose the version appropriate to the candidate and receiving organisation, not because one September date appears more convenient.

Cambridge's current candidate guidance normally gives digital results in one to two weeks and paper results in four to six weeks, with certificates following later. The Statement of Results is official and verifiable online. Ask the receiving school or institution whether it can use that statement before the certificate arrives.

The France calendar does not publish the local Speaking appointments. Cambridge says Speaking dates are subject to centre provision, so they can differ from the main September date. Ask Saint Victor, Ecole Internationale Henri Farman or Kangourou for the full timetable before arranging travel or assuming all papers occur on one day.

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 the fixed September 19 paper date.
3. Cambridge digital exam guidance, checked for centre-based computer delivery.
4. B2 First for Schools versus B2 First, checked for level and format equivalence.
5. Saint Victor, Sainte Marie, linked as the named 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.