Cambridge Checkpoint tests assess progress in Mathematics, English and Science and are typically taken by learners at the end of Cambridge Primary (age 10 to 11) or Lower Secondary education (age 13 to 14). The tests are marked by Cambridge examiners and each school receives a diagnostic feedback report to help monitor individual and group performance. The reports enable schools to make informed decisions about their learners’ needs and understand how their learners have performed compared with Cambridge International Schools around the world.

Demand for Cambridge Checkpoint tests has been increasing in line with the growth in international education. Cambridge received over 300,000 entries for Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary Checkpoint in 2024, with entries for the primary tests up 13% and entries for lower secondary tests up 9% on 2023. Entries for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint tests overtook entries for Lower Secondary Checkpoint last year, with schools in Indonesia, Egypt, India, Oman and Malaysia driving the growth.

The timetable changes are a direct response to feedback from schools, particularly in Southeast Asia & Pacific, South Asia and MENA, who wanted the Cambridge Checkpoint test series to align better with the end of their school year.

Vanita Uppal OBE, Director, The British School, New Delhi, said:  “This is a significant and welcome move! Beyond assessments, Cambridge Checkpoint tests offer valuable data to make informed decisions about our learners’ needs and offers a global perspective on their performance. Individual and cohort data help academic teams to plan necessary interventions and enhance learning outcomes. As a result, our educators are not only preparing well-rounded learners to excel academically, but also equipping them to be future-ready in a globalised world.”

Rod Smith, Group Managing Director for International Education at Cambridge said: “Cambridge Checkpoint tests play a crucial role in helping schools track young learner progress and tailor support effectively. Responding to an increased demand from our community, the introduction of a third test series gives more schools the flexibility to test students at a time that best fits their academic schedule, ensuring they get the most from this valuable assessment tool. I am grateful to all the schools who helped us shape these changes with their valuable feedback.”

A Cambridge research study found that schools adopting Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint had a small but significant improvement in their average Cambridge IGCSE grade, compared to schools not adopting Cambridge Checkpoint. The study also showed that Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint scores were a good predictor of performance in Cambridge IGCSEs, particularly in the same or a related subject.

Chandigarh: The International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge) is delighted to announce the winners of the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards in India. The awards celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of secondary school learners in India in the November 2023, March and June 2024 Cambridge examination series.

In total, 228 students in India received awards, for exceptional performance in Cambridge IGCSE and International AS & A Level examinations across a wide range of subjects. The winners, felicitated at a ceremony in Mumbai, include 82 students who won ‘Top in the World’ awards for achieving the highest mark in the world in a single subject, and 110 students who attained the highest mark in India in a single subject. The awards show that students in India are performing particularly well in Mathematics followed by English. In India, 88% of the students who have excelled in the ‘Top in World’ Award category are from Mathematics and English disciplines, with Mathematics alone accounting for 80%.

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards programme celebrates the success of students taking examinations awarded by Cambridge International Education in over 40 countries around the world. Cambridge qualifications prepare and equip learners with the skills they need to thrive at university and beyond. The world’s best higher education institutions recognise Cambridge qualifications and value the critical thinking skills, independent research abilities and deep subject knowledge that Cambridge learners bring to university.

Vinay Sharma, Sr VP, Cambridge International Education South Asia, said: ‘Congratulations to our learners who have achieved remarkable success. Cambridge learners are at the heart of everything we do. Every element of a Cambridge education – the curriculum, teaching and learning, resources and assessment – is carefully designed to help learners reach their potential and thrive in life. We also sincerely thank parents and educators for their unwavering support towards our learners.’

The awards also celebrate the achievements of those learners who have been recognised for ‘High Achievement’, based on outstanding performance in subjects which are not yet so widely taken in India, and learners who have achieved the total highest cumulative marks across a number of subjects. The winning students out-performed thousands of candidates worldwide who sat Cambridge examinations.

Cambridge has over 160 years’ experience in delivering international exams and provides education to nearly one million students every year.

Notes to editors:

About Cambridge

Cambridge International Education is the awarding body of the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge. Our International Education group works with schools worldwide to build an education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills. Together, we give learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world.

We offer a globally trusted and flexible framework for education from age 3 to 19 (the Cambridge Pathway), informed by research, experience, and listening to educators.

With recognised qualifications (such as Cambridge IGCSE and International AS & A Level), high-quality resources, comprehensive support and valuable insights, we help schools prepare every student for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Together, we help Cambridge learners be ready for the world.

Learn more! Visit www.cambridgeinternational.org