15 Jan 2021
Today’s update shares more information about Covid-19 exemptions for the 2021 exam series.
We would also like to remind you that you can still register for a place on our exams officer webinars next week.
As always, we are very grateful for the questions and suggestions you have been sharing with us. We have received some questions about how Cambridge International will make sure students can compete on an equal basis with students taking UK GCSE and A Level via teacher assessment in June 2021. Our aim continues to be to align the standard of Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level to that of equivalent qualifications in England. We are monitoring proposals from Ofqual about the June 2021 series in England very carefully.
Please do continue to contact us wherever you have questions.
Covid-19 exemptions
In our update of 9 December 2020, we said that Covid-19 exemptions would be available for some syllabuses and components in the March 2021 and June 2021 series. We asked schools to send us feedback about the list of eligible components that we published. We would like to thank all schools who have submitted feedback on the assessed components that we are making eligible for exemptions.
We have now reviewed this feedback and, in response to schools’ comments, we are making Covid-19 exemptions available in a number of additional components.
From tomorrow, 15 January, you will be able to find our response to your feedback on our website. This will be published as a document on our Applying for exemptions page.
The full list of Covid-19 exemptions has been updated and is on our website.
Schools can apply for Covid-19 exemptions from tomorrow, 15 January, when the application form goes live on Direct. The application form is available on Direct. We will confirm whether applications have been accepted as quickly as possible and hopefully within seven working days of the application. We will ask you to confirm which of your candidates you would like to be exempted from which approved component(s) after the application deadline.
To support schools in completing the Covid-19 exemptions application form, we have produced a video that talks through each part of the form. You can access this on our Applying for exemptions page.
If you work with us via a Cambridge Associate, you should apply for exemptions through them. Centres who do not work with us directly but via a national exam board or ministry of education, should contact them to check their policy on exemptions.
Exams officer webinars, 20 & 21 January
There are still places on our free exams officer update webinar about the June 2021 series.
If you are an exams officer outside of the UK, see the details and how to book here.
If you an exams officer in the UK, see the details and how to book here.
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 website.
We wish everyone in the Cambridge International community well at this time.