The Cambridge Exams Cycle
Welcome to the Cambridge Exams Officers’ Guide, a step-by-step guide to delivering Cambridge exams at your school.
Phase 1: Preparation
This phase consists of:
- key dates and activities
- preparing your exam timetable
- access arrangements.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Phase 2: Entries
This phase consists of:
- estimating entries
- working out your entries
- making final entries
- confirming entries
- amendments and late entries
- entries for group awards.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Phase 3: Teacher assessment
This phase consists of:
- accreditation of coursework assessors
- selecting samples
- sending samples
- submitting marks
- returning samples.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Phase 4: Before the exams
This phase consists of:
- pre-exam despatches
- storing confidential materials
- preparing the exam room
- training invigilators
- forecast grades.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Phase 5: Exam day
This phase consists of:
- running exams
- malpractice and maladministration
- inspection
- special consideration
- despatching scripts.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Phase 6: Results and certificates
This phase consists of:
- understanding and preparing for results
- candidate access to results
- enquiries about results
- certificates, certifying statements, verification of results
- priority results information
- results for group awards.
Click on the diagram for more information about this phase.
Many different activities need to take place to successfully deliver an exam. We have used the Cambridge Exams Cycle (pictured left), consisting of six phases, to structure information about these activities.
Click on a phase within the cycle to learn more about the activities that take place during that phase.
Remember, if you work through another organisation, such as the British Council, to offer our exams you will not have any direct contact with Cambridge. The organisation you work through (Cambridge Associate) will submit information to us on your behalf and will deal with any queries you have.
Cambridge Administrative Guide 2013 (International)
This guide details all the administrative tasks exams officers need to carry out during an exam series.
Cambridge Administrative Guide 2013 (International) (9359Kb)
Cambridge Administrative Guide 2013 (UK)
This guide details all the administrative tasks exams officers need to carry out during an exam series.
If you work in a centre in the UK please use this version of the Administrative Guide.
Cambridge Administrative Guide 2013 (UK) (12098Kb)
Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Checkpoint Administrative Guide 2013
This guide details all the administrative tasks exams officers need to carry out during a test series.
Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Checkpoint Administrative Guide 2013 (7148Kb)
Cambridge Handbook 2013 (International)
This handbook sets out the rules and regulations for running Cambridge exams.
Cambridge Handbook 2013 (UK)
This handbook sets out the rules and regulations for running Cambridge exams.
If you work in a centre in the UK please use this version of the handbook.
Cambridge Handbook 2013 (UK) (7710Kb)
Getting Started Guide
An introduction to administering Cambridge exams. The best place for new exams officers to start.
Getting Started Guide (3710Kb)
Samples database
Need to check sampling arrangements for a particular component?
Use our database to check the requirements for a specific component, including selection method and deadline submission dates.
Cambridge Exams Officers eNewsletter
Download
the latest edition here.
The links below go to an external website and open in a new window.
International
Cambridge Exams Officer eNewsletter June 2013 (International)
UK
Cambridge Exams Officer eNewsletter June 2013 (UK)
View previous issues of the newsletter.
Contact us, if you are a Cambridge Exams Officer and want to receive a copy of the eNewsletter.
CIE Direct
Log in to CIE Direct, a secure Centre extranet website to help you administer CIE examinations.
