28/04/2020
Private candidates
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your continued patience during this exceptionally challenging time.
We apologise for the time it has taken us to provide the following guidance for private candidates. We have needed this time to fully consult with Cambridge, and also monitor the ongoing developments at the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), to fully understand how the grading process could work for private candidates entered via the British Council.
Our agreed position and guidance
Our guidance for private candidates is:
If you are entered for IGCSE, or O level examinations, you should defer to November 2020.
If you are entered for AS level examinations, you should defer to November 2020.
If you are entered for A2, or the full A level, we are asking you to wait for a further update.
Why we’ve chosen this course of action for candidates with IGCSE, O Level, and AS Level entries
Following its decision not to hold June 2020 examinations worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambridge International has adopted a very similar approach to Ofqual’s ‘assessed grade’ process, as have other Awarding Bodies.
The British Council is unfortunately not in a position to provide predicted grades or rankings in order to follow the assessed grade process for IGCSE, O level and AS level candidates. This is because we do not deliver direct teaching to private candidates. Our relationship with private candidates is to facilitate access to Cambridge exams and to administer them in a secure environment, meeting all Cambridge International's regulatory and exam administration standards.
Next Steps
Private candidates entered for IGCSE, O Level, and AS Level examinations will be automatically withdrawn by the British Council and their entries deferred to the November 2020 series. We will contact you nearer the registration deadline for November 2020 to confirm you are happy to be entered for that series. There is no increase in June 2020 fees for students deferring their entry to November 2020.
Candidates with A Level entries
We are still in consultation with Cambridge to help find a solution for students entered for A2, or the full A Level, but unfortunately, we can’t yet confirm this update. We apologise for the further delay and thank you for your continued patience.
Additional information
We are currently preparing FAQs which will explains in further detail the rationale behind our agreed position.
We again thank you for your patience, we appreciate this is an exceptionally challenging time for you, and that it is a disappointing decision for many of you. We also understand that the period since the exam cancellation has been very stressful. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
The latest information from Cambridge International on additional guidance for the June 2020 exam series is available here: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/covid/
Best wishes,
British Council.
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