18 Dec 2025
Today we celebrate thousands of young learners around the world as they receive their Cambridge Checkpoint results from our October 2025 test series. Over 22,000 primary and lower secondary learners in 60 countries took the tests in English as a first or second language, mathematics and science, or carried out a research project for Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research, in preparation for their next step in education.
Between them, these students made over 59,000 entries for Cambridge Checkpoint tests, with schools in Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Indonesia making the most entries. Cambridge Primary Checkpoint tests were marginally more popular than Lower Secondary Checkpoint, with around 31,000 primary entries in total. As part of the results released to schools today, every learner will receive a Statement of Achievement from Cambridge.
Improving future performance
Cambridge Checkpoint tests set students up for future exam success. They are used by schools to assess young learners’ knowledge and skills in core subjects at the end of Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary so that teachers can make decisions about where more support is needed.
Schools receive diagnostic feedback reports for individual learners, as well as reports for each teaching group and the whole school, including how learners are performing against the international average for each subject. Basil Mackenzie, Head of Academic at Nova Pioneer, South Africa says the feedback reports help students to grow and improve: “The Cambridge Checkpoint reports provide our students with a concise view of 'where they are at' in the development of key skills and knowledge required for a successful transition into the Cambridge IGCSE phase. This enables them to meet the teacher half-way in terms of academic support they may require in certain areas.”
This view is backed up by a Cambridge research study which found that schools adopting Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint had a small but significant improvement in their average Cambridge IGCSE grade, compared to schools that don't adopt Checkpoint. The study also showed that Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint scores are a good predictor of performance in Cambridge IGCSEs, particularly in the same or a related subject.
Rachel Talbot, Cambridge’s Head of Early Years and Primary Tests Development said: “We carefully design Cambridge Checkpoint tests to support progression throughout the Cambridge Pathway. The results we are sharing today will help learners, parents and teachers have a clear understanding of current achievement. As well as enabling schools to monitor performance, Cambridge Checkpoint tests provide actionable, diagnostic feedback leading to data driven improvements in teaching and learning. Congratulations to all our Cambridge Checkpoint learners and we wish you well for your next steps along your Cambridge learning journey.”
Earlier this year Cambridge announced the expansion of its Cambridge Checkpoint series due to increased demand. A new series will be introduced in March 2026, as a further option to those in May and October, to give schools in more countries flexibility to align the tests better with the end of their academic year.