Cambridge International
Examinations
Sherry Reach
Deputy Regional Director
Ryan Louise Miller
Schools Development
Manager – Northeast
Cambridge Assessment
- a department of the University of Cambridge
• We prepare school students for life, helping
them develop an informed curiosity and a
lasting passion for learning
• We are at the heart of a global learning
community including more than 10,000
schools
• We work in partnership with educators
worldwide, including 40 national governments
and education reform projects
Cambridge Worldwide
10,000
schools
160
countries
40
governments
A Learner-Centered Approach
Our programs provide learners with the foundation to achieve high levels
of academic and personal learning in an engaging way. Together with
schools, we aim to develop learners who are:
• Confident in working with information
and ideas – their own and of others
• Responsible for themselves, responsive
to and respectful of others
• Reflective as learners, developing their
ability to learn
• Innovative and equipped for new and
future challenges
• Engaged intellectually and socially, and
ready to make a difference
Curriculum
Cambridge Secondary 2 - IGCSE
An IGCSE course, typically offered in 9th and 10th grade, provides each
student with the knowledge, concepts, and skills they need to engage in
a higher level of learning
• Enables a variety of routes for all abilities
• Gives schools opportunities to flexible and
enhance other curriculum
 Foundation curriculum
 Broadened curriculum
 Cross-curricular perspectives
• International in outlook with local relevance
• Over 70 subjects, including 30 languages
Curriculum
The Syllabus is Where it Begins
and ……
•Aims and Learner Outcomes
•Assessment Objectives
•Description of assessment components
•Curriculum content
 Including detailed summary of what candidates should
know, understand and be able to do
•Grade descriptions
•Resource list, including textbooks and much more
Curriculum
Excellent foundation
Schools use Cambridge IGCSE
to prepare students for:
 College and careers
 Cambridge AS/A Level courses
 Cambridge AICE Diploma
 IB Diploma
 AP
Curriculum
Cambridge Critical Path:
Supports 21st Century Skills & Common Core
Deconstruction
Reconstruction
analyze evidence &
arguments
rebuild the
context
Reflection
consider changes to
personal perspective
Communication & Collaboration
discuss, present and formulate an argument
Assessment
Thought-Provoking Exams
• Reliable grading, standardized
internationally
• Flexible for schools to provide
different options
• Rigorous questions requiring more
than rote-memory
 Most exams are essay based
 Gradually remove scaffolding
throughout questions
 Require the application of knowledge in
unfamiliar contexts
 Encourage connections to be made
between topic areas or concepts
Assessment
 Assessments Developed yearly – multiple forms per year enabling the
important resources to be available for Teachers
 College Faculty engaged in Developing the assessments with critical role
being played by the Chief Examiner
 Lead college faculty member engaged in developing and marking the
Assessment
 Cambridge assessment model enables the flexibility to provide value
added resources to districts and schools including:
 Past Question Papers
 Mark Schemes (Rubrics/Scoring Guidelines)
 Reporting for Teachers
Grade Thresholds
Examiner reports/Examiner feedback webinars
Student Scores/Score Distributions
 Future – USA Teachers Engaged Online scoring
Classroom
Support for teachers and students
• Teacher Support Website – syllabus,
online discussion groups, teacher
guides and unit lesson plans, past
exams & answers for planning,
teaching and preparing students for
success
• Learner Guides - test
preparation, help to avoid
common errors, practice
exam questions, review of
previous exams
Community
• Discussion boards for
general or individual
subjects allows educators
from around the globe to
collaborate and engage in
educational debate
• Community Resource
boards allow educators
to share labs, activities,
and other resources to
be used by others
around the world
Classroom
Subject-Specific Professional Development for
Cambridge Teachers
• Online courses
 Introductory Self-Study
 Tutor-led
 Ask the Examiner Q & A
• Face to Face Training led by
Cambridge Teachers / Examiners
• Best Practices Workshops led by US
Teachers with Cambridge
experience
• Custom trainings to fit the needs of
your school
Higher Education
Cambridge AICE comparisons to other Advanced Programs
Brief Description:
This study compares the effects of AICE
participation to AP, IB, and matched
students who did not earn credit through an
advanced program on FYGPA.
Sample Size and Characteristics:
The sample included more than 8,500
students who entered FSU during the
academic years of 2007-2010.
Key Finding:
Cambridge AICE students earned higher
FYGPA compared to AP and IB
students, and all three groups earned
higher FYGPA compared to matched
students who did not earn credit
through an advanced program.
Shaw, S., & Bailey, C. (2011). Success in the US: Are Cambridge International Assessments
Good
Preparation for University Study? Journal of College Admission, (Fall 2011), 6–16.
14
Higher Education
University Recognition
•Cambridge has a university
recognitions database with
credit and placement policies
established at Universities
across the USA
•Recognition at over 500
colleges and universities in
the US, including the SUNY
and University of California
system, NYU, Columbia,
Cornell, Fordham, all Florida
colleges and universities.
Yale, Harvard, Duke, etc.
Online University Recognitions Database
www.cie.org.uk/recognition