Exams officers
How to manage your science practical exams
This guidance document is for exams officers, teachers, and supervisors in centres that offer
Cambridge International science qualifications that include a practical component. It offers
advice on how to use and store confidential instructions, chemicals and materials, and ways
in which to manage the number of candidates in practical exams.
What are confidential instructions?
Confidential instructions list all the chemicals and materials required for each specific
practical exam. They are confidential and only intended for the member of staff in charge of
the laboratory (the supervisor) to carry out preparations before the exam. Under no
circumstances must any information in the instructions be given to candidates.
Confidential instructions are sent to you once you have made final entries. Therefore, we
encourage you to enter candidates at the earliest possible opportunity.
How do I store the confidential instructions?
You must keep confidential instructions under secure conditions at all times, and the Head of
Centre must make sure the contents remain confidential. You must not discuss the
instructions with any other centre. If you have any questions, you must ask us. Do not open
any question paper packets before the exam.
You must report any known or suspected breach of any confidential material to us. See
section 5 of the Cambridge Handbook 2019.
Why are there differences between the confidential instructions
and the question paper?
There may be differences between the identity and/or concentrations of chemicals and
materials in the confidential instructions and those on the question paper. This is perfectly
normal and candidates must not be told the details from the confidential instructions.
Differences may be for safety reasons, or so you do not have to find a less widely-available
chemical.
Example
The confidential instructions may specify 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid because it is
inexpensive and widely available. However, the question paper may specify
1 mol dm-3 propanoic acid which better suits the context of the exam question.
Do you supply chemicals and materials for practical exams?
For some syllabuses, the confidential instructions list any chemicals and materials that we
supply. You must check the despatch list against the list in the confidential instructions as
How to manage your science practical exams 1
, soon as they arrive and let us know about any discrepancies immediately. Open the packets
containing perishable materials (for example, enzymes) as soon as they arrive and keep
them in a refrigerator that is not accessible to unauthorised people.
The Head of Centre, along with the supervisor, is responsible for the safe and confidential
handling of all materials until they are used in the exam. No information about these
materials must reach candidates.
Who supplies microscope slides for Biology practical exams?
We supply microscope slides at a ratio of one slide per two candidates. When you receive
the slides, open them immediately and check:
• no slides are broken
• you have been sent the correct number of slides.
If any slides are broken or missing, or you do not have enough for the exam, contact us
immediately.
We may be able to provide digital images of the slides that can be printed for each candidate
and used in the exam. Before we do this, you must have made every effort to obtain the
slides and have contacted us in advance of the exam.
After you have checked them, the slides must be stored securely with the relevant question
papers until the day of the exam. The slides are confidential and must not be viewed with a
microscope by anybody at your centre. After the exam, you must return all microscope slides
to us, or purchase them using the form enclosed with the slides.
Where do I find chemicals and materials?
If possible, source chemicals and materials locally or in-country. If this is not possible, the
following suppliers will ship internationally. You must allow enough time for international
delivery and customs clearance.
Chemicals:
• Sigma-aldrich
Chemicals and equipment:
• VWR International
• Timstar
• Findel International Education Resources
• Fisher scientific
Electronics:
• RS components
What if I can’t find some chemicals or materials?
If you cannot get some of the chemicals or materials you need from local, in-country or
international sources, email us and tell us the syllabus, component, and details of the
chemicals or materials: info@cambridgeinternational.org
We will suggest alternative chemicals or materials that candidates can use. These may be
items you already keep in your centre, or which you can find locally. The supervisor’s report
How to manage your science practical exams 2
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