PREPARATORY SCHOOL ISLAMABAD
Cambridge Examinations
Dear Parents,
As you are aware, cancellation of the Cambridge examinations session of May-June 2020 has created a situation in which the alternatives are being deliberated upon. We wish to thank parents for sharing their views, suggestions and concerns in the online meetings held on April 1, 2020.
The school management believes that opting for the October-November 2020 exam session would be in the best interest of our students – a view which has been endorsed by parents in general. However, this preference is based on the assumption that the situation in the United Kingdom will improve in the coming months, and that Cambridge will be in a position to hold the October-November exam session worldwide. And if this cannot be done, it is expected that they will revert to the evidence based alternative.
The other option put forth by Cambridge is to have certificates awarded to candidates without taking examinations. In this case, the decision on grades to be awarded will be taken by Cambridge taking into account the evidence provided. This evidence will consist of examples of work candidates have done to prepare for their May-June 2020 exams. The types of evidence may include, but not be limited to Mock exams results and assignments submitted during the current academic year. At this point in time, the methodology to be adopted by Cambridge is not clear, as is evident from the letter sent out to schools on March 31, 2020. The letter can be viewed on the link already sent to you. The conditions set out for this option appear to be quite stringent, and our apprehension is that grades assessed by Cambridge would be much lower than what students would have achieved otherwise.
Therefore, both options are being placed before you. Parents wishing to avail the first option (October-November 2020 session), or the second option (assessed grades for May-June 2020) are requested to inform us of their preference by April 8, 2020 on the email address given below:
preparatoryschoolislamabad@gmail.com
Please note that for the second option, the mid-year examination papers of December 2019 that were returned to students, along with class assignments retained at home, will be required at a later date.
Regular classes for Class IX are expected to resume from June 1, 2020. Promotion to Class X would follow in August, while the Mock examinations – an essential pre-exam drill, will also be conducted in the same month. Although some teaching time will be lost during the academic session when students sit for Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and Urdu in October 2020, the school will make an extra effort to ensure timely coverage of the syllabus for the remaining compulsory subject and electives.
With regard to Cambridge exam fee, we are waiting for the British Council to inform schools about the procedure for adjustment against the October-November 2020 session. It is anticipated that the currency exchange rate will also be taken into account.
We will keep you updated on further developments as and when information is received from the British Council and Cambridge International.
In the meantime, I urge students of Classes IX and X to carry on with their preparation in full earnest, and take advantage of the extra time that is now available to them.

Shabnam Ashraf
April 2, 2020