Your One-And-Only Guide To The Cambridge Board Curriculum
The world’s curriculum, as it is referred to, the ties of the Cambridge International Examinations with India, date back a century. The Cambridge board qualification program in India, has flourished since its inception and is prevalent in over 330 schools across the country.
Given that the Cambridge board is quite popular in our country, do we really understand what the curriculum entails? How is it graded? What is the educational journey of a student like? In this blog, I will attempt to ease the curriculum for your understanding.
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The journey of a student in the Cambridge board follows the following path:
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
The Cambridge board Primary Curriculum
The Cambridge Primary Curriculum is administered for learners within the age bracket of 5 to 11 years.
Curriculum
The program imparts understanding in English, Maths & Science. Schools may also start the Cambridge primary literacy program for learners to attain computer literacy.
The structure of the program is completely flexible, and the feedback given throughout the program is quite comprehensive. Teachers assess a child’s performance individually and relative to:
Curriculum framework
Teaching group
Whole school cohort
Previous year’s learners
Assessments
Though assessments are completely optional, teachers may ask learners to take one of two assessments:
Cambridge Primary Checkpoint, which is centrally coordinated, and conducted by Cambridge.
Cambridge Primary Progression Tests, conducted internally by the school.
Improvement is suggested on comprehensive strength – weakness analysis.
The Cambridge board lower Secondary Curriculum
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum is typically administered to learners of 11 – 14 years.
Curriculum
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum seeks to develop skills and understanding in English, Mathematics & Science for the first three years of secondary education. The curriculum is completely need based, and can be customized for studies in English & English as a second language.
Modules can be customized for different kinds of learners.
Assessments
The checkpoint assessments are centrally coordinated and carried out by Cambridge board, while the progression assessments are conducted by the school internally.
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The Cambridge board Upper Secondary Curriculum
The Cambridge Upper Secondary Curriculum is meant for learners of 14 – 16 old, and offers two routes of learning. A student has an option of studying for either the Cambridge IGCSE certificate or the Cambridge O levels.
1. Cambridge IGCSE Certificate
Curriculum
There are 70 subjects available at the Cambridge IGCSE, including 30 languages and schools can offer them in any combination. A student may select varied subjects between 5 & 14. The Cambridge upper Secondary curriculum puts a cap on the minimum number of subjects a student should know and attempt at 5, and maximum subjects a student should know and attempt at 14.
IGCSE Core versus IGCSE Extended
To take into account differing abilities of the learners in consideration, the Cambridge board curriculum extends the option of taking the core curriculum or the extended curriculum.
The core curriculum is within the ability range of a large majority of students. It provides a full overview of the subject and is targeted at students who are expected to achieve grades C to G.
The extended curriculum is a supplement to the core curriculum, and is designed for the more academically able. The extended curriculum covers additional concepts and goes more in detail of these concepts. It is targeted at students who are expected to achieve grades A* to E.
Students who fail to meet the minimum satisfactory standard for either the core curriculum (G) or the extended curriculum (E), are awarded the grade U that stands for ungraded.
Assessments
The Cambridge IGCSE assessments take place at the end of the course and can include written/ oral/ coursework and practical assessment. Students are awarded grades that are benchmarked using 8 internationally recognized grades (right from A* to G), which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade.
The Cambridge IGCSE examination session occur twice a year, in June & in November, and the results are declared in August & January.
A student is awarded 1 IGCSE certificate for each subject that he attempts and gives the exam for.
2. The Cambridge – ICE Group Certificate
The Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) is a group award designed for schools that want to offer a broad curriculum. It allows schools to offer a balanced curriculum by recognizing the achievements of learners, who pass in at least 7 Cambridge IGCSE subjects.
Learners who wish to apply for the Cambridge ICE, need to sit for a minimum of 7 subjects from the following 5 subject areas:
Group 1 – Languages: Students need to pick 2 subjects
Group 2 – Humanities & Social Sciences: Students need to pick 1 subject
Group 3 – Sciences: Students need to pick 1 subject
Group 4 – Mathematics: Students need to pick 1 subject
Group 5 –Professional and Creative: Students need to pick 1 subject
The 7th subject can be from any of the groups
Students who qualify for the ICE, are placed into 3 categories, and then awarded the relevant certificate.
DISTINCTION: For students who score grade A or better in 5 subjects, and C or better in remaining 2.
MERIT: For students who score grade C or better in 5 subjects, and grade F or better in remaining 2.
PASS: For students who achieve a grade G or better in all 7 subjects.
3. The Cambridge O Levels
The Cambridge O level is a qualification equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE & the UK GCSE, and helps students prepare for Cambridge Advanced programs and other progression routes.
Curriculum
The program facilitates a choice between 40 options, in any subject combination. Students normally take 7 – 9 subjects in the O level exam, with a maximum allowable limit of 14 subjects. The O level is predominantly examination based, and is considered more rigorous than the Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE.
Assessments
Assessment takes place at the end of the course, and includes written, oral and practical examinations. The grades are benchmarked from A* to E along with U, which stands for ungraded. Cambridge O level examinations happen twice a year, once in June, and once in November. Results are declared in August & January.
Successful attainment of Cambridge O levels is taken by companies and universities (select) as a mode of academic ability, and for some a grade C in Cambridge O level may suffice English proficiency requirements.
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The Cambridge board Advanced Curriculum
The Cambridge advanced curriculum is typically for learners aged 16 – 19 years old who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education.
There are two different routes through which a student can pursue and complete the Cambridge Advanced curriculum.
A Levels & AS Levels
AICE Diploma
1. Cambridge A Levels and AS Levels
The syllabus in Cambridge A levels & AS levels prepare students for university study.
Curriculum
A levels and AS levels are offered in 55 subjects, and students are free to choose to specialize in a particular subject area or study a range of subjects. Cambridge A level is typically a 2 year course, and Cambridge AS level is typically a 1 year course.
Students have the flexibility to start some courses at AS level, and extend it to A level. A student generally takes 3 A levels, owing to the highly specialized nature of study. However, some students take about 4 – 5 A level subjects.
Assessments
The learners have an option of choosing an assessment model convenient to them, in the AS/ A level education system. They are:
Take the Cambridge AS level exams only, where the subject is exactly half of that in A level.
Take all papers of A level in the same examination session.
Take the ‘staged assessment route’ – Take the AS level in one exam series, and complete the final A level at a subsequent series.
While Cambridge International does provide the said flexibility in assessments, some schools may limit the assessment model. Examinations happen twice a year, in November & in June, and results are declared in January & August.
A learner receives a separate grade for each subject that he/she studies. Grades are benchmarked using the internationally accepted standards, which have clear guidelines to explain standards of achievements. A levels are graded from A* to E, while AS levels are graded from A to E, with a minimum required performance of E.
Many schools also use the Cambridge International AS level to give learners valuable feedback on their performance, identifying strengths & weaknesses before they complete the A level coursework.
2. The Cambridge AICE Diploma
The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma encompasses the AS and A level qualifications & offers students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their individual interests, abilities & future plans.
Curriculum
To achieve the diploma, all learners need to pass the core subject, and at least 3 A/ AS levels from 3 different subject groups, and an optional subject group.
The subjects are classified into:
Maths & Science
Languages
Arts & Humanities
Interdisciplinary subjects
Learners must achieve at least one credit from each of the group 1, 2 and 3. The remaining credits can come from any of the group. While learners can achieve a maximum of two credits from group 4, they are completely optional.
All A level courses carry 2 credits, while all AS level courses carry 1 credit.
Assessments
The core subject is the Cambridge AS level Global Perspectives & Research. The performance in the core subject is assessed based on a team project, a presentation and a written project.
To achieve the Cambridge AICE diploma, learners must achieve a minimum of 7 credits (including 1 for GPR). The learners striving for the AICE Diploma have an option of choosing an assessment model convenient to them, in the AS/ A level education system. They are:
Take the Cambridge AS level exams only, where the subject is exactly half of that in A level.
Take all papers of A level in the same examination session.
Take the ‘staged assessment route’ – Take the AS level in one exam series, and complete the final A level at a subsequent series.
While Cambridge International does provide the said flexibility in assessments, some schools may limit the assessment model.
Each subject is graded on points. The assessments is done on oral examination, coursework, practical examinations, and projects, and formal written examinations.
Awardment of Diploma
Each subject is graded, based on their performance in the subjects. The grades are then converted into corresponding points, and the student is awarded the diploma.
Cambridge AICE Diploma with Distinction is awarded to students who achieve cumulative points in the range of 360 – 420 (maximum possible).
Cambridge AICE Diploma with Merit is awarded to students who achieve cumulative points in the range of 250 – 359.
Cambridge AICE Diploma with Pass is awarded to students who achieve cumulative points in the range of 140 – 249.
Students who do not meet the requirements of the AICE diploma, will receive certificates for individual subjects.
Half the battle of excelling in a foreign curriculum is understanding it. Hope this helps you all in understanding the international level of standards that the Cambridge board encompasses.
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