Last year, our students participated for the first time in the Checkpoint Exams as part of our International Curriculum, and I am pleased to share with you that they were among the best. This year, we will have students from Years 6 and 9 participating.
If you would like to enrol your children, please send an email to filomena.martins@eitv.pt till the end of January.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a checkpoint in Cambridge International?
Cambridge Checkpoint is an educational program and assessment system developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education. This program provides a framework for curriculum development, and it includes a series of assessments to measure students’ understanding of key concepts in subjects like Global Perspectives, English (First and Second Language), Maths, and Science.
What are checkpoints used for?
The Cambridge Checkpoint assessments are intended to help identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in different subject areas, providing valuable feedback to both students and teachers. The assessments are not used for certification or qualification purposes, but rather as a diagnostic tool to inform teaching and learning and preparation to exams.
When do students take checkpoints?
Following a Cambridge path of 13 years (starting at the age of 5 in Year 1), students take checkpoints in Year 6 (Y6) and Year 9 (Y9).
Learners can take Cambridge Primary Checkpoint or Lower Secondary Checkpoint in May 2025. Learners can also take a retake.
Which are the performance bands?
The performance bands range from Basic to Outstanding, the latter being the highest score.
What about Cambridge Checkpoint Global Perspectives?
Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary Global Perspectives (0838 and 1129) by coursework which is marked internally by the school and moderated by Cambridge. The scheme of assessment is therefore very different from Cambridge Checkpoint Mathematics, Science, English and English as a Second Language.
In which subjects are there checkpoints?
| Programme | Subject |
|---|---|
| Cambridge Primary | Mathematics |
| Science | |
| English (First Language) | |
| English as a Second Language | |
| Global Perspectives | |
| Cambridge Lower Secondary | Mathematics |
| Science | |
| English (First Language) | |
| English as a Second Language | |
| Global Perspectives |
Marking the tests
Once our learners complete the Checkpoint tests, we follow the guidelines for sending your tests back to Cambridge.
Cambridge Checkpoint tests are marked and moderated by Cambridge International. The exception is Cambridge Global Perspectives, which is marked by teachers and moderated by Cambridge International.
Do parents have to pay extra for the checkpoints?
Yes. Schools also must pay extra to Cambridge since they are correcting the checkpoints and sending the reports with the results.
Cambridge provides a Statement of Achievement for each learner, both digital and print version.
| Qualification fees (per exam entry) | |
| Cambridge Primary Checkpoint (Y6) (per candidate, per subject) | €24.35 |
| Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint (Y9) ) (per candidate, per subject) | €43.40 |
Final entry closing date 21 February
.
EITV, January 10th, 2025
The Cambridge Curriculum Director
Filomena Martins