The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has cancelled its May-June exams and decided to switch from “exam to school-assessed grades”, schools that offer the curriculum said.

Several schools in the city that follow the CAIE received an email late on Friday.

“In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, we have decided to switch Cambridge International Schools in India, from exams to school-assessed grades, so that students can receive certification and progress with their education,” said an email from The Cambridge School quoting the mail from CAIE.

At least three city schools, The Cambridge School, Bridge International School and Vidyanjali International School, informed students of the change on Saturday.

In the mail sent to parents, The Cambridge School’s exam team said: “We are writing to inform you that the May-June exams will not be held and you will have the option to either withdraw your candidate for May June exams...or have him/her receive a school-assessed grade.”

In several city schools, students take the IGCSE (Class X), AS & A-levels (Class XI and XII).

In CAIE, students have the option to switch to the October-November exams, school heads said. In a few schools in the city, students took the February-March exams.

“Ninety-five per cent of our Class XII students have taken the February-March exam... Classes X and XI had been asked to wait thinking the situation will get better. Now, they are getting an option under the changed circumstances,” said Sarojesh Mukerjee, director, The Cambridge School.

Schools in the city said they welcomed the decision.

“We were receiving queries from parents about the exams especially since the boards in the country were cancelling or deferring exams. This will allay their fears,” said Saswati Datta, principal, Vidyanjali International School.

Schools are also waiting for an interaction with the board, scheduled next week, for information about the school-assessed grades process.

“The performance of a student in the last academic year, the assessments will be taken into account to award the grades. We are looking forward to the webinar to get more information,” said Shilpi Saha, exam officer, Bridge International School.

Garden High International School will hold a meeting with parents to inform them about the decision. “We will encourage students to take the school-assessed grades because college admission of Class XII could get impacted if they have to wait for the October-November series,” said Anuradha Das, the director of the school.

Covid Count

The number of active Covid cases in Bengal rose by 4,253 on Saturday to 45,300. The state recorded 3,426 recoveries and 7,713 new infections during the day.