Private candidates with CIE

We encourage all CIE exam centres to take private candidates. The CI Exams and assessments are mainly designed for candidates studying at schools and colleges registered with us as centres.  While it is becoming more common for candidates study online with a Cambridge International online School. They need a centre to sit the exams. 

Further, CIE provides opportunity to reist their exams. While some schools and colleges will not accept older candidates who are looking to retake. 

These examples are what are called Private Candidates. 

While CIE give a good list of places that will provide CE Exam Centre services for private canddiates.

Found here .

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/find-a-cambridge-school/

FAQ: Exam centres about accepting private candidates

What is a ‘private CIE candidate’?

It is a broad term. 

They may be home-schooled or studying independently. 

A private candidate is someone who does not attend your centre, but who asks to enter one or more Cambridge exams via your centre.

An increasing number of private candidates already attend an approved and fully registered Cambridge International online school. 

Candidates from around the world study at our Cambridge International online schools for several reasons – many cannot physically attend a centre because their family travels frequently, or for medical or social reasons.

 Most of our registered online centres do not have CIE Exam Centre (a premises or building where candidates can sit their exams) so candidates wishing to sit exams apply to a ‘physical’ centre to enter exams as a private candidate.

Entering private CIE Exam candidates 

Why should we consider accepting private candidates?

Exam centres should take private candidates to support the wider community of Cambridge schools and increase access to higher education for all Cambridge learners.

 The additional income you generate from accepting private candidates contributes to your annual fee waiver.

What do I need to do if my centre accepts private candidates?

Private candidates make their own arrangements with your centre and liaise directly with you, not with us , for all exam-related administration and queries. 

Exam Centres are responsible for making the correct entries for the candidate and for completing all other relevant exam administration throughout the Cambridge exams cycle.

Private candidates must be able to meet the full requirements of any assessment for which they are entered. 

Do Note:
They cannot enter for any syllabuses that include the submission of coursework.

Can private candidates register with a centre even if they don’t attend a Cambridge centre?

Yes, private candidates can register for our exams at your centre even if they don’t attend a Cambridge centre.

Are all Cambridge syllabuses available to private candidates?

Some syllabuses or options, including those with coursework, are not available to private candidates. Find details of which syllabuses/options.

Check syllabuses or the Cambridge Guide to Making Entries to make sure they are available for private candidates before you make any entries. T

he Cambridge Guide to Making Entries is in the ‘Support Materials’ section of Direct.

Please note that Cambridge Pre-U is being withdrawn and the last exams for most syllabuses* will be June 2023, with a resit available in June 2024. No teaching of a Cambridge Pre-U syllabus should have been started for new students in September 2022.

*There are four syllabuses being withdrawn a year earlier with last exams in June 2022 – Latin, Classical Greek, Russian and Italian. Only resit candidates can be entered to take the exams in June 2023 for these syllabuses; new candidates will not be eligible to enter.

Can private candidates enter for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Lower Secondary Checkpoint?

No, you cannot enter private candidates for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Lower Secondary Checkpoint.

Who is responsible for paying fees for private candidates?

It is the responsibility of the  CIE Exam Centre to remit fees for any private candidates accepted by the centre. 

Private candidates are normally asked to reimburse the fee and to pay a further fee to cover the cost of supervision and administration.

How do students studying at Cambridge International online schools for exams?

Candidates studying at Cambridge International online schools must be entered as private candidates.

 This does not apply to registered online Cambridge International schools that are entering candidates through their own approved exam venues.

A CIE Exam centre is also approved to offer online Cambridge programmes. How does this centre enter students studying online for exams?

Students studying at centres that are also approved to offer Cambridge programmes online must be entered as centre candidates and not private candidates.

 This is because these students will be registered with your centre and will sit their exams at your centre's premises.

We are a Cambridge International online school with candidates wishing to sit exams. What do we need to do?

Cambridge International online schools cannot make entries unless they have an approved exam centre. The School must make sure the necessary arrangements are in place for candidates to take exams as private candidates at an approved Cambridge venue.

How do private candidates submit internally assessed and examined coursework?

Components with coursework options are not available to private candidates.

What should we do with statements of entry which include private candidates?

Statements of entry with private candidates should be shared with them so they can check their details are correct.

How should CIE Exam centres check the identity of private candidates?

The Head of Centre must make sure exam invigilators check each candidate’s identity at every exam sitting. Private candidates must prove their identity, with a recognised document such as an ID photocard or passport. Each time they attend a session the invigilator must check that they are the same person who was entered for the exam. Identity checks must not disturb any candidates who are already taking their exam.

How do private candidates receive their results?

CIE Exam centres are responsible for giving private candidates their statements of results as soon as they arrive. CIE do not show centre names on statements of results for private candidates.

Will private candidates appear in the CIE Exam centre's results?

Yes. Results for private candidates are not reported separately and are included with results for all other candidates at your centre

How do private candidates receive their certificates?

CIE Exam Centres are responsible for giving private candidates their certificates as soon as they can. If they cannot give a certificate to a private candidate personally, ask them to let you know when they have received it.

Does the CIE Exam centre name appear on certificates?

No, the centre name does not appear on certificates issued to private candidates.