Special Considerations

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Special Considerations

Special Considerations

When a candidate has taken a test under adverse circumstances through no fault of their own or has been absent from an exam session for acceptable reasons, our centre may ask for Special Consideration to be applied for the affected component. Cambridge English will consider the circumstances and may, at their discretion, increase the overall mark of the component by up to 5%.

When a candidate has taken a test under adverse circumstances through no fault of their own or has been absent from an exam session for acceptable reasons, our centre may ask for Special Consideration to be applied for the affected component. Cambridge English will consider the circumstances and may, at their discretion, increase the overall mark of the component by up to 5%.

Special Considerations

All applications for Special Considerations due to illness or injury must be supported by a medical certificate.

How a Learner qualifies for Special Consideration

Candidates must inform us if they wish to be given Special Consideration.

Our centre will make Special Consideration Requests for candidates who cannot perform to the best of their ability due to adverse circumstances immediately before or during an exam. Examples include illness, bereavement or circumstances affecting the conditions under which an exam is taken. Special Consideration may also be appropriate for candidates who were temporarily or permanently disabled at the time of the exam but for whom Special Arrangements were not in place or were not adequate or satisfactory.

 

 

 

Special Considerations

Cambridge Assessment English will not consider applications for Special Consideration after the issue of results under any circumstances.

 

 

 

 

Examples of acceptable reasons:
  • Illness during or immediately preceding the exam.
  • Distress owing to factors such as the death of a close friend or relative, acute family/domestic problems, etc., immediately preceding the exam.
  • Suffering from shock (e.g. owing to a road accident).
Examples of unacceptable reasons:
  • Minor disturbances, except when occurring in Listening tests. If a minor disruption occurs during a component, our centre is permitted by Cambridge English to allow an appropriate period of extra time in compensation. In all such cases we will submit a full written report of the action taken to Cambridge English.
  • Indispositions such as hay fever which are variable in their effect, except where the candidate was clearly affected on the day of an exam.

*All applications for Special Considerations due to illness or injury must be supported by a medical certificate.

*Cambridge Assessment English will not consider applications for Special Consideration after the issue of results under any circumstances.

What level of Special Consideration will be given?

Cambridge English will review the evidence to see if the circumstances reported have impacted negatively on the candidate’s performance: if they believe that there has been a negative impact, they will adjust the marks appropriately in accordance with guidelines provided for awarding bodies. Depending on the circumstances, this will be set between 0 and 5% of the total marks for the component. Cambridge Assessment English, in line with other awarding bodies, will not enter into discussion with centres, candidates or their parents on the level of special consideration which should be applied.