The CoronaVirus pandemic has led to school closures worldwide, disrupting the school year and board exams. In Pakistan, the government has announced that all board exams, local and international are to be postponed until after 1st June. For those giving Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) exams, either at O level or A level, this means that this summer’s exams are effectively cancelled.
With the CAIEs being conducted simultaneously in 160 countries around the world, Cambridge International says that they can’t postpone exams and must stick to their schedule. That means that students in countries like Pakistan and Hong Kong will have to miss this year’s summer exams. They have the option to take the next scheduled exams, which are in November, but for all students this means a major shakeup in their education.
We’re not alone. In the UK, home to the Cambridge system, O levels and A levels have been cancelled this year. As yet there is no clarity for British students as to what this means for them though there has been speculation that, as during the World War, predicted grades might play a part. One leading head teacher has suggested that the fairest thing would simply be to repeat the whole year.
Here in Pakistan, the challenges are different depending on which year you are in. In Karachi, with school closures you will have missed at least 2 months of classes and your final exams. In Lahore and elsewhere, you will also have missed significant parts of the school year. The government has said that school will restart on 1st June. If Insha’Allah that is possible, students and teachers will be able to make up the teaching that would have taken place. The CAIEs however still present a significant challenge. We break it down below:
1. First Year O-Level
If you are in First Year O-Levels, you were probably expecting to give your Pakistan Studies and Islamiyat O levels this year and possibly Urdu too. This won’t happen how. You can give them in November but that will put a significantly higher burden on you in Year 11 because you will be juggling your Year 11 work, preparation for Mocks and giving the CAIEs you would normally have given the previous summer. Hopefully schools and teachers will plan around that but be prepared to study hard.
2. Second Year O-Level
Second Year O-Level students perhaps face the greatest amount of uncertainty. Typically you were expecting to give exams in 8 subjects. O level results are incredibly important in the Cambridge system because they are used to determine admission or re-admission criteria for A-levels. Some schools also use your results to decide which A -levels you can take, requiring a minimum B at O-level before allowing you to take the A-level. Crucially, Universities also look at O level results when deciding on admissions.
If you take the exams in November, results come out in mid-January. That’s half way through the next school year. By that point you should have covered half your AS level sylllabus or a quarter of your A level syllabus. How are A-level schools and colleges supposed to do admissions? How are students supposed to study for crucial O level exams in November and also start A level studies. None of it makes any sense and there are no easy answers.
3. First Year A Level
Most first year A level students were expecting to give up to four AS levels this year. Typically each AS level consists of 2 papers. Some AS papers are after June 1st and they may still happen. Students might be able to take those components and carry them forward so that they don’t have to sit quite as many papers the following year. In terms of grades they say that
 
4. Second Year A-Level
 
 
 
