Cambridge Glossary. Cambridge for. Exams Officers

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1 Cambridge for Exams Officers This glossary gives a simple explanation for the terminology we use in our syllabi and administrative communications that may be unfamiliar or mean something different in the United States. It is a live document that we update regularly. If you think there are any words that should be added to the glossary, please let us know by ing international@cie.org.uk To find out more about our regulations for conducting Cambridge examinations refer to the Cambridge Handbook for Centres. For information on our administrative procedures read the Cambridge Administrative Guide for Centres. Both documents are available from our website at: A Access arrangements Advanced Level (A Level) Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Assessment Assessment criteria Assessment objectives (AOs) Attendance register Known as accommodations for learning disabled students in the U.S. Arrangements to allow students with substantial and long-term disabilities access to the Cambridge exams. Applications must be made before the examination takes place. A national qualification usually taken between ages 16 and 18 in England. The A level is divided into two sections: the AS (usually taken in the first year of a two year program) and the A2 (the second year). The full A Level is an aggregation of the AS and A2 sections. Grades are certificated for AS and A Level but not for A2. See also: Qualification The first half of an A Level examination. An AS is a qualification in its own right. It is a national qualification usually taken between ages 16 and 18 in England. AS results may be used to contribute to A Level. The method used to evaluate a student s performance, for example, written examination or coursework. Known as rubrics in the U.S. The criteria that students must meet to achieve a given mark or grade on an examination or part of an examination. We publish assessment criteria in all syllabi with center-scored components. A set of statements in a syllabus that describe the focus of assessment. AOs determine what students must do to prove that they have fulfilled the requirements of the syllabus. Forms used in the examination room to record the presence of each student. 1

2 Authentication Awarding Awarding body Confirmation that the work submitted for assessment is the student s own and where applicable, that they produced it under the required conditions. This is typically in the form of a statement by the student s teachers. The process of determining a student s results and/or achievement levels for a whole subject using the available evidence. Examination board, for example, University of Cambridge International Examinations B Band One part of a scale of performance used to rate a student s ability. Also known as range. C Cambridge International Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary (A/AS) Level Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Candidate Carried forward marks Center Center number Certificate Certifying statement CIE The international version of the A/AS Level. The A/AS Level is a national qualification usually taken between ages 16 and 18 in England. The A Level is divided into two sections: the AS (usually taken in the first year of a two-year program) and the A2 (the second year). The full A Level is an aggregation of the AS and A2 sections. Unlike the U.K. national AS/A Level, the International A/AS Level cannot be achieved by taking each module at a separate time. Grades are certificated for AS and A Level but not for A2. International qualifications usually taken by students at around age 16 in England and in over 100 other countries. A student entered for an assessment. A score awarded for a component in one examination series that is applied to a future examination series to contribute towards the final examination grade. Most Center-assessed components or externally assessed coursework/oral scores can be carried forward to a subsequent examination series as long as the final grade is awarded within a 13-month period.* *Note that from 2012 students will be allowed to take five sessions (25 months) to complete the AICE Diploma. See also: Marks A school, college, organization, or institution that has been approved by Cambridge to: enter students for Cambridge qualifications conduct the assessment of Cambridge qualifications. The five-digit code allocated by Cambridge to an institution/ organization. The record of attainment in a qualification, unit, or assessment issued by the examination board to each successful candidate. An official document used by Cambridge showing the scores obtained by a student for a particular examination series. University of Cambridge International Examinations, usually referred to as Cambridge. The examination board offering these qualifications. 2

3 CIE Direct College Component Component number Core route Coursework/portfolio Curriculum A secure extranet for exams officers to submit entries, view results, and exchange information with Cambridge. In the U.K. some schools are referred to as colleges, particularly if they offer qualifications to students aged 16 years and up. A component is part of, or a section of, the subject examination. An individual subject examination usually has several components. The number allocated to each paper (component) of a syllabus. In some Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, there are two levels of achievement possible for a qualification, via two separate routes, core and extended. Students following the core route are eligible to achieve up to and including a Grade C. See also: Extended route Classroom assignments undertaken by students as prescribed in the syllabus. Normally scored by the student s teacher according to criteria set by Cambridge. This work is standardized within the Center and then standardized by Cambridge. A description of the goals, content, organization, methods, and evaluation of an educational course. D E Endorsement Enquiries about results Enter for an examination Entries Examination series Examiner Exams officer Exemplar Extended route In the context of Cambridge IGCSEs, an additional piece of information about the level of achievement in Speaking (e.g., Pass, Merit, Distinction). Both the grade and the endorsement are reported on the certificate. Request for a review of the marking of a student s examination script or of the moderation of a Center s coursework. Register for an examination The students a Center has entered for a Cambridge syllabus in a particular examination series. A group of examinations in the same range (for example, Cambridge IGCSE) with a common closing date for entries. The series is defined with a series month and year. Individual with subject expertise who is responsible for scoring students responses according to a scoring guide and using professional judgment. The person appointed by the principal to act on behalf of the Center, with responsibility for the administration of Cambridge examinations. An example of work that is used to demonstrate the standard for success at a particular level. In some Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, there are two levels of achievement possible for a qualification via two separate routes: core and extended. Students following the extended route are eligible to achieve grades A*, A, B, and C See also: Core route 3

4 External assessment External moderator When students work is assessed by Cambridge. An individual appointed by Cambridge to ensure accurate and consistent standards of center-scored assessment across Centers and over time. See also: Internal moderator F Forecast grade Full Center Supervision The score a teacher expects a student to achieve on a subject examination. Known as sequestered with supervision in the U.S., Full Center Supervision is a specific type of supervision for examination candidates. If candidates are not in their examination at the Key Time, they must be under Full Center Supervision. See also: Key Time G Grade Grade boundary Grading Group award Guided learning hours A level on a scale of performance used to differentiate achievement (for example: A, B, C, D, E, F, G; Distinction, Merit). The minimum score needed to obtain a certain grade. The process of converting test scores or points into grades. A diploma awarded to summarize a student s achievement in a particular group of subjects. Cambridge International Certificate of Education (ICE) is a group award available to students passing a combination of Cambridge IGCSE exams meeting published criteria. The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) group award is available to students passing a combination of Cambridge International AS and/or Cambridge International A Level examinations meeting published criteria. A guide to the average number of hours of classroom contact time (or seat time) that a Center would typically need to allocate to ensure the achievement of an assessment. H Head of Center The person legally responsible for an institution approved to administer Cambridge examinations. Sometimes referred to as the Principal. I Internal assessment Internally assessed marks Internal moderator Assessment tasks assessed wholly within the student s Center, subject to external moderation or verification. Internal score awarded by the teacher at the Center. An individual appointed by a Center to ensure that there are accurate and consistent standards of assessment, between assessors operating within a Center. See also: External moderator 4

5 Internal standardization Invigilator A process carried out by teachers before they allocate points to their students internally assessed work. This ensures that all students are judged according to the same standards, across different assessors and teaching groups. Exam proctor/test administrator J K Key Time A measure to help ensure the security of Cambridge exams. It is a time during the morning or afternoon at which candidates must be either in an examination or under Full Center Supervision. See also: Full Center Supervision L Laboratory practical Linear examination Laboratory work An examination in which all components are taken in the same examination session. See also: Modular examination and Component M Making entries Malpractice Mark scheme Marking Marks Moderation Moderator The process by which an exams officer registers individuals for an examination. For Cambridge examinations, the exams officer is responsible for this process, not the individual student. An action, by students or teachers, that may threaten the integrity of Cambridge examinations, for example, copying work of another candidate Known as a scoring guide in the U.S., details of how to award scores for assessment tasks. A mark scheme indicates the number of marks each question or component is worth. It also indicates acceptable answers or criteria for awarding points. Assigning a score to a student s response to a test. This may involve professional judgment or the application of a mark scheme (scoring guide) that lists all acceptable responses. Usually referred to as points in the U.S., the total score or individual points awarded by an examiner. The process of checking that assessment standards have been applied correctly and consistently between assessors, between Centers, and over time. See also: Verification Reviewer. The person who conducts the moderation process. See also: Moderation 5

6 Modular examination MS1 form An examination consisting of several separate assessments, each of which may be taken at a different time. Cambridge IGCSE and International A/AS Levels are not modular, though Cambridge International A Levels may be staged. See also: Staged examination and Linear examination Internal mark sheet that is used to record coursework points. N O Option codes Optional unit The code that is given to specify available combinations of components within each syllabus. Part of a qualification or program that is not required. The syllabi may include rules about the number and combinations of optional units or components that are required or allowed. P Paper Sometimes referred to as a component, it is a part or section of the subject examination. An individual subject examination usually has several papers. Q Qualification Question paper A certificated award made by Cambridge to students for demonstration of achievement. A form of external or internal assessment including tests, assignments, and projects. R Raw score Reasonable adjustment Rubric A test score that has not been adjusted, for example, by scaling or weighting Arrangements or accommodations, that are approved by Cambridge in advance of an examination or assessment to allow attainment to be demonstrated by students with a permanent or long-term disability or illness. This has a different meaning in the U.S. and the U.K. In the U.K. it refers to the directions given for a particular test or task. In the U.S. it usually refers to assessment criteria. S Scaling Scheme Scheme of assessment Scheme of work Script Adjustments of marks to correct lenient or severe marking of teacher assessed work. Overview/program/plan The examination components through which a student s achievement in a particular assessment is determined. Unit lesson plans One student s response to the whole question paper or component. Usually written in an answer booklet or on multiple sheets of paper. 6

7 Session Set text Special Consideration Staged examination Standard Standard Level Standardization (of assessment) Statement of entry Statement of results Stimulus material Syllabus Syllabus number A period in a day in which an examination may take place, such as the morning session between and and the afternoon session between and Prescribed (required) text, for example, Huckleberry Finn is a set text for AS/A Level Literature in English. An adjustment to the score of a student who may have been affected by a difficulty during or just before his/her examination. International A Levels may be taken as a staged examination if the AS components are taken at one time (typically after one year of study) and the A2 components are taken later (typically after a second year of study). The criteria for success at a particular level. Internal standardization meetings ensure that teachers within Centers/departments assess students work in the same way. In relation to the Business Diploma, Standard Level is equivalent to IGCSE level. A process to ensure that the assessment criteria for a qualification, unit, or component are applied consistently by assessors, moderators, and verifiers. Standardization can be carried out within Centers (for internally assessed work) or by Cambridge (as part of training examiners to mark externally assessed work). A document produced for students, giving their details and the syllabus components they have entered. A document produced for students, giving details of the grades they have been awarded for the syllabi they have entered. Grades on the statement of results are provisional as it is the certificate that provides the definite record of grades. Materials the student may be required to respond to in the examination, for example, maps, images, graphs, reading selections. A complete description of the content, assessment arrangements, and performance requirements for a qualification. A course leading to an award or certificate is based on a subject syllabus. A code number allocated to each syllabus. T Timetable Timetable deviation Schedule Centers can apply for timetable deviations if students are unable to take their papers in the timetabled sessions for a reason that is deemed acceptable by the examination board. 7

8 U V Venue Verification Verification of results The location used for taking written exams or assessments. A process of moderation that includes local checking of assessment processes and decisions. A service offered by Cambridge if a student or another institution, such as an employer or university, wants to verify results/scores issued by Cambridge. W Weighting Working Mark Sheet The relative contribution of a question, task, or component in relation to the equivalent parts of the same test. Scoring form. Usually includes a breakdown of the scores by each assessment criterion. X Y Z 8

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10 University of Cambridge International Examinations 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, United Kingdom Tel: Fax: international@cie.org.uk University of Cambridge International Examinations, July Y07_v1