Sunday, 20 April 2025

Cambridge Checkpoint (important Information)

 

Cambridge Checkpoint (important Information)
By : Dr Asif Khan (Head of Mathematics Department PISJ)





1. Cambridge Checkpoint Overview
Purpose: Assesses learners' strengths and weaknesses before progressing to IGCSE or
other courses.
Subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives (optional).
Grading: Reported on a scale of 0.0 to 6.0 (with 6.0 being the highest).
Exam Sessions: May and October each year.

2. Old vs. New Course Codes
Cambridge periodically updates its syllabus, leading to changes in course codes. Below are
the
old (discontinued) and new (current) codes:
Subject Old Course Code New Course Code
English 1111 (discontinued) 0861 (current)
Mathematics 1112 (discontinued) 0862 (current)
Science 1113 (discontinued) 0863 (current)
Global Perspectives N/A (introduced later) 1129 (current)
Changes: The new codes (0861, 0862, 0863) reflect updated syllabi with minor
adjustments in content and assessment style.

3. Syllabus Topics (Current Codes: 0861, 0862, 0863, 1129)

a)
English (0861)
Reading: Fiction & non-fiction comprehension, inference, language analysis.
Writing: Narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and persuasive writing.
Grammar & Vocabulary: Sentence structure, punctuation, word usage.
Key Reference:
Cambridge Lower Secondary English Curriculum Framework (0861)
b) Mathematics (0862)
Number: Integers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios.
Algebra: Expressions, equations, sequences, graphs.
Geometry: Angles, shapes, symmetry, transformations.
Statistics & Probability: Data handling, averages, probability.
Key Reference:
Cambridge Lower Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Framework (0862)
c) Science (0863)
Biology: Cells, ecosystems, human body systems, reproduction.
Chemistry: States of matter, elements, acids & bases, chemical reactions.
Physics: Forces, energy, electricity, magnetism, space.
Key Reference:
Cambridge Lower Secondary Science Curriculum Framework (0863)
d) Global Perspectives (1129)
Research Skills: Analyzing global issues (e.g., climate change, poverty).
Critical Thinking: Evaluating sources, developing arguments.
Collaboration: Group projects and presentations.
Key Reference:
Cambridge Lower Secondary Global Perspectives (1129)


4. Exam Format

English (0861):
o Paper 1: Non-fiction & fiction reading (50 mins).
o Paper 2: Writing (50 mins).
Mathematics (0862):
o Paper 1 (45 mins) & Paper 2 (45 mins) – Calculator allowed in one.
Science (0863):
o Paper 1 (45 mins) & Paper 2 (45 mins) – Multiple-choice and structured
questions.
Global Perspectives (1129):
o Research project & written exam (varies by school).

5. How to Prepare?
Use Cambridge-approved textbooks (e.g., Hodder, Collins).
Solve past papers from the Cambridge website.
Follow the curriculum framework for detailed topic breakdowns.

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