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Cambridge Exams cancelled; Switch to ‘Student Assessed Grades’
The British Cambridge Exams Board announced Friday that they are compelled to cancel current exams administered to school candidates, due to the uncertainty about a potential lockdown, Rob Low, Country Exams Director of the British Council, Sri Lanka said.
Students sitting for the Cambridge Schools examination series were left confused after a message from the British Council stated that the exams will continue as planned while international schools conducting Cambridge exams issued notices that Cambridge has decided to cancel the ongoing examination series (May/June 2021) with immediate effect and move to Schools Assessed Grades (SAGs).
“As per Cambridge exams definition assessments are primarily designed for students who are on courses of study at schools and colleges registered with Cambridge and are referred to as school candidates. However, it is recognised that there are students who may not attend Cambridge schools but who wish to enter for assessments. Such individuals are referred to as private candidates. Private candidates do not have the option to have assessed grades and therefore British Council will continue to run exams for them in an attempt to ensure they receive a grade,” he said.
Mr Low said they are working closely with local health officials to ensure strict health and safety measures are followed in accordance with the British Council and the Government of Sri Lanka guidelines, and that the measures have been communicated to all private candidates prior to taking the exams.
“If a lockdown were to occur, school candidates would not be able to receive grades as the series would not have been completed long enough to enable adequate assessment. This is the reason for the decision to switch to ‘Student Assessed Grades’, to ensure candidates receive a grade,” he said.
A meeting has been planned for Wednesday (12) hosted in collaboration with The British Council and Cambridge Exams board in order to provide further clarity and support to queries that schools may have on behalf of their students.