Understanding retake entries - International

Why is it important to make correct retake entries?

Centres and candidates sometimes think a ‘retake’ is simply when the candidate sits a subject again. However, we have a specific definition of a ‘retake’ entry, and It is important to understand this definition. Understanding what a retake entry is means centres are working to the correct entry deadline and are not charged late entry fees unnecessarily.

You can find further details on how we define a retake entry and why it's important to understand this element of the entries process here.

If a candidate is entered in the November series for the same syllabus they entered for in the preceding June series (regardless of the entry options selected in each series), their November entry qualifies as a retake entry. This would include situations where candidates are sitting AS in June and completing their A level in the following November series.

We provide a later deadline for retake entries so centres have time to receive and review results from the previous series and make informed decisions about making a retake entry in the following series. Because we do not release June series results until mid-August, we set the retake deadline for the November series as 21 September.

Centres must indicate an entry is a retake at the point of submission – it is not possible to change the retake indicator once you have submitted an entry. If you do not tell us an entry is a retake by ticking the retake indicator box, we will charge you late entry fees for any entries or amendments to entries made after the 16 August first-time entries deadline.
There is no way to indicate any entry is a retake in the June series or any need to do so. Centres do not require a later entry deadline in June because November results from the preceding year are released in January, so centres have plenty of time to make entry decisions based on their November results before the 21 February entry deadline for the June series.

The primary impact on schools in relation to retake entries is financial, as failure to indicate an entry is a retake at the point of submission could mean you are charged late entry fees when you shouldn't be. Even if you submit an entry that meets the criteria to be a retake entry in time for the relevant retake entries deadline, if you haven't ticked 'Retake' a late entry fee would be automatically applied. If you are familiar with our definition of a retake entry and how this relates to deadlines, these kinds of unnecessary late fees can be avoided.

What is a retake entry?

Any entry for the November exam series for a syllabus the candidate sat in the previous June exam series is a retake. They do not need to sit the same combination of components in November as they did the previous June for the entry be a retake.

Candidates who are carrying forward marks from June to November are also retake entries. This includes candidates who are completing an A Level syllabus as a staged assessment, where they sit the AS components in June and complete the A Level in November.

If we don’t tell you an entry is a retake, can this be added afterwards?

It is not possible to change the retake indicator once you have submitted an entry. If you do not tell us an entry is a retake by ticking the retake indicator box then we will charge you late entry fees (for entries made after the first time entry deadline).

What happens if previous candidate and centre details are not included when submitting a retake entry?

You must always submit previous candidate and centre details when you submit a retake entry. Without these, we cannot verify that an entry is a retake. If you don’t provide these details you will be charged late entry fees (if it is after the first time entry deadline for the series).

Examples

Example 1:

A candidate took Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) in the June exam series and wants to improve their result by sitting a different combination of 0625 components in the following November exam series.

This is a retake entry.

Example 2:

A candidate took Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) in the November exam series and wants to improve their result by sitting a different combination of 0625 components in the following June exam series.

This is not a retake - the June exam series does not require entries to be designated as retakes.

Example 3:

A candidate took the AS components of Cambridge International A Level Mathematics (9709) in the June exam series and wants to carry those marks forward and complete the A2 components of 9709 in the following November exam series for a full A Level result.

This is a retake entry.