Phase 4 – Before the exams

This phase is about getting everything in place so that you are ready for the start of the exams. This includes storing your question papers securely, preparing the exam room and training invigilators.

On this page you can find information about:

• Forecast grades
• Pre-exam despatches
• Early question papers and pre-release material
• Additional exams material
• Damaged, open or missing paper packets
• Storing confidential materials
• Preparing the exam room
• Training invigilators
• Managing science practical exams
• Information Technology, Computer Science, and Information and Communication Technology practical exams

Forecast grades

We ask you to submit forecast grades for all of your candidates. A forecast grade is the grade the teacher expects each candidate to achieve for each syllabus they are entered for. We use forecast grades:

• to inform decisions about syllabus grade thresholds
  
• to help make a post-exam adjustment to a candidate's mark if you need to apply for special consideration to make allowances for some adverse circumstances, for example illness, bereavement or temporary injury
• to carry out checks before we release results

If you do not submit forecast grades you will disadvantage your candidates. We cannot apply the above quality assurance processes without them.

Submit your forecast grades by the following deadlines:

• June series: 30 April
• November series: 31 October

Submit your forecast grades using one of the following methods:

• Cambridge International Direct
  
• A2C Migration Application: This method is only available to UK centres. Depending on your MIS package, you may be able to create your forecast grades file and then submit it to us through A2C.
  

See Part 4 of the relevant Cambridge Handbook for more information.

Pre-exam despatches

We will send you a number of pre-exam despatches so that you have all the materials you need to administer our exams. They are:

• Cambridge early question paper despatch: Question papers and exam materials for specific components, such as practical, project or speaking components where materials are needed before the main timetable period.
• Cambridge entries confirmation despatch: Documents confirming the details of your entries.
• Cambridge pre-exam despatch: Exam stationery, key administrative documents, despatch labels and envelopes. This despatch also includes a guide explaining what you need to do with each item. Download the relevant pre-exam despatch guide below.
  Cambridge pre-exam despatch guide November 2024 (International) (PDF, 1MB)
  Cambridge pre-exam despatch guide November 2024 (UK) (PDF, 1MB) 
  
• Cambridge bar-coded labels despatch: Bar-coded labels for timetabled exams to identify the contents of each script packet you send back
• Cambridge question paper despatch: Confidential question papers and supporting materials.

For guidance on handling confidential materials, download our poster from the Administrative forms and guidance documents page, under ‘Before the exams’.

Early question papers and pre-release material

You can access early question papers and pre-release material in one of three ways:

• School Support Hub
  You can access some materials on the School Support Hub from the relevant syllabus page.
• Digital File Despatch (DFD)
  We will send you some materials via the Digital File Despatch (DFD) area of our website. To access these early question papers and pre-release materials, you must first submit final entries.
• Printed
  We send some materials in print. For some syllabuses, we are no longer sending materials in print, even if we have sent them in print previously.

See the table below which outlines how your school will receive early question papers and pre-release material for the syllabuses for which you have made entries. Please share this information with the relevant subject teachers.

Early question papers and pre-release material – November 2025 (XLSX, 10KB)

Additional exams material

We update the Additional Materials List before each exams series. The list includes:

• additional materials candidates need in each exam
• exam materials we provide
• information about whether candidates should answer directly on the answer paper, on multiple-choice answer sheets or on an answer booklet provided as an insert in the question paper.

Additional Materials List – UK (PDF, 446KB)

Additional Materials List – International (PDF, 704KB)

Damaged, open or missing paper packets

When your question paper despatch arrives check that you have all the materials listed on the despatch note. If any of your question paper packets are damaged, open or missing you must let us know straight away. To do this complete and return the relevant form below:

Missing question paper packet - Before the exams - Form 2 (PDF, 643KB)

Damaged or opened question paper packet - Before the exams - Form 3 (PDF, 650KB)

Storing confidential materials

Before the exams start we will send you question papers and other confidential materials. You must keep them stored unopened, in a secure place at all times. See Part 4 of the Cambridge Handbook for detailed guidance

You can also view our video below.