Coronavirus: British exam board latest to cancel secondary education tests amid global pandemic battle
- Thousands of Hong Kong students affected by raft of cancellations by international exam boards this week
- Pearson Edexcel says it will award grades based on previous mock exams and internal assessment results
Britain’s Pearson Edexcel, whose curriculum is studied in more than 80 countries, on Wednesday became the latest international testing body to cancel its International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.
The move comes a day after rival exam board Cambridge Assessment International Education announced the cancellation of its own IGCSE exams scheduled for May and June, which are taken by pupils at more than 4,800 schools in more than 150 countries.
Thousands of students in Hong Kong sit for the two exam boards’ IGCSE tests at dozens of international and local schools each year, including more than 900 students at five international schools under the English Schools Foundation.
“This rapidly evolving global situation continues to present significant challenges, changes and uncertainty for everyone,” Pearson Edexcel senior vice president Sharon Hague said in a written statement. “We remain committed to ensuring that all students internationally receive a result and a grade.”
The company, which is also cancelling its International A Levels and GCSE exams, said grades would be awarded to international students following the same principles used to determine GCSE and A-level qualifications in Britain.