What is a component exemption?
Candidates may not be able to work with others, or access certain facilities or equipment. This means they may be unable to complete a component. By using a component exemption (also known as a Covid-19 exemption), candidates do not take the component but can still receive an overall syllabus grade. Exempted candidates do not sit the exam for the exempted component or complete the coursework/speaking component. You do not send any candidate work to us for the exempted component.
Can I apply for a component exemption?
Wherever possible, candidates should complete all components according to the requirements set out in the syllabus because this gives them the best chance of showing what they know and can do. We have spent considerable time thinking through our approach to component exemptions for 2023 and we have worked closely with our schools to understand how they continue to be impacted by the pandemic. In most cases, we can see that component exemptions are not needed by schools to the same extent as previous years. This is largely because most of our schools are no longer impacted by widespread closures seen in previous years.
To be eligible for a component exemption, your school must have been closed by a local or national Government directive for a minimum of 13 weeks (excluding school holidays) from 1 February – 21 September 2023. If you apply for component exemptions, you will need to send us evidence that your school was closed by the authorities in your country when you send us your application. We will not accept any application that does not have this evidence included with it. We will confirm the application window by March 2023.
If your school chose to shut, but it was not due to a local or national Government directive, then we cannot accept your application for component exemptions.
If we accept your application and your candidates complete all the other components in the syllabus option, we will calculate an assessed mark for the exempted component and issue a syllabus grade.
What component exemptions are available?
We will confirm available component exemptions in 2023.
How do I apply for component exemptions?
You will be able to apply for component exemptions in 2023. We will confirm the application window and how to apply as soon as possible.
Exemption regulations supplement
We will publish our updated regulations supplement as soon as possible.