Supplement to the Code of Practice to cover portfolio of evidence - For exams officers

Oct 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Supplementary guidance for exams officers on assessment through portfolio of evidence. Explains which parts of the existing Code of Practice no longer apply, including syllabus, question paper, mark scheme, and automatic/teacher-marking provisions. Defines when the supplement applies (from the June 2022 series onward) and how marking is carried out by appropriately qualified examiners led by a Principal Examiner. Describes marking approaches, standardisation, and examiners’ responsibilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction to the Code of Practice

Chapter 1: Syllabuses

Chapter 2: Setting of question papers and mark schemes

Chapter 3: Marking

Section D: Marking of portfolio of evidence by examiners

For exams officers Supplement to the Code of Practice to cover portfolio of evidence We use different procedures to manage assessment through portfolio of evidence, in particular in the way that portfolios are marked. These procedures were not in place when the current Code of Practice was written (in 201 7) and they are not adequately covered by the commitments in the Code of Practice. This supplement modifies the Code of Practice and applies solely to the assessment of candidates through portfolio of evidence. It applies from the June 2022 series onwards until further notice. Introduction to the Code of Practice The introduction applies in full to portfolio of evidence. Chapter 1: Syllabuses Aim 1.3, and all of the commitments relating to it, does not apply to portfolio of evidence. Where candidates are to be assessed through portfolio of evidence, information on how they are to be assessed will be provided separately. Aim 1.5, and all of the commitments relating to it, does not apply to portfolio of evidence. Portfolio of evidence does not include any assessment components marked by the centre (although work produced by candidates in preparation for such components may usually be submitted as part of the portfolio of evidence) . The commitments related to aims 1.6 and 1.7 do not apply to portfolio of evidence. Portfolio of evidence isnot described in the schemes of assessment contained in syllabus documents. The remainder of Chapter 1 applies to portfolio of evidence. Chapter 2: Setting of question papers and mark schemes None of this chapter applies to portfolio of evidence. Portfolio of evidence does not include question papers or mark schemes set for this purpose. Chapter 3: Marking Section A of Chapter 3 does not apply to portfolio of evidence. Although portfolio of evidence is marked by examiners commissioned by Cambridge International Education, Section A describes marking using mark schemes. It is not possible to write a detailed mark scheme that could be applied to the varied work we see for a portfolio of evidence. About portfolio of evidence From the June 2022 series onwards, we introduced a new type of contingency assessment called portfolio of evidence. Cambridge International Education may, at its own discretion, provide a centre with assessment through portfolio of evidence in situations where the centre is unable to run exams due to external factors such as wars, natural disasters or emergency government regulations. Sections B and C of Chapter 3 do not apply to portfolio of evidence, because portfolio of evidence is not marked automatically, nor is it marked by teachers and moderated by Cambridge International Education. A new Section D of Chapter 3 of the Code of Practice applies to portfolio of evidence. The new Section D, applicable to portfolio of evidence, is as follows. Section D: Marking of portfolio of evidence by examiners Aim 3.18: Candidates’ work will be marked by appropriately qualified examiners. Our commitments: (a) The examiners for a portfolio of evidence component in an examination series will be led by a Principal Examiner, who will take appropriate steps to ensure accuracy and consistency in marking. (b) Marking will normally be undertaken by expert examiners but, if the nature of the marking task permits, marking may instead be undertaken by subject examiners or general examiners. (c) Expert examiners will: • have expertise in the subject being examined Supplement to the Code of Practice to cover portfolio of evidence continued • be experienced in the likely performance of candidates at the level of the examination • have adequate language proficiency in the language in which scripts are written • have adequate IT skills and facilities for marking on-screen. Experience in the likely performance of candidates will normally involve three years’ recent and relevant teaching experience at the time when the examiner applied to mark for Cam

FAQs

When does the supplement apply for portfolio of evidence?

It applies from the June 2022 series onward until further notice.

Which parts of the existing Code of Practice do not apply to portfolio of evidence?

Chapter 1 aims related to assessment, Chapter 2 setting of question papers and mark schemes, and Section A and Sections B and C of Chapter 3 do not apply. Portfolio of evidence is also not assessed using components marked by the centre for regulation compliance.

How are portfolio of evidence components marked and standardised?

Candidates’ work is marked by appropriately qualified examiners led by a Principal Examiner. Marking uses one of three approaches (exemplar materials; past papers and exemplar materials; or syllabus level descriptors), and examiners are standardised through a meeting or electronically to agree definitive marks.

Oct 23, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret