Cambridge Lower Secondary

Teacher Guide extract

5.7 Monitoring achievement

The previous sections describe ways to monitor progress lesson by lesson. It is also useful to give learners
opportunities to demonstrate what they have achieved after a period of study.

As part of Cambridge Lower Secondary, end-of-stage, teacher-marked tests (progression tests) are provided
for each of the Stages 7 to 9. These are available from the Cambridge Lower Secondary support site.
Summative end of Lower Secondary tests (Cambridge Checkpoint) are also available. These tests are
externally marked and centre reports with Certificates of Achievement are issued.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests

These tests are for use within the classroom to help measure the progress of learners and identify strengths
and weaknesses. You can use the tests to assess the learning objectives from the curriculum framework.
Analysis of the results of the tests provides diagnostic feedback to the learner on their strengths and areas
that require improvement. The analysis of the strengths and weaknesses for the class can be used to reflect
on the teaching and prompt changes to the planning for subsequent years.

Lessons following the test need careful planning to incorporate differentiation so that learners can target the
particular areas of improvement identified in the reports. The reports may show similar problems for groups of
learners which will help with organisation – groupings created for this may change from lesson to lesson. For
learners who require more challenge, you could prepare a set of lessons that extend their skills and
understanding while ensuring that any areas of weakness are addressed.

You can analyse your learners’ test results using the reporting tool available on the Cambridge Lower
Secondary support site http://lowersecondary.cambridgeinternational.org. The site allows you to:

• access the progression tests and store learners’ marks

• organise your learners into groups, making it easier to administer the tests and run reports for each
group
• use the reports to track learners’ progress by comparing individual results against the rest of the class,
the school or the average of all learners who have taken the same tests compare results on a year on
year basis
• analyse the reports to reflect on your teaching and then focus your efforts where they are needed most
• download your reports to share with other staff and parents.

Cambridge Checkpoint
Cambridge Checkpoint are additional (end of Lower Secondary) tests available to Cambridge Lower
Secondary schools. These are intended for learners at the end of their final year of lower secondary
education, when they are around 14 years old. The tests provide an assessment of the learning objectives
from Stage 9 of the curriculum framework. These tests are currently available twice a year in April and
October.

Schools make entries for their learners using Cambridge International Direct. Cambridge International will
then send the examination papers to the school. After learners have taken the Checkpoint tests, the tests are
returned to Cambridge International for marking.

Teacher Guide extract – Checkpoint 1

 Cambridge International provides detailed feedback of the results of the Checkpoint tests, including:
• a centre report
• reports on teaching groups
• individual reports to learners.

Learners also receive an individual statement of achievement.

Details about Cambridge Checkpoint (including past papers) are available from
http://lowersecondary.cambridgeinternational.org

Copyright © UCLES 2021

Teacher Guide extract – Checkpoint 2