Cambridge International is pleased to offer an exciting competition for Cambridge IGCSE and O Level learners. We want to give learners the opportunity to develop their passion for science through practical work, investigating topics of interest and using the scientific method. We also want to promote the attributes of a Cambridge learner through collaboration and communication, promoting innovation and creativity.
Who is it for?
The Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition is for teams of three to six Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level learners working on a scientific investigation outside normal curriculum time.
What do students do?
Teams choose a topic for their investigation and complete an investigation over 20-25 hours. They will also produce a reflection of the work, consisting of an investigation and reflection, and present their project to their teacher and peers.
Who marks the projects?
Teachers assess the portfolios using the mark scheme we provide. We may ask you to provide a sample of your marking.
What do students get?
Upon completion, teams will be awarded a Participation, Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate. Schools produce these certificates using the templates provided. Cambridge will notify schools when they are permitted to print the certificates.
How do we select a winner?
Teachers submit Gold portfolios for consideration by our expert panel of judges in Cambridge. The judges will select one winner for each region from the Gold submissions. Each regional winner will receive individual medals for each team member and a letter of recognition.
The overall global winner will also receive Gold medals and a letter of commendation. In addition, the school will receive a plaque of recognition and will be interviewed for a future edition of Cambridge Outlook magazine.
What support is available?
Once you have entered your students for the competition, you can find all of the supporting documents you need to get started on the School Support Hub. The support pack and mark scheme has been updated for 2020 so you must download the latest version, even if you have entered this competition previously. The pack includes:
- a teacher guide
- a learner guide
- example projects
- coversheet
- mark submission forms
- certificate templates.