Cambridge Assessment

• The first UCLES exams took place on 14 December 1858, in eight UK cities. • They were ‘local’ as examiners travelled to the Centres, carrying a locked box containing the question papers.

• The first overseas examinations took place in Trinidad in 1864.

• In England, girls were not officially permitted to enter public exams until 1867.

The organisation

Cambridge International Education worldwide

9000 schools 160 countries 40 governments

A Cambridge Education

Cambridge O Level

• Cambridge O Level offered for over 50 years • Equivalent to GCSE in UK • Wide range of subjects • Cambridge O Level Grades A*-E only (A* from June 2010) • Percentage Uniform Mark in some countries from June 2010 • Examination only options available

Cambridge IGCSE

• Cambridge IGCSE since 1988 • Cambridge IGCSE Grades A*-G • Wide range of subjects (70) • Percentage Uniform Mark in some countries from June 2010 • Examination only and coursework options available

Cambridge IGCSE in the UK

• 16 Subjects accredited by Ofqual in 2009 • Listed in NDAQ & Section 96 database • Qualify for funding & league table points • 6 more subjects submitted • Future subjects dependent on UK demand

How is IGCSE different from GCSE?

• Differences in syllabuses and schemes of assessment • Optional coursework • Skills embedded • Tailored to multi-cultural, multi-lingual audience • Can be taken as part of a group award – International Certificate in Education (ICE) with 7 subjects from different groups

Cambridge International AS and A Level

• Cambridge International A Level offered for over 50 years • Cambridge International AS Level since 2001 • International relevance (not UK-centric) • Flexible • Available in a wide range of subjects with exams held in June and November

Cambridge International AS and A Level

• Passing grades A - E for AS Level • Passing Grades A* - E from June 2010 for A Level • Percentage Uniform Mark in some countries from June 2010 • Linear assessment - not unitised/modular • Retakes only of whole Cambridge International AS and A Levels

Staged or linear assessment

Two-stage structure

Year 1 Year 2

One-stage structure

Year 1 Year 2 AS exam + A2 exam = A Level study, no exam + A Level exam = A Level

Most students take three or four subjects at A level

Cambridge A Level UK A Level

• 360 class contact hours • 6 pass grades A*-E • Linear examinations • Retakes only permitted for whole subjects • Links in subject matter across all papers • 360 class contact hours • 6 pass grades A*-E • Modular examinations • Retakes of modules permitted • Unitised, with some synoptic material at A2

Statement of Results

A statement of results is provided for each candidate.

The statement lists each of the components that the candidate was entered for and the syllabus grades that have been achieved in each case. From June 2010 this may include a percentage uniform mark.

For Group Award candidates the statement will show the result achieved in the ICE or AICE (Diploma) Group Award.

Sample certificate: Cambridge IGCSE

Sample certificate: Cambridge International AS and A Level

Ministries of Education – working in partnership

• Working with MoE to provide national curriculum and assessments e.g. Mauritius School Certificate and Higher School Certificate • Working with MoE to support education projects Bahrain, Egypt, Spain • Validation of local exams e.g. Namibia, Hong Kong, Botswana

Singapore-Cambridge curriculum

• Co-operation between CIE, Ministry of Education and Singapore Examination and Assessment Board (SEAB) • A rigorous, holistic education with compulsory subjects (MTL, PW, GP/KI) plus minimum 4 content based subjects including a contrasting subject

Singapore - Cambridge Assessments

• N Level and O Level • GCE A Level: Qualification Higher 1 (H1) Higher 2 (H2) Higher 3 (H3) UK equivalent AS Level A level Old S level/UG

Singapore-Cambridge Grades

H1/H2 A B C D E S Ungraded

Note: A* is not being introduced

H3 Distinction Merit Pass Ungraded

Learn more!

Val Sismey, Manager Programmes and Progression 1 Hills Road. Cambridge, CB1 2EU, UK Fax: Web: Tel: Email: +44 1223 553558 www.cie.org.uk

+44 1223 553802 [email protected]