Instructions for conducting Cambridge Primary Checkpoint

and Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint pretests

1. Before the pretests

Definition of a Checkpoint pretest

All questions that are used in Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint
tests have been pretested by Cambridge schools. We pretest questions for future series with
candidates who are entered for the current test series. This ensures Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
and Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint questions are assessing performance reliably and the
standards of the tests are maintained year on year.

We pretest all subjects, as shown below:

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint

NEW – English as a Second Language (0837) English as a Second Language (1110)
English (0844) English (1111)
Mathematics (0845) Mathematics (1112)
Science (0846) Science (1113)

Pretest papers have the same format as the papers your candidates will take during the live test series.
Pretests must be taken in exam conditions and within a test date window. You then return your
completed question papers to Cambridge by a specific date.

We do not send you diagnostic feedback following the pretests. The results of the pretests are
anonymised and used to analyse the standard of the tests. We do not use them to assess the
performance of candidates or Centres.

Who takes pretests

Candidates can take part in pretests for a particular syllabus if they have an entry for that syllabus in
the live test series. For example, if a candidate has been entered for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
Science in the October series, they can take part in pretesting for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
Science in the October series of the same year, but not in the following May series.

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English as a Second Language is not yet available in the live series.
For the October 2016 pretests, candidates whose first language is not English can take part in pretests
for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English as a Second Language, even though they cannot be
entered for this subject in the live October 2016 series.

When pretests take place

Pretests take place before the live test series. This gives your candidates the opportunity to practise in
an exam environment before the live tests. You must conduct the pretests within the test date window
shown in your invitation letter and in the despatch note of the Centre pack we send you before the
pretests.

Instructions for conducting Checkpoint pretests

 Reasons to take part

We do not send you diagnostic feedback following the pretests but there are a number of reasons to
take part:

• Pretest papers have the same format as the papers your candidates will take during the live
test series and pretests must be taken in exam conditions. Therefore sitting pretest papers
gives your candidates the opportunity to practise in an exam environment before the live tests.

• For each pretest series we produce different versions of the same component. We will pay you
2.50 GBP for each completed original pretest paper you return to us (up to a maximum of 25
papers per version of the component). This amount will be credited to your account
approximately four months after the pretests.

• There is no entry fee for taking part and we pay for your question papers to be returned to
Cambridge after the pretests.

Format of the pretest

How does pretesting work?

We ask Centres to tell us how many candidates will take the pretests for each subject. We then
allocate pretest question papers to participating Centres on a first come, first served basis.

How many candidates can take part?

You must enter at least 10 candidates per subject for pretesting. There is no maximum limit to how
many candidates can take the pretests. See section 1.6 of these instructions for further information.

How many papers will my Centre receive?

For each pretest series we produce different versions of the same paper. Example: For Cambridge
Primary Checkpoint English, we may produce two versions of Paper 1 (Reading) and two versions of
Paper 2 (Writing).

You will receive a maximum of 25 papers for each version of a pretest question paper. Your Centre
could receive a combination of different versions of the same paper and a combination of components
for the same subject. This allows us to accurately analyse candidates’ performance around the world.

Pretest candidates do not need to sit all the components of a subject. However, they can do this if you
want them to.

The process is slightly different for:

• Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English as a Second Language
• Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint English as a Second Language.
Candidates taking the pretest for Paper 1 (Reading) must also take the pretest for Paper 3 (Listening).
The same candidates must take Papers 1 and 3 so that we can assess individual questions from both
components together.

Example: If you have 30 candidates taking the Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English as a Second
Language pretest, you could arrange for all 30 candidates to take Papers 1, 2 or 3. Alternatively, you
could arrange for one group of candidates to take Papers 1 and 3 in separate tests, and the second
group to take Paper 2.

Instructions for conducting Checkpoint pretests

 Photocopying question papers

You can photocopy pretest question papers if necessary to allow more candidates to take the pretests.
However, you will only receive credit for returning the completed original papers that we send you
before the pretests. You will not receive credit for photocopied papers.

Example: Your Centre has entered 225 candidates to take part in Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
pretests, as shown below.

Subject Number of candidates taking the pretests

English as a Second Language (0837) 55
English (0844) 20
Mathematics (0845) 75
Science (0846) 75

We send you 165 question papers, as detailed in the following table.

Syllabus, component and version Total number of

question papers
English as a Second Language
0837/01 (Reading) pretest 1 10
0837/02 (Writing) pretest 1 15 55 English as a
0837/03 (Listening) pretest 1 10 Second Language
0837/01 (Reading) pretest 2 10 papers
0837/02 (Writing) pretest 2
0837/03 (Listening) pretest 2 10
English
0844/01 pretest 1 10
0844/02 pretest 1 20 English papers
0844/01 pretest 2
0844/02 pretest 2 10
Mathematics
0845/01 pretest 1 10
0845/02 pretest 1 10 50 Mathematics
0845/01 pretest 2 15 papers
0845/02 pretest 2 15
Science
0846/01 pretest 1 25
0846/02 pretest 1
40 Science papers
0846/01 pretest 2 15
0846/02 pretest 2
Total number of question papers 165
sent by Cambridge

In this example, you:

• have the correct number of English as a Second Language papers
• have the correct number of English papers
• need to make 25 copies of a Mathematics paper to make sure all 75 candidates can take part
in pretesting (you can choose which paper and version)
• need to make 35 copies of a Science paper to make sure all 75 candidates can take part in
pretesting (you can choose which paper and version).

Instructions for conducting Checkpoint pretests

 You will receive credit for returning up to 165 original question papers, because this is the number of
original question papers we sent you. You will not receive credit for returning the 60 photocopied
papers, but you must still return them to Cambridge with your original question papers. You cannot
keep any question papers to use as teaching materials because this would compromise the integrity of
future tests.

2. Test day

Conducting the pretests

It is very important that pretests are conducted in the same way as live Checkpoint tests so that we can
assess individual questions under real exam conditions.

The completed question papers you return to us must be the candidates’ own work. Teachers must not
answer questions relating to the content of the pretest or help the candidates in any way.

Please administer pretests in the same way as live Checkpoint tests, using the same Centre and
candidate numbers.

The room

The room that you use to conduct pretests should be large enough to accommodate the candidates
comfortably. Seating arrangements must prevent candidates from viewing the work of others,
intentionally or otherwise.

Please try to remove or cover any display material in the room that may help candidates, such as wall
charts and diagrams.

Before the start of each pretest, make sure all candidates have a pretest question paper, a pen/pencil
and any other equipment they will need during the pretest, for example a ruler or protractor.

During the pretests

• Ask the candidates to write their name, candidate number and Centre number in the boxes at the
top of the front page of the question paper.
• Complete the attendance register.
• Do not tell candidates about any errors they make when answering the questions.
• Do not give candidates any information that would help them answer the questions.
• Supervise candidates as you would in a live test.
• Make sure candidates cannot view other candidates’ work and make sure they do not talk or
communicate with each other in any way.
• Follow the time and instructions on the front of the question paper.

Instructions for conducting Checkpoint pretests

 3. After the pretests

Returning completed question papers to Cambridge

We pay for your completed question papers to be returned to Cambridge after the pretests.

Return all question papers to Cambridge using the envelopes and labels provided in the Centre pack
that we send you before the pretests. Your question papers must arrive by the date specified in your
invitation letter and in the despatch note of your Centre pack.

When you arrange for the return of your question papers, quote the free postage codes shown in the
despatch note of your Centre pack.

If you have any problems returning your question papers, for example if the courier does not accept the
code, email [email protected] immediately. Please include a contact name and telephone number for
your Centre in the email. We will then arrange for your question papers to be collected free of charge.

Important: Pretest question papers are strictly confidential. You must return all original and
photocopied question papers, even if they have not been used. You cannot keep any question
papers to use as teaching materials because this would compromise the integrity of future tests. If
there is evidence to suggest you have kept pretest materials we will not issue your Centre’s
diagnostic feedback for the live Checkpoint series.

Crediting accounts

We will pay you 2.50 GBP for each completed original question paper you return to us (up to a
maximum of 25 papers for each version of the paper). Your Centre’s account will only be credited for
returning the original papers that we send you before the pretests. These are shown in the table in the
despatch note of your Centre pack. You will not receive credit for returning photocopied papers, but
you must still return these to Cambridge with the original question papers.

The total amount will be credited to your Centre’s account approximately four months after the pretests.

4. Further information and contact details

If you need further information about Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Secondary 1
Checkpoint pretests, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact details below:

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 1223 553554

Customer Services address:

Customer Services
Cambridge International Examinations
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

When contacting us please make sure you include your Centre name and number.

If you work in an Associate Centre you should contact your Cambridge Associate with any queries.

Instructions for conducting Checkpoint pretests