First steps school of Arts and Sciences, Pakistan

What is Cambridge Checkpoint?

Cambridge Checkpoint and Progression Tests provide a rigorous, standardised performance analysis of individual primary and lower secondary learners. Cambridge Progression Tests are internal assessments designed for use in the classroom and cover English as a first or second language, maths and science.

The Cambridge Checkpoint tests are used at the end of the Primary or Lower Secondary programmes. Cambridge Checkpoint is an assessment of performance while also giving learners the experience of taking an external assessment, as the test is marked by Cambridge.

Why did First Steps School decide to adopt Cambridge Checkpoint and Progression Tests?

It was important for us to understand where our learners were placed academically when they took a standardised test. In addition, when we first adopted the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary programmes, the Cambridge Progression Tests were a way to both emphasise the introduction of the new curriculum within our school and to judge its success.

We’ve also found that Cambridge Progression Tests are a very effective marketing tool as they demonstrate to prospective parents how thoroughly we evaluate each learner. We explain that these are diagnostic tests (not exams) and that test results show the strengths and weaknesses of an individual learner - the areas in which they excel and also where more work is needed.

When do your learners take Cambridge Checkpoint and Progression Tests?

We integrate questions from Cambridge Progression Tests into our curriculum throughout the year for all learners from Stage 3 through to Stage 9. Then in April (the end of our academic year) learners in Stages 6 and 9 take Cambridge Checkpoint. We test at the end of the year to give our teachers time to analyse and reflect on the results so that by August, when the new term starts, our teaching strategy has been updated and staff are ready for the next academic year.

How do you prepare your learners for the tests?

From January to March we prepare our learners for both Cambridge Checkpoint and Cambridge Progression Tests. During this period we have the opportunity to revise and reinforce the curriculum and our learners improve their focus and concentration, and the experience of preparing for an exam-style test helps them get used to a competitive testing environment. By the time the learners take the tests we can really see how they have matured. They are taking their studies more seriously and actually enjoy the process of sitting the tests because they have revised the concepts so thoroughly. In fact, by the time they take Cambridge Checkpoint they say that it’s very easy!

How do you use Cambridge Checkpoint and Progression Test results?

The test results tell us if we are teaching the Cambridge curriculum correctly. We identify any concepts which our learners found difficult to understand and address any weaknesses or gaps in our curriculum and in our teaching. 

As a result, we often send our teachers and academic leaders on professional development courses, primarily delivered by Cambridge but also sometimes delivered by our staff. For example, we discovered that our teachers were struggling with the concept of ‘Thinking and working scientifically’ in the Science curricula, and so one teacher (Ms. Samia Ijaz) designed a hands-on training session on this topic. Feedback was so positive that she will be repeating the session later in the academic year.

We also share results with parents who are very impressed with both tests, especially as we can compare current and past year performance with International results which makes test results even more informative.

How do you celebrate your learners’ Cambridge Checkpoint results?

We hold an ‘Honour and Award’ ceremony where learners are presented with certificates and shields, and we also celebrate their achievements on social media.