- Following a disturbance on May 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2023, Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) announces retake exams in October.
- Representatives from education entities, including CAIE, British Council, and educational boards.
- CAIE exempts fees for the retake exams, while schools and parents share re-evaluation costs.
In response to the disruptions caused by a recent law and order situation on May 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2023, Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has announced the scheduling of retake exams in October. The initiative aims to accommodate students who were unable to appear for specific subjects or components of their exams due to the unfortunate circumstances.
The decision was revealed by government authorities on a recent Friday, following a collaborative meeting held at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT).
Attended by key figures in the educational sector, including Ms. Uzma Yousaf, Country Director of CAIE, Ms. Maria Rehman, Director of the British Council, the Executive Director of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), the Chairman of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), and Heads of several prominent Private Schools, the meeting sought to address concerns raised by both students and parents regarding the unexpected grades received in the A and AS level exams of 2023.
Notably, Cambridge Assessment International Education has taken the proactive step of waiving any fees associated with the administration of these special exams. To ensure a streamlined process, the British Council will provide a cost-effective logistical plan for the initiative.
Furthermore, the authorities have acknowledged the discrepancies that emerged between grades assigned by schools and those assigned by Cambridge assessments. As a response, a comprehensive re-evaluation and re-assessment process will be undertaken for individual cases where substantial differences have been identified.
For this process, educational institutions will be responsible for submitting requests for re-evaluation and re-assessment directly to Cambridge. The financial responsibility for these requests will be shared, with schools bearing 80% of the associated costs, and parents contributing the remaining 20%. In cases where such re-evaluation leads to grade adjustments, the entire fee for the special exams will be reimbursed.
Recognizing the impact of altered grades on higher education aspirations, the Ministry plans to engage with Vice Chancellors from reputable universities to ensure flexibility in their admission criteria for students who avail themselves of this retake opportunity.
Moreover, the Ministry will collaborate with provincial governments to implement similar measures at their respective levels. To address concerns and grievances in a structured manner, a complaints redressal mechanism will be established under the Private Institution Education Regulatory Authority (PIERA) within the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
Cambridge Assessment International Education’s decision to organize retake exams in October comes as a response to the challenges posed by disruptions to the exam schedule in May 2023. This measure, supported by various stakeholders including the British Council, aims to provide students with a fair opportunity to showcase their abilities and achieve grades that accurately reflect their knowledge and capabilities.