The safety of your candidates and colleagues
This is more important than running exams. If it is not safe to hold exams during the November 2020 exam series you should make arrangements for your candidates to take their exams in a future series. To decide if it is safe to hold exams, you should first assess your national and local government regulations and advice.
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Guidance on running exams in the November 2020 series (PDF, 198KB) |
National and local regulations and guidance
If you decide to hold exams, you must comply with any guidance or instructions from national and local governments, and healthcare authorities.
If you are allowed to meet in groups, it may be possible to hold exams. However, you will need to make sure that you follow any regulations, such as social distancing and hygiene procedures.
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Check national and local government guidance. |
Sylllabus availability
We do not offer all syllabuses in every exam series. Check that the syllabus you plan to make entries for is available in the November 2020 series or the relevant series in 2021.
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Additional syllabuses available in November 2020
Check your Cambridge Guide to Making Entries for the relevant series. Exams offices can download the guide from the 'Support Materials' section of Cambridge International Direct
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Differences in content between syllabuses examined in 2020 and 2021
We regularly review and update our qualifications to make sure they continue to meet the needs of students and schools. If you defer your entries to a series in 2021, the syllabus being examined may be different from that in the November 2020 series.
For example, the topics in a history syllabus may have changed.
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Check the syllabus requirements for the relevant series. You can search for the syllabus document(s) using the search box on this page or through the School Support Hub |
Set works for the year in which the syllabus is examined
If you defer your entries to a series in 2021 the syllabus being examined may have different set works (for example set texts in an English literature syllabus or set works in a music syllabus).
Please be aware that the syllabus may not have changed, but the set works may have changed. Make sure you are following the list for the relevant year within the syllabus.
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Check the syllabus requirements for the relevant series. You can search for the syllabus document(s) using the search box on this page or through the School Support Hub |
Access arrangements and modified papers
If you have candidates who need access arrangements you might need to put in place extra provisions when planning exams in your centre. In all cases, you must make sure you follow your national or local government advice.
Every modified paper is made to order, to make sure that each candidate’s specific needs are met. Our deadline for modified paper applications was 1 July 2020 and has now passed. It reflects the time it takes to produce and deliver these papers.
Due to Covid-19, we have also faced our own restrictions and limitations in the production of some of our modified papers. As a result, we cannot guarantee some of the modifications we have previously been able to produce. If we cannot fulfil your request, please contact us. We may be able to work with you to find an alternative.
If you are using an alternative venue to help with social distancing during exams, you must make sure you transport any modified papers to your alternative venue.
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For more information on access arrangements and modified papers see page 3 of Guidance on running exams in the November 2020 series (PDF, 198KB) |
Loss of teaching time
We know that many of our centres have concerns about lost preparation and teaching time. We recognise that this may have held back the learning of some candidates, and that this is not their fault.
In the November 2020 series, for some coursework, speaking and practical components, teachers and students will be able to adjust their approach to the course or their administration of the test to meet the requirements of the component.
Some schools have asked us if we can use special consideration in cases where candidates have lost teaching time. However, this is not possible as the purpose of special consideration is to make a small allowance for circumstances on the day of the exam which prevent a candidate from demonstrating fully what they know and can do. It is not to make allowances for a loss of teaching time.
It is important to consider whether your candidates will be prepared to take exams in November 2020 or if it would be better for them to defer to the appropriate series in 2021.
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You can find more information on coursework adjustments on our Coursework, speaking and practical components web pages.
For a full explanation of why we cannot offer special consideration to candidates for loss of teaching time see page 8 of our Guidance on running exams in the November 2020 series (PDF, 198KB)
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Teaching and learning during Covid-19
We have a range of resources to help, whether you are teaching remotely, returning to teaching in schools or adopting a blended teaching approach.
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Teaching and learning when school is closed
Teaching and learning when school returns
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