International school exams in October/November 2021 - Updates

Updated on 19 March April 2021 – (More updates from Pearson Edexcel)

PEARSON EDEXCEL

Pearson Edexcel recently announced its decision to introduce the unseen test materials as one form of evidence that will be made available globally for International GCSE and International AS/A levels.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN TO MAY/JUNE 2021 EXAM SERIES CANDIDATES?

In Jordan, and following extensive discussions with the Ministry of Education and Pearson, the following will happen:

GRADE 10 AND 11 STUDENTS

Students will be attending a secured setting of the unseen assessments. Assessments will be supervised by the British Council and the Ministry of Education and marked by Pearson Edexcel. 

Students can choose to postpone to Oct/Nov 2021 if they feel not ready. More on this in the FAQs document at the bottom of this page.

GRADE 12 STUDENTS

Students will be following the evidence-based approach for assessed grades set by Pearson Edexcel while adhering to the Ministry’s requirements of ensuring a secured and fair assessment for all Jordanian students taking into account the challenging circumstances of their learning experience in this academic year. Accordingly, grade 12 students will be attending a secured setting of the unseen assessments supervised by the British Council and the Ministry of Education, marked by Pearson Edexcel and reviewed by teachers. More on that in the FAQs document at the bottom of this page.

PRIVATE CANDIDATES

Following the evidence-based approach set by Pearson Edexcel while adhering to the Ministry’s requirements of ensuring a secured and fair assessments for all Jordanian students, private candidates registered through the British Council will be attending a secured setting of the unseen assessment. Assessments will be supervised by the British Council and the Ministry of Education and marked by Pearson Edexcel. This is because the British Council doesn’t have any direct teacher contact with private candidates.

It is optional for private candidates to choose whether to sit with the British Council or consider making an entry with a registered Pearson school should  they want to follow the same route stated above for grade 12 in case they have a learning record with a school. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

More information about the implications of Pearson Edexcel’s recent decision on schools, mock exams, evidence-based approach, and other themes, kindly consult the FAQ document available for download at the bottom of this page.

Also available for download is the Ofqual document on grading for summer 21. The basis of this approach will be followed by Pearson Edexcel with the addition of the unseen assessments for international qualifications.

CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL

Cambridge International expect to run the May/June 2021 exam series in all countries as planned, where it is permitted and safe.  

All Cambridge schools and private candidates can apply to not sit some exam components in the June 2021 exam series if their learning has been disrupted by Covid-19.

Private candidates can apply for an exemption through their local British Council office. School candidates must apply through their school. Further information on how to apply for exemptions will be announced soon.

OXFORDAQA

OxfordAQA has cancelled exams for the May/June 2021 series. OxfordAQA students will instead receive teacher assessed grades.

OUR ENGAGEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EXAMS

We work with three UK awarding bodies – Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA – to offer school exams internationally. These are international GCSEs/iGCSEs, O Levels, AS Levels and A Levels. 

Although we administer exams in partnership with awarding bodies, we are not involved in their grading processes.  

We fully understand that this is a difficult time for students in Jordan and around the world. The British Council team will continue to work with the Ministry of Education and Examination Boards to deliver UK exams to the highest standards.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The health and safety of candidates and staff remain our top priority. We will follow the Health and Safety Standards we have developed in response to the pandemic in last Oct/Nov session along with the contingency plan which has been approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. We will make sure to adjust the standards and the plan to any new or revised regulations set by the Government of Jordan for the coming May/June 21 session.

Cambridge International

Cambridge International expect to run the May/June 2021 exam series in all countries as planned, where it is permitted and safe.  

All Cambridge schools and private candidates can apply to not sit some exam components in the June 2021 exam series if their learning has been disrupted by Covid-19.

Private candidates can apply for an exemption through their local British Council office. School candidates must apply through their school. Further information on how to apply for exemptions will be announced soon.

Pearson Edexcel

Pearson Edexcel has cancelled International GCSE and International AS/A Level exams for the May/June 2021 series. Students will instead receive teacher assessed grades.

• Pearson has yet to announce how grades will be awarded to students. 
• Pearson is waiting for Ofqual, the exam regulator in the UK, to confirm how grades will be awarded for GCSEs and A Levels in England before deciding how they will award them for their international exams.
• We’re expecting an announcement from Pearson on how they will award grades in early March.
• Please monitor the Pearson website for more updates on how grades will be awarded to students.

Pearson will offer an additional exam series for International GCSE later in 2021 and the International AS/A Level October exam series will go ahead as planned.

If you are a student (or your child is) at a Pearson school, then please contact your school for more information on how grades will be awarded.  

For private candidates information, scroll down to "Private candidates."

OxfordAQA

OxfordAQA has cancelled exams for the May/June 2021 series. OxfordAQA students will instead receive teacher assessed grades.

What we will do

For now, and as per the advice from the examining boards, we will continue with the registration process as usual and as per the shared registration details with schools to ensure students will receive their qualification grade. 

Any changes within the process will be shared with schools promptly. We will keep schools posted with latest communication and arrangements as they emerge.

We will continue to support schools and students by working with the awarding bodies to understand what these changes mean for you. 

You may notice a delay in our responses to you due to a high volume of communication. We thank you for your patience.  

Private candidates

Pearson Edexcel

When the new alternative arrangements are announced, we will work closely with Pearson to understand whether they allow the British Council to help private candidates receive grades. 

It is possible that the British Council may not be able to administer these arrangements. This is because the British Council doesn’t have any direct teacher contact with private candidates. 

If you wish to receive grades for International GCSE and International AS/A Levels in May/June 2021:

You can choose to make your entry with the British Council

• If you have already made your entry, you do not need to take any further action at this stage and do not need to withdraw.
• Once full details of the alternative arrangement have been decided and depending on whether the British Council can help private candidates receive grades, we will advise you about what next steps you should take. 
• We will only request payment if the British Council can help private candidates receive grades. This means you won’t be charged if you have to withdraw your entry before the entry deadline.  

Make your entry with a Pearson school

You can also consider making an exam entry with a registered Pearson school. Please note schools are also waiting to hear whether they can help private candidates receive grades. A list of Pearson schools can be found by searching on the internet.

Our engagement in international school exams

We work with three UK awarding bodies – Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA – to offer school exams internationally. These are international GCSEs/iGCSEs, O Levels, AS Levels and A Levels. 

Although we administer exams in partnership with awarding bodies, we are not involved in their grading processes.  

We will continue to work closely with schools and awarding bodies to provide the best support possible for you.

Cambridge International

Cambridge International expect to run the May/June 2021 exam series in all countries as planned, where it is permitted and safe.  

All Cambridge schools and private candidates can apply to not sit some exam components in the June 2021 exam series if their learning has been disrupted by Covid-19.

Private candidates can apply for an exemption through their local British Council office. School candidates must apply through their school. Further information on how to apply for exemptions will be announced soon.

Pearson Edexcel

Pearson Edexcel has cancelled International GCSE and International AS/A Level exams for the May/June 2021 series. Students will instead receive teacher assessed grades. For private candidates information, scroll down to "Private candidates."

Pearson will offer an additional exam series for International GCSE later in 2021 and the International AS/A Level October exam series will go ahead as planned.

OxfordAQA

OxfordAQA has cancelled exams for the May/June 2021 series. OxfordAQA students will instead receive teacher assessed grades.

What we will do

For now, and as per the advice from the examining boards, we will continue with the registration process as usual and as per the shared registration details with schools to ensure students will receive their qualification grade. 

Any changes within the process will be shared with schools promptly. We will keep schools posted with latest communication and arrangements as they emerge.

We will continue to support schools and students by working with the awarding bodies to understand what these changes mean for you. 

You may notice a delay in our responses to you due to a high volume of communication. We thank you for your patience.  

Private candidates

Private Pearson Edexcel candidates who wish to receive a teacher assessed grade for International GCSE and International AS/A Levels in May/June 2021 need to withdraw their entry, if they have already registered to sit exams in May/June 2021.

We recommend that private candidates make an exam entry with a registered Pearson school. We are working with Pearson to encourage schools to accept entries from private candidates.

We will provide a list of registered Pearson schools to private candidates to help them seek registration.

We do not deliver teaching to private candidates directly. We are unfortunately unable to provide teacher-assessed grades.

Further information about teacher assessed grades is available on the Pearson Edexcel website. We will continue to provide updates when they become available.

• Current information for candidates from Cambridge International
• Current information for candidates from Pearson Edexcel
• Current information for candidates from OxfordAQA 

Our engagement in international school exams

We work with three UK awarding bodies – Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA – to offer school exams internationally. These are international GCSEs/iGCSEs, O Levels, AS Levels and A Levels. 

Although we administer exams in partnership with awarding bodies, we are not involved in their grading processes.  

We will continue to work closely with schools and awarding bodies to provide the best support possible for you.