29 Apr 2020
This update concerns the following matters: dates for submitting predicted grades; dealing with non-standard entry profiles; Cambridge Checkpoint; where to find all our advice on the June 2020 series and a supplement to the Cambridge Handbook; and more support for schools.
We would like to thank all our schools for the ongoing feedback and support, as we work together to provide the best possible outcomes for students in these challenging times.
We will send our next update in the week commencing 4 May 2020.
Dates for submitting predicted grades and rank orders
We can now provide centres with the planned dates for submitting their predicted grades and rank orders to Cambridge International.
The submission window is planned to run from 29 May to 16 June. For more information on the process we will follow to grade students, please see Awarding grades for the June 2020 exam series.
Dealing with non-standard entry profiles
We have previously said that the statistical standardisation process will be based on data about the historical data of the centre as well as other statistical information.
Some centres have expressed concern that their entry profile in June 2020 is significantly different from their entry profile in recent years, and that the use of historical data will not reflect their expectations of this year’s candidates.
We will offer a service, after the issue of provisional results, for centres to provide evidence of how a change in their entry policy has led to a significant change to their entry profile in June 2020. The change in entry policy will need to relate to a group from the cohort who are identifiable not only in June 2020 but also in previous years. For example, a centre’s entry policy for June 2020 could be that the centre deferred the entry of their bottom two sets to November 2020 while leaving the remaining sets entered in June 2020. If a centre requests this service and meets the criteria, then we will review the statistical standardisation and, if appropriate, will make adjustments to candidates’ grades.
This post-results service is not intended to address other types of variation, such as the kinds of variation in entry that can occur naturally from one year to the next.
We will provide full details of post-results services after centres have completed their submission of predicted grades and rank orders, but before we release results.
Cambridge Checkpoint
We are in the process of developing a free Checkpoint resource pack for teachers at schools that made entries for the May 2020 Cambridge Checkpoint series.
It will include question papers, mark schemes and a template record of participation for schools to use if they wish.
We plan to have the pack ready by mid-May and will update centres as soon as we can.
Advice on the June 2020 series and supplement to the Handbook
We have created an overview of all the advice we have provided so far about arrangements for the June 2020 series.
This page will be regularly updated with any new information.
We are also providing a supplement to the Cambridge Handbook that contains our updated regulations for the June 2020 series. You can find this on the Cambridge Exams Officers’ Guide page of our website.
More support for schools: gathering and using evidence to predict grades for the June 2020 series
We know many of you have been asking for more information about gathering and using evidence to set predicted grades. Our video and accompanying guide can be found on Awarding grades for the June 2020 exam series.
They provide answers to the main questions we have been getting from schools about:
- types of evidence
- overcoming challenges in gathering evidence
- using mock exam results
- sending and storing evidence
Webinars
We have added two more webinars to the Teaching and learning when school is closed section of our website. They contain plenty of practical ideas and advice from Cambridge International teachers.
- Teaching and Learning Online for Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary
- Lessons from China - how teachers have adapted to teaching during school closures
Staying in touch
You can find our advice on our website. If you have any questions, you can review our frequently asked questions, or contact us via: www.cambridgeinternational.org/help
We will update schools again in the week commencing 4 May. We wish everyone in the Cambridge International community well at this difficult time.