Esena Foundation

O Level Assessment Criteria

Cambridge O Level grading is on a six point scale (A* to E). Universities in not only Pakistan but also Canada and USA admit students on the basis of their O Level performance alone. Grade C in Cambridge O Level examinations satisfies the English proficiency requirements of many universities in the UK and other Anglophone countries.

However, A level grades can make admission in the worlds’ major English medium and non-English medium schools easier and likely for these students relative to those who did poorly in A and AS exams.

Normally, there are two to four papers for each course. Most courses, such as Economics, Physics or Accounting include papers for both multiple choice questions (MCQ’s) and data response/case study questions so that the students can be evaluated on both the understanding of basic concepts and as well as their ability to infer and evaluate the case study given.

Every examiner is provided with a marking scheme, a reference document from which the examiners can realize the required points that had to mention in each answer and then grade the papers accordingly. The marking schemes are the same for each student, worldwide, and no cultural or racial biases are involved during the marking process. Also, the examiners are experienced professors and researchers who have mastered their respective courses and are perfectly eligible to grade each exam.

Difference between CIE and Edexcel

Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel International are the examination boards of UK and both offer different educational programs as well as O Level all over the world.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is world largest provider of international education programs and qualification from 5 to 19 years olds. The educational programs of CIE are taken in more than 160 countries all over the world and also recognized by international universities.

Edexcel is one of the UK's largest awarding bodies offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally. The qualifications and study programs of Edexcel recognized by international colleges and universities.

The qualifications of CIE and Edexcel are recognized internationally by both employers and educators. There is no big difference between the recognition of courses of both examining bodies. The main difference between CIE and Edexcel is that the syllabus of both is a little different with each other.

There is no difference in the level or degree of difficulty between the IGCSE offered by Edexcel and CIE. These differences are only in the way questions are asked and the format of the exams. In Pakistan CIE is most favorite examining body for O Level. Most of the schools and students prefer to appear in the exams of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).