Cambridge Handbook 2026 - Regulations and guidance for administering Cambridge exams

Sep 26, 2026

Interactive Cambridge handbook for exam officers covering regulations and operational guidance for administering Cambridge exams in 2026. Provides an overview of the Cambridge exams cycle, centre and Cambridge Associate responsibilities, and key times including full centre supervision. Details preparation steps, support from Cambridge, exam timetable planning, access arrangements, entries management and fees, coursework and moderation processes, and practical procedures before and on exam day.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages178

Reading Time7 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The Cambridge Exams Cycle

Centre and Cambridge Associate responsibilities

Key Times and Full Centre Supervision

What are Key Times?

Why are Key Times important?

What are my Key Times?

Who is responsible for implementing Key Times?

How do I use Key Times?

What is Full Centre Supervision?

Section 1: Preparation

Support from Cambridge

Preparing your exams timetable

Access arrangements

Section 2: Entries

Candidates

Estimated entries

Final entries

Entry fees, late entries, entry changes and retake entries

Group awards, staged assessment and carrying forward marks

Alternative venues

Not meeting qualification regulations

Section 3: Coursework and moderation

The samples database and Submit for Assessment

Internally assessed coursework

Examined coursework

Non-coursework tests

Submitting marks for internally assessed coursework and non-coursework tests

Submitting internally assessed coursework and non-coursework tests

Submitting Cambridge Global PerspectivesTM work

Section 4: Before the exams

Forecast grades

Pre-exam and question paper despatches

Receiving confidential despatches

Storing confidential materials

Preparing the exam room

Invigilator requirements

Section 5: Exam day

At the beginning of the exam

During the exam

At the end of the exam

Packing and sending scripts

Special consideration

For exams officers Cambridge Handbook 2026 Regulations and guidance for administering Cambridge exams This is an interactive guide Includes: • Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint • Cambridge IGCSE™ • Cambridge O Level • Cambridge International AS & A Level • PDQ Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications. Valid for exams in 2026 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 4 The Cambridge Exams Cycle ............................................................................................... 7 Centre and Cambridge Associate responsibilities ..................................................... 8 Key Times and Full Centre Supervision ......................................................................... 22 What are Key Times? ......................................................................................................................... 22 Why are Key Times important? .................................................................................................... 22 What are my Key Times? .................................................................................................................. 22 Who is responsible for implementing Key Times?.............................................................. 22 How do I use Key Times?................................................................................................................... 22 What is Full Centre Supervision? ................................................................................................. 23 Section 1: Preparation ........................................................................................................... 26 1.1 Support from Cambridge .................................................................................................... 26 1.2 Preparing your exams timetable .................................................................................... 29 1.3 Access arrangements ............................................................................................................ 33 Section 2: Entries ..................................................................................................................... 48 2.1 Candidates .................................................................................................................................. 48 2.2 Estimated entries ..................................................................................................................... 50 2.3 Final entries .................................................................................................................................. 51 2.4 Entry fees, late entries, entry changes and retake entries ..................... 56 2.5 Group awards, staged assessment and carrying forward marks for internally assessed components .............................................................................. 59 2.6 Alternative venues ................................................................................................................. 62 2.7 Not meeting qualification regulations ......................................................................... 63 Section 3: Coursework and moderation ..................................................................... 64 3.1 The samples database and Submit for Assessment .......................................... 65 3.2 Internally assessed coursework .................................................................................... 66 3.3 Examined coursework .......................................................................................................... 68 3.4 Non-coursework tests ........................................................................................................... 71 3.5 Submi

FAQs

What responsibilities do centres and Cambridge Associates have for Cambridge exams in 2026?

The handbook outlines centre and Cambridge Associate responsibilities, including how supervision and key times are implemented, and the operational duties needed to administer exams correctly in 2026.

How should exam officers manage candidates and entries for 2026 examinations?

It covers candidates, estimated and final entries, entry fees, late entries, entry changes, and retake entries, along with group awards, alternative venues, and actions when qualification regulations are not met.

What procedures are required for coursework, moderation, and submitting marks?

The guide explains the samples database and Submit for Assessment, how internally assessed and examined coursework are handled, how non-coursework tests are processed, and how to submit marks and Cambridge Global Perspectives work.

Sep 26, 2026

Uploaded by Taylor Morgan