03 Jul 2020
This update focuses on a number of different themes. Within the ‘Support for schools’ section, we are highlighting the Great Teaching Toolkit: Evidence Review, a useful resource when planning teacher training. We also have an update on Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (PDQs) and Cambridge ICT Starters.
The ‘Applying to university’ section has updates on acceptance of grades from the June 2020 series in Pakistan, as well as a podcast featuring an interview with Mark Wilson from UCAS.
We also have several further updates to our FAQs, including on Cambridge ICE and carrying forward marks.
We will send our next update to schools on 9 July 2020.
Support for schools
Teaching & Learning when school is closed
Since March 2020, Cambridge International has provided a growing range of resources on our website to help you deliver teaching and learning outside the classroom.
Many of the resources in this section of our website will also help teachers to incorporate remote learning into the physical learning environment when they return to classrooms. Please share this information with your teachers.
Great teaching toolkit
We already know that the quality of teaching can make a huge difference to how students learn and how they perform in assessments. However, how do teachers identify what really works?
Cambridge International has partnered with Evidence Based Education (a UK-based research organisation) to produce the Great teaching toolkit: Evidence Review.
The report, released on 17 June 2020, has already been downloaded thousands of times. It aims to help teachers identify the areas they can work on in their own professional development that will have the most impact on their learners’ outcomes.
Professor Rob Coe and his team at Evidence Based Education have examined over 100 studies on the links between teacher performance and student outcomes. In this report, they highlight the common areas that have been proven, around the world, to have the potential to transform learning.
Cambridge PDQs and Cambridge ICT Starters
As centres are aware, we decided it was best to suspend some series of Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (PDQs) and Cambridge ICT Starters during the period following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Doing so allowed us to focus on the substantial task of guiding schools through the June 2020 series and then capturing and processing predicted grades.
Now that this process is well underway, we are looking at when we can re-open the PDQ and ICT Starter series. We expect to make a decision in August and will inform schools as soon as possible.
Updates to our FAQs
Our updated FAQs are here. Below are some of the key updates:
Entry and withdrawal deadlines for the November 2020 series
For schools outside the UK our final entry deadline for the November 2020 series is 16 August. Fees for late entries will be charged as normal. However, a school will receive credit for any withdrawals made before the end of the day on 30 August. This is to support schools who may be uncertain about making entries because of the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
Information on Cambridge ICE
This update is for students for whom the November 2020 exam series would normally be the last series for which they can sit exams and gain their Cambridge ICE certificate.
We recognise that some schools may need to plan their academic year differently due to the impact of Covid-19, and therefore we will allow an exemption for Cambridge ICE students to the usual rule that candidates must complete all elements within 13 months.
The exemption will apply if November 2020 would have been the final series for the candidate for ICE (that is, they are also using syllabus grades from a previous series within the last 13 months).
If candidates meets this criteria, they can count grades awarded from the November 2021 series instead of November 2020 series. It is still the case that the candidates may only use grades from a maximum of two series.
If a candidate has already been entered for November 2020 you have until 16 August to withdraw them and receive a credit for the entry.
This exemption is in addition to our previous announcement for candidates who were due to complete Cambridge ICE in June 2020 series.
Carrying forward marks to a future exam series
As we explained previously, in the absence of AS Level marks in June 2020, students will receive a grade for Cambridge International AS Level, but will not be able to carry forward their AS Level result to A Level in the usual way. Therefore, we have put in place alternative arrangements. See our website for the latest information about carrying forward marks.
Information about submitting forecast grades and internally assessed marks in the November 2020 series.
We have changed some of our processes to help us meet the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and to support schools working remotely. As part of these changes, we are asking you to use electronic methods to minimise delays and allow us to prioritise our confidential despatches.
Therefore, for the November 2020 series, you need to submit your forecast grades and internally assessed marks electronically using Cambridge International Direct. This means your pre-exam despatch will not include Forecast grade forms or Internal assessment mark sheets. We will send your pre-exam despatch in mid to late September.
Information about Statements of Entry for the November 2020 series
We are also asking you to use the electronic Statements of Entry generated on Cambridge International Direct. Please do not use hard copy Statements of Entry forms from previous exam series. Where your region has told us that it is critical for you to receive hard copy Statements of Entry, we will continue to send them to you in hard copy.
Syllabus-specific advice for the November 2020 series
We realise many schools are now considering how to manage coursework requirements for syllabuses in the November 2020 series and we will be updating our FAQs with advice in the coming weeks. See the Help page for the latest information.
Applying to university
Our Global Recognitions team is working closely with universities and other higher education bodies around the world to make sure Cambridge qualifications in the June 2020 series are accepted in the same manner as previous years. This week we want to highlight the following information that might be relevant to your students:
- For students applying to universities in Pakistan: The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has announced that all Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level and Cambridge International AS & A Level results for June 2020 will be given equivalence based on the existing formula and treated as equivalent to Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC), respectively. This means that the grades Cambridge International awards students for the June 2020 series will be considered in the same way as they have been in previous series. This will facilitate a smooth transition for students who want to continue their studies at higher education institutions in Pakistan.
- For students applying to UK universities: Mark Wilson, Customer Experience Manager at UCAS, has joined us for a podcast to discuss what happens on results day for students applying to UK universities. Universities are expecting to welcome new students in September, either online or on campus, even if things are a little different in 2020. We discuss what to do to confirm your place, how to look at alternative options if you decide to change your course, and discover that it is not too late to apply for a UK university place this year. Listen to the podcast.
Please go to our website for more information about university recognition for the June 2020 series.
Staying in touch
You can find all our advice on our website. If you have any questions, you can review our frequently asked questions, or contact us via our help section.
We wish everyone in the Cambridge International community well at this time.
