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 one of more of the following periods:
- 13 weeks / 65 days or more (excluding school holidays) between 1 February to 21 September 2023
- 20 weeks / 100 days or more (excluding school holidays) between 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.
To be eligible for a component exemptions based on school closures in either of the two eligibility windows, your school must have been closed by a local or national government directive and you must provide evidence of this when you send us your application. We will not accept any application that does not have this evidence included with it.
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?
View what exemptions are available for which syllabuses and components.
How do I apply for component exemptions?
You can apply for component exemptions from 26 June to 21 September 2023 (at 23:59 UTC + 1).
The application form is available from the ‘Support Materials’ area of Direct and you should complete and send this to covidexemptions@cambridgeinternational.org
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. If you do not submit this evidence, we cannot accept your application.
If you apply for one or more component exemptions and we approve them, you must confirm which candidates you would like to exempt from which component(s). We will contact you closer to the time to remind you to do this.
Exemption regulations supplement
Our supplement outlines Covid-19 exemption regulations for the November 2023 series (PDF, 102KB). You must use this, as well as the Cambridge Handbook, if you are running exams.
Submitting candidates’ details for Covid-19 exemptions
If you apply for component exemptions by 21 September and we accept your application, then between 22 September – 30 April you will need to tell us which candidates you would like to exempt from which component(s). It is extremely important you complete this step, otherwise your candidates cannot use their exemptions. Details about how to do this will be available soon and we will also email you to remind you.
Differences between a component exemption and a component adjustment
Component adjustments are not available for any syllabuses from the November 2023 series onwards. Candidates cannot apply for a component adjustment and submit a reduced amount of work.
