What is special consideration?
Special consideration is a post-exam adjustment that we make to a candidate's mark. We do this to make allowances for some adverse circumstances, for example illness, bereavement, temporary injury or disruption to an exam.
What is malpractice?
Malpractice is any action that breaks our regulations and potentially threatens the integrity of our exams and certificates. Malpractice can happen before, during or after timetabled exams or other assessments.
Preventing and detecting of malpractice applies with equal importance to the portfolio of evidence route as it does to the normal assessment route.
We have produced a Special consideration and malpractice regulations supplement (PDF, 378KB) for schools following the portfolio of evidence route. You must use this together with the Cambridge Handbook 2023 if you are submitting portfolios of evidence.
What types of special consideration are available?
You can submit applications for the 'present but disadvantaged candidates' category.
We cannot generate a calculated assessment for a missing piece of evidence. This is because the portfolio of evidence entry is a single component with 100 per cent weighting. There are no other components to base a calculation on, and so ‘absent for an acceptable reason’ is not available for the portfolio of evidence route.
How do I apply?
The following instructions apply to present but disadvantaged candidates special consideration applications. You must apply within seven days of the evidence submission deadline.
- Log in to Cambridge International Direct (Direct)
- Go to the ‘special consideration’ area
- Complete the relevant form(s)
- Submit them to us by the deadline.
Alternatively, you can download and then complete the relevant form(s) from the 'Support Materials' area of Direct and email back to us.
I am an Associate Centre – how do I apply for special consideration?
Please apply using the relevant form rather than via Direct:
- Log in to Cambridge International Direct (Direct) and go to ‘Support Materials’
- Download the relevant form(s)
- Complete and send them to your Cambridge Associate
Your Cambridge Associate should check your form and email it to us within seven days of the last exam of the syllabus affected.
If you need help please refer to section 5.5 of the Cambridge Handbook.