Changes for the 2026 Cambridge Handbook

We are committed to minimising our impact on global deforestation and forest degradation.

From the end of 2025, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aims to reduce global deforestation and carbon emissions, and increase human rights protection in forestry-related supply chains, will apply to our products sold in Europe.

We are working with our supply chain to make sure that Cambridge is compliant with the EUDR.

EU rules, including the new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), require all products on the EU market to be safe, irrespective of their sale channel or country of origin. This means manufacturers must make sure that the products they place on the market are safe by design and comply with EU product safety rules. All businesses must follow these rules too.

For questions about EU GPSR, see www.cambridge.org/legal/eugpsr

Other Full Centre Supervision regulations:

NEW Full Centre Supervision is designed to help you timetable your exams flexibly. However, when timetabling exams, you must limit the length of time that candidates spend under Full Centre Supervision to minimise the risk to question paper security and candidate wellbeing.

NEW Provisional timetable published:

• June 2027 series: end of May 2026
• November 2027 series: end of October 2026

(c) Here are examples where you may consider applying for a timetable deviation:

• NEW A clash of exams resulting in a candidate sitting more than six hours of exams in a day. Candidates can sit exams for up to six hours in one day. The Head of Centre can allow candidates to sit exams that total more than this, but you should consider the candidate’s wellbeing.

(d) These are unacceptable reasons for a timetable deviation:

• NEW transport arrangements.

(c) If you do not have enough space for all candidates to take a test at the same time, you may arrange one or more sittings on the same day. NEW You do not need to tell us that you will do this. However, you must show all sittings on your exam timetable and make accurate attendance registers for each sitting. You must keep these records until after we release the results.

• Access arrangements: 27 November 2025
• Modified question papers: 6 October 2025

• computer reader
• human reader
• scribe
• practical assistant

(l) Human readers for the visually impaired:

• NEW may decode symbols and unit abbreviations in maths and science exams. For example, they can read 2² as 'two squared'

For candidates using supervised rest breaks and extra time, an invigilator should listen to the recording while it is played. This will allow the invigilator to administer extra time to the pauses already built into the recording. See section 1.3.5.4(g).

A candidate may need supplementary equipment when taking the exam. For example:

• NEW Headphones: if a candidate has a hearing impairment, sensory difficulties or tinnitus, or would benefit from reduced background noise, you may allow them to use noise-cancelling headphones, ear defenders or ear plugs. Headphones must not have any connectivity to the internet, Bluetooth, or data-storage facility. Where a candidate is using supplementary aids that reduce background noise, you must make sure the candidate is able to hear any exam announcements and there is a procedure in place for alerting them in the case of an emergency. You must make sure any headphones comply with our regulations in section 5.1.8.2.
• You must tell us if a candidate needs medical monitoring devices in the exam room, for example, a glucose monitor. NEW When submitting your application, please list 'medical monitoring device – [type of device]'.

(a) NEW Supplementary aids must not distract other candidates.

(b) NEW The centre must check all supplementary aids before the exam.

• NEW If a candidate using braille papers also has approval for a human reader, scribe and/or practical assistant, the person performing any of these roles should refer to the transcript of the braille question paper and not a standard copy of the question paper. If a candidate using braille papers also has approval for a computer reader, they must use an electronic transcript of the braille question paper and not a standard copy of the question paper. Please specify this in your application. 
• NEW Centres do not need to request tactile diagrams separately if requesting braille modified papers.
• NEW If candidates use a braille question paper, attach an Access arrangements cover sheet: Exam day – Form 4 to the answer script.

(e) Live speakers:

• To use a live speaker for pre-recorded exam components, you must also ask for a transcript of the audio file by sending us Modified papers: Preparation – Form 3, available from cambridgeinternational.org/ forms by the modified question paper application deadline. NEW We will make a copy of the transcript available for you to download from Digital File Despatch. Make sure you have asked for all syllabuses and components that you need. If you amend your entries, you must tell us so that we can make the correct transcript(s) available to you on Digital File Despatch.

NEW  Exam centres should pay particular attention to this section.

(b) Private candidates must meet all assessment requirements. Some options, including those with coursework, are not available to private candidates. NEW  This is because private candidates are not supervised by the centre making the entries. Therefore, centres cannot monitor whether coursework is completed according to the syllabus guidance. A private tutor cannot authenticate coursework; only the centre making the candidate entry can do so.

(c) Clarification given to how private candidates must arrange for a centre to enter them for exams.

(e) and (f) – deleted

Important dates

Deadline for the March 2026 test series added

NEW It is the centre’s responsibility to make sure that all work that has been internally assessed and submitted for external moderation is final. Once you submit coursework on Submit for Assessment, or despatch hardcopy coursework, this is what we will moderate. We will not accept any replacement work that you update or amend after your original submission.

NEW Private tutors must not contribute to moderated coursework assignments or projects. Coursework submitted as an assessed part of a qualification must be the candidate’s original, unaided work, as supported in the classroom by their teacher. Centres cannot authenticate any coursework produced with the help of a private tutor, so the coursework cannot be submitted for moderation.

Submitting work that contains plagiarised material and/or inappropriate use of generative AI may be considered malpractice. NEW If, after submitting work, you suspect it contains plagiarised material and/or inappropriate use of generative AI, you should contact us.

(c) NEW Teachers must not use artificial intelligence (AI) as the sole or primary means of marking candidates’ work. A human assessor must review all of the work in its entirety and decide the mark they feel it warrants, regardless of the AI tool’s outcomes. The teacher remains responsible for the mark awarded.

(a) Some coursework components need candidates to produce several pieces of work (for example, three essays). If a candidate does not complete all parts of the coursework, only give them marks for the work they have submitted. NEW Where a candidate has not produced enough coursework due to an unexpected illness, injury or other misfortune, we may be able to accept a reduced amount. See section 5.5.5

NEW It is the centre’s responsibility to make sure that all work that has been submitted for assessment is final. Once you submit coursework on Submit for Assessment, or despatch hardcopy coursework, this is what we will examine. We will not accept any replacement work that you update or amend after your original submission.

NEW Private tutors must not contribute to examined coursework assignments or projects. Coursework submitted as an assessed part of a qualification must be the candidate’s original, unaided work, as supported in the classroom by the teacher. Centres cannot authenticate any coursework produced with the help of a private tutor, so the coursework cannot be submitted for assessment.

We strongly advise you to review our policy about the use of generative AI in student work submitted for assessment as coursework Submitting work that contains plagiarised material and/or inappropriate use of generative AI may be considered malpractice. NEW If, after submitting work, you suspect it contains plagiarised material and/or inappropriate use of generative AI, you should contact us.

Be aware

NEW Where a candidate has not produced enough coursework due to an unexpected illness, injury or other misfortune, we may be able to accept a reduced amount. See section 5.5.5

Be aware

NEW Where a candidate has not produced enough coursework due to an unexpected illness, injury or other misfortune, we may be able to accept a reduced amount. See section 5.5.5.

Important information

NEW Accessible design update for Cambridge International Education assessment materials 

As part of our ongoing commitment to designing and developing accessible assessments, we are making changes to the layout and formatting of our question papers. These changes will apply to exams from March 2026 onwards. 

The assessment content, demand and types of questions will not change. For more information, visit our accessible design changes page.

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint

Entries confirmation despatch and Pre-exam and question paper despatch

Dates for the March 2026 test series added. 

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Pages 88 and 89

(c) You must clearly display to all candidates the:

• centre number
• date
• start and finish time of each exam
• syllabus name and number, and component code of each exam

(c) The Head of Centre must make sure all invigilators know what is expected of them and are fully briefed and regularly trained. You are responsible for training your invigilators before the exam, even if they are experienced. You must keep a record of this training until you receive certificates. NEW This record must include a signed attendance register of all invigilators who attended/completed the training, and the materials used to conduct the training.

(f) NEW Invigilators must not

• prompt or help candidates with answers in an exam 
•  tell candidates which questions to answer in an exam, when to move on to the next question, or the order in which to answer them 
• explain or clarify the meaning of words in the exam 
• point out any errors in candidates’ work 
• read questions to candidates, or act as a scribe or practical assistant 
• do any other task not related to the exam (for example, marking) in the exam room.

If a candidate arrives for an exam they have not been entered for, they can take the exam as long as: 

• they can take all the components needed for the syllabus option. This means you must have enough spare question papers so the candidate can sit all the components at the right time, not just the specific exam. You must not photocopy question papers. NEW If you do not have enough spare question papers for each relevant component, email us immediately.

(a) Here are examples of unauthorised materials:

• NEW watches

Be aware

NEW We encourage all centres to use metal detectors to screen candidates before they enter the exam room or re-enter the room while the exam is in progress. This security measure helps stop candidates taking unauthorised electronic devices into the exam room. You can use a handheld metal detector or ‘wand’ or a metal detector gateway to screen candidates. Where possible, we also encourage centres to use handheld metal detectors to check washrooms before and during the exams for concealed communication devices.

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Be aware

If a candidate is not present at the start of an exam, you may want to contact their parents/guardians/carers to see if the candidate can attend. They must not communicate with anyone until a member of centre staff meets them. NEW They must not use electronic devices. Share our Late arrivals – what happens when a candidate is late to an exam? document (PDF, 141KB) with candidates so they know what is expected of them if they arrive late.

NEW Candidates must not discuss the contents of a question paper or other confidential material, such as speaking test topics, with any other candidate until either the Key Time or end of the assessment window has passed. If they do, this may be considered malpractice (see section 5.6.1). 

All unused question papers, answer booklets and any other confidential exam material must be stored in your approved secure storage until at least 24 hours after the end of the exam or Key Time, whichever is later. After this time, you can dispose of the unused question papers or return them to candidates / centre staff. NEW However, it is important you do not share question papers or other confidential materials with anyone outside your centre. These materials must not be uploaded to publicly accessible platforms, social media or chat groups. They may be stored in shared or cloud-based systems (such as Google Classroom or similar), provided that access to such systems is strictly limited to authorised staff and students within your centre.

(r) NEW participating in local, national or international events, for example, sport or conferences, except in some cases where a candidate is representing their country at an international level for a sport or academic event at short notice and an alternative venue or timetable deviation has not been possible

(t) NEW technical issues or errors caused by faulty software or hardware during ICT practical tests.

Rewritten the section for further clarification

New section

Regulations

(i) a syllabus that includes multiple-choice components
(ii) a Service 5 enquiry for any components you have assessed in the same syllabus 
(iii) where a Service 9 enquiry is required.

(i) For a clerical re-check or review of marking services, you may only select one type of review or re-check service. For example, you cannot ask for a Service 1S for one component and then a Service 2S for another component if they are in the same syllabus. NEW The exception to this is a syllabus that includes multiple-choice components.

NEW If you change the option code a candidate is entered for after the late entries deadline because of the outcome of an enquiry about results in the previous exam series, we will credit your centre’s account with the late entry fee. Send an email with details of your candidate and the syllabus.

Regulations (left-hand box on page)

We have removed information about marking tolerance.

Regulations (bottom box on page)

NEW These regulations only apply to copies of scripts that you request as part of the enquiries about results process.

NEW In rare cases, as a result of appeals, malpractice investigations or quality checks, we may need to change statements of results or certificates. We can do this at any time, and without liability to you or your candidates.

Important dates

Dates for the March 2026 test series added.

A service to allow centres to download a copy of a candidate’s exam script after results release via My Cambridge.

If you work with us through another organisation, such as a Cambridge Associate, they can log into Access to Scripts. You must check with your Cambridge 
Associate how they intend to use this service.

We are launching Access to Scripts in phases to better support you. When it is available for you to use, we will contact you by email.

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A centre, approved by Cambridge International Education, that only provides assessments for qualifications and certificates to private candidates,in accordance with the Standard Terms of Exam Centre Registration. Any requirements outlined in this handbook of the duties of a centre apply to exam centres, including, but not limited to, any requirements for provision of assessments for qualifications for private candidates. However, requirements related to coursework or the teaching or delivery of courses, syllabuses or programmes do not apply to exam centres. We refer to exam centres as 'exam centres approved by Cambridge International Education' or 'approved exam centres'.