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Cognia accreditation badge Cognia-accredited online school Approved Pearson Edexcel centre, registered with SACAI and the IEB

How exams work at CambriLearn

Your child's curriculum decides who registers them for exams and where they sit each paper.

Pearson Edexcel and International British students sit International GCSE, AS and A Level papers as private candidates at an exam centre near home. CambriLearn registers CAPS, KABV and IEB learners with SACAI or the IEB, and US K-12 students are assessed online.

Book a free consultation Compare the exam routes
Student writing a proctored exam at home with her laptop webcam on
4.8 out of 5 from 386 reviews
  • Pearson and Cambridge papers sat as a private candidate
  • CambriLearn registers CAPS, KABV and IEB learners
  • Grade 12 finals at a centre in South Africa
  • US K-12 assessed fully online

Who registers your child for exams?

It depends on the pathway. CambriLearn registers CAPS, KABV and IEB learners with their examining body. For Pearson Edexcel and International British qualifications, you register your child with an exam centre, and our Exam Officers help you choose one. US K-12 students need no exam registration.

Exam arrangements for each CambriLearn pathway: the qualification, who registers the student, where exams are written and who issues the certificate
PathwayQualificationRegistrationWhere exams are writtenCertificate issued by
Pearson EdexcelInternational GCSE, International AS and A LevelYou register your child with an exam centre as a private candidateA registered exam centre near homePearson Edexcel, through the centre
International British CurriculumCambridge International GCSE, AS and A LevelYou register your child with an exam centre as a private candidateA registered exam centre near homeCambridge International, through the centre
CAPSNational Senior Certificate (NSC)CambriLearn registers your child with SACAI from Grade 10At home under online proctoring in Grades 10 and 11, then a SACAI centre in South Africa for the Grade 12 finalsUmalusi
KABVNSC, taught in AfrikaansCambriLearn registers your child with SACAI from Grade 10As for CAPSUmalusi
IEBNSC, examined by the IEBCambriLearn registers your child with the IEB from Grade 10At home under online proctoring in Grades 10 and 11, then a centre in South Africa for the Grade 12 finals from 2028Umalusi
US K-12American High School DiplomaNo exam registration neededOnline, through Score Academy OnlineScore Academy Online

The route shapes a few decisions early on, such as whether your child needs a centre that runs science practicals and where they need to be in the Grade 12 year. For Pearson Edexcel and International British subjects, our Exam Officers help with centres, subject codes and components at hello@cambrilearn.com.

How Pearson Edexcel exams work

CambriLearn teaches the Pearson Edexcel courses. Your child sits the exams as a private candidate at a registered centre near home, and Pearson issues the certificate.

About the Pearson Edexcel pathway

  • Registering as a private candidate

    Pearson papers are written in person under exam conditions. Your child registers with a centre that accepts private candidates, and the centre enters them with Pearson. CambriLearn can't make that entry or pay the centre on your behalf. Our Exam Officers help you find a suitable centre and confirm the subject codes before you register.

  • Exam series

    International GCSE exams run in May/June and November. International AS and A Level exams run in January, May/June and October, although some units are only offered in certain series. Pearson publishes each timetable well before the exams start.

  • No practical exams

    Pearson Edexcel doesn't set laboratory practical exams at any level. Its science papers test practical skills in writing, so your child doesn't need a centre with a lab.

  • Results and certificates

    Statements of results go online on results day, using the log-in details the centre gives you. Pearson sends certificates to the centre, and you collect them there.

  • Resits

    If a result falls short, your child can resit in a later series. International A Levels are built from units, so a single unit can be retaken without starting the whole qualification again.

Cambridge exams for International British students

Students on the International British Curriculum sit Cambridge International GCSE, AS and A Level exams as private candidates. CambriLearn is not a registered Cambridge school, so each entry goes through the exam centre you choose.

Find an exam centre

  1. 1. Find a centre that takes private candidates

    Not every Cambridge school accepts candidates it doesn't teach. Our exam centres page lists centres we have checked. Cambridge also keeps a list of approved exam centres that are not schools, so make sure a non-school centre appears on it before you pay.

  2. 2. Check subjects, codes and components

    Some syllabuses and components are closed to private candidates, and each syllabus says so in its 'Before you start' section. Email hello@cambrilearn.com and our Exam Officers will confirm the exam zone, codes and components for each subject.

  3. 3. Register as soon as entries open

    Centres usually open registration about four months before a series, and each one sets its own deadline. Start contacting centres in January for the June series and in June for the November series.

  4. 4. Pay the centre and confirm the details

    The centre charges per subject and handles the timetable and the arrangements on exam day. Cambridge sets the exam dates, and CambriLearn can't book or move an exam for you.

  5. 5. Sit the exams and collect the results

    Statements of results go online on results day, and the centre gives you the log-in details. Cambridge sends certificates to the centre for you to collect, and a private candidate's certificate doesn't show the centre's name.

How CAPS and KABV exams work

From Grade 10, CambriLearn registers CAPS and KABV learners with SACAI, an assessment body accredited by Umalusi. Only the Grade 12 final exams need an exam centre.

Where CAPS and KABV tests and exams are written at each stage, how they are invigilated and whether extra exam fees apply
StageWhere they're writtenInvigilationExtra exam fees
Grade R to Grade 9At homeAn adult, following CambriLearn's guidelinesNone
Grades 10 and 11At homeOnline proctoring through SMOWLNone
Grade 12 tests during the yearAt homeOnline proctoring through SMOWLNone
Grade 12 final examsAn approved exam centre in South Africa, assigned by SACAIInvigilators at the exam centreRegistration and exam fees per subject, paid at enrolment

SACAI and the IEB require online proctoring, so it applies to every CAPS, KABV and IEB learner from Grade 10. Your child needs a device with a webcam, and the SMOWL software records them for the length of each proctored test or exam.

To register your child at Grade 10, 11 or 12, CambriLearn needs a report card showing they passed the previous grade, along with their identity documents. Cut-off dates apply at every grade, so send the documents as early as you can.

Grade 12 final exams for CAPS and KABV

CambriLearn registers every Grade 12 learner for the National Senior Certificate final exams, which are written in October and November at approved centres in South Africa.

What is SACAI?

  • Registration and fees

    SACAI closes registration for the October and November exams on 13 March, so CambriLearn's own cut-off comes earlier. The registration and exam fees are charged per subject and paid upfront when you enrol for Grade 12, on top of the course fees. A registration can fail if documents or fees arrive after the cut-off.

  • Choosing the exam centre

    You give three centre options near where you live, and SACAI assigns the centre. CambriLearn has no say in the assignment. List any concessions at this stage and check that each centre can provide them.

  • Only in South Africa

    CambriLearn can only arrange Grade 12 final exams at approved centres in South Africa. Families who live abroad need to be in the country for the finals.

  • On exam day

    Your child needs their admission letter and ID document. Phones and other electronic devices aren't allowed in the exam room.

  • Results and certificates

    SACAI releases results on its official results date in January. Umalusi is the only body that issues the NSC, and certificates follow about six months after the results. CambriLearn couriers the hard copy to a South African address.

  • Re-marks and rewrites

    Requests for a re-mark or re-check go through CambriLearn within 14 days of the results, and SACAI charges a fee for each one. SACAI also runs a May/June exam, with registration closing on 28 February, so ask us whether your child can rewrite a subject in it.

How IEB exams work

The IEB pathway follows the same pattern as CAPS, with the IEB as the examining body. CambriLearn is enrolling IEB learners in Grades 10 and 11, and Grade 12 opens in 2028.

Read the IEB online school guide

  • Grades 10 and 11

    CambriLearn registers learners with the IEB from Grade 10. Tests and exams are written at home under online proctoring, and there are no extra exam fees.

  • Grade 12 from 2028

    CambriLearn's first IEB learners will write their final exams in October and November 2028, at a centre in South Africa assigned by the IEB. Grade 12 registration and exam fees will be paid upfront at enrolment, as they are for CAPS.

  • How the NSC mark is made up

    For most subjects, school-based assessment counts for 25% of the final mark and the IEB exam for 75%.

  • Rewriting a subject

    The IEB runs a May exam sitting for candidates who registered for an earlier NSC sitting and have completed the internal assessment for those subjects.

How US K-12 assessment works

Every assessment is completed online, so US K-12 students never need an exam centre.

About the US K-12 pathway

  • Assessed through the online campus

    Tests and final exams are completed online through Score Academy Online, the sister school that delivers CambriLearn's US curriculum.

  • The American High School Diploma

    Score Academy Online is accredited by Cognia and issues the diploma. Its courses are NCAA approved, which matters if your child hopes to play college sport in the US.

  • Admissions tests

    If a US university asks for SAT, ACT or Advanced Placement scores, your child registers for those tests separately with the organisations that run them.

Exam dates for 2026 and 2027

These are the key dates for the next twelve months, taken from the boards' own calendars. Exam centres set their own registration deadlines, and those fall earlier.

Key exam, results and registration dates from October 2026 to August 2027, by pathway
WhenWhat happensPathway
From 8 October 2026Pearson International A Level October series beginsPearson Edexcel
October and November 2026Pearson International GCSE November seriesPearson Edexcel
October and November 2026Cambridge November seriesInternational British
October and November 2026Grade 12 NSC final exams at centres in South AfricaCAPS
7 January 2027Cambridge AS and A Level results for the November seriesInternational British
14 January 2027Cambridge International GCSE results for the November seriesInternational British
January 2027Pearson results for the October and November series, and the International A Level January seriesPearson Edexcel
January 2027NSC results for the 2026 final examsCAPS
January 2027Start contacting exam centres about the June 2027 seriesPearson Edexcel, International British
28 February 2027SACAI registration closes for its May/June examsCAPS, KABV
13 March 2027SACAI registration closes for the October and November 2027 final exams. CambriLearn's own cut-off falls before this dateCAPS, KABV
May and June 2027June series for Pearson and CambridgePearson Edexcel, International British
June 2027Start contacting exam centres about the November 2027 seriesPearson Edexcel, International British
August 2027Pearson and Cambridge results for the June 2027 seriesPearson Edexcel, International British

Dates were checked on 30 September 2026 against the Pearson, Cambridge and SACAI calendars. The boards cancelled the May/June 2026 series in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar because of the regional conflict. If your child will sit exams in the Gulf, confirm the next series with the centre before you register.

What exams cost

External exam fees aren't included in CambriLearn's course fees, and who you pay depends on the pathway.

See the fees on the pricing page

  • Pearson Edexcel and International British

    Exam centres charge per subject and set their own prices, and one subject can involve several papers. You pay the centre directly, so ask for its full fee list, including any administration or late entry charges, before you register.

  • CAPS, KABV and IEB in Grades 10 and 11

    There are no extra exam fees. Proctored tests and exams are part of the course.

  • Grade 12 final exams

    Registration and exam fees are charged per subject and paid to CambriLearn upfront when you enrol for Grade 12, on top of the course fees. The pricing page shows the current Grade 12 exam fees.

  • US K-12

    No exam centre is involved, so there are no centre fees to pay.

Extra time and other exam concessions

If your child needs extra time, a reader, a scribe or a separate room, apply early. Each examining body has its own process and deadlines.

  • Pearson Edexcel and International British

    Apply through the exam centre, or through the British Council if your child sits exams there. The deadlines fall well before the exams, and it's up to you to check that the centre can provide every arrangement your child is approved for.

  • CAPS, KABV and IEB

    The examining body takes concession applications from the school, with full supporting documents, so tell CambriLearn's Academic Support team at the start of the academic year. Aim to have concessions in place by Grade 10.

  • Why Grade 10 matters

    SACAI won't accept a new accommodation application in the Grade 12 year. At that stage it only deals with conversions and ad hoc requests, so an application left until matric is too late.

  • At the Grade 12 exam centre

    When you choose your three centre options, list your child's concessions and check that each centre can provide them.

Questions parents ask about exams

If your question isn't here, a consultant can talk you through your child's exams in a fifteen-minute call.

Book a free consultation

Does CambriLearn register my child for exams?

It depends on the curriculum. CambriLearn registers CAPS, KABV and IEB learners with SACAI or the IEB from Grade 10, including for the Grade 12 final exams. For Pearson Edexcel and International British subjects at International GCSE, AS and A Level, you register your child with an exam centre as a private candidate. Our Exam Officers help you find a centre and confirm the subject codes. US K-12 students don't need exam registration.

Where will my child write their exams?

Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge papers are written at a registered exam centre that accepts private candidates, usually in your own country. CAPS, KABV and IEB learners write their Grade 10 and 11 exams at home under online proctoring, and their Grade 12 final exams at an approved centre in South Africa. US K-12 students complete every assessment online.

Can my child write matric outside South Africa?

Not with CambriLearn. Grade 12 final exams for CAPS, KABV and IEB must be written at an approved centre in South Africa. Grade 10 and 11 exams can still be written at home under online proctoring, wherever you live. Outside South Africa, Pearson Edexcel and International British qualifications can be sat at exam centres in many countries.

Are exam fees included in CambriLearn's fees?

No. External exam fees are charged separately. Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge fees are paid per subject to the exam centre. CAPS, KABV and IEB learners pay no extra exam fees in Grades 10 and 11, and Grade 12 registration and exam fees are paid to CambriLearn per subject when you enrol.

Does my child need to do science practicals?

Only for Cambridge AS Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which include a compulsory practical exam at a centre that runs one. Pearson Edexcel has no practical exams at any level, and its science papers test practical skills in writing.

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring lets CAPS, KABV and IEB learners write their Grade 10 and 11 exams, and their tests up to Grade 12, at home under invigilation. SACAI and the IEB require it. Your child needs a device with a webcam, and the SMOWL software records them while they write.

When are the next exam results released?

Cambridge releases its November 2026 results on 7 January 2027 for AS and A Level and on 14 January 2027 for International GCSE. Pearson's October and November results and the NSC results for the 2026 final exams are also due in January 2027. Results for the June 2027 Pearson and Cambridge series arrive in August 2027.

Who issues the final certificate?

Each examining body issues its own certificate. Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge certificates come through the exam centre. Umalusi issues the National Senior Certificate for CAPS, KABV and IEB learners, and CambriLearn couriers it to a South African address. For the US K-12 pathway, Score Academy Online issues the American High School Diploma.

Can my child resit an exam?

Yes. Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge subjects can be resat in a later series, and International A Level units can be retaken one at a time. For the NSC, SACAI runs a May/June exam with registration closing on 28 February, and the IEB's May sitting is open to candidates who registered for an earlier NSC sitting.

Can students in the UK take Pearson International A Levels?

Pearson's information manual says its International A Levels are not available to candidates studying in the UK. If you live in the UK, speak to us before your child starts International AS or A Levels, so we can recommend a route that works where you live.

Talk to a consultant about exams

Book a free fifteen-minute call. Tell us your child's age and curriculum, and where you live, and a consultant will explain which exams they'll sit and what you'll need to arrange.

Book a free consultation Find an exam centre

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 386 reviews across Google, HelloPeter, Trustpilot and Facebook, last checked 10 September 2026.

This guide summarises the published rules of Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge International, SACAI, the IEB and Umalusi, together with CambriLearn's own exam policy. Boards and exam centres can change dates and fees, so confirm the arrangements with your centre or with CambriLearn before you register. Last checked 30 September 2026. CambriLearn is accredited by Cognia, is an approved Pearson Edexcel centre and is registered with SACAI and the IEB. The US K-12 pathway is delivered through sister school Score Academy Online, which is Cognia-accredited and offers NCAA-approved courses.

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