Cambridge International Education announces all exams to be digital from June 2026
Mark Williams, head of secondary in the International Stream at French International School, is eager to see the results of exams marked by AI
It’s hard to imagine life today without digital technology, from the internet and smartphones, to social media and artificial intelligence (AI). From the ways we get information to the ways we communicate, the digital revolution has made life easier, faster and more convenient. However, in the world of education, there is still one area that has remained stubbornly traditional.
For the longest time, exams have been paper-based and administered in dedicated exam centres. Usually taking place at set times in schools or select exam venues, they are proctored and require proof of identification by the students to ensure that no cheating takes place. Finally though, exams may be slowly moving into the digital era.
Take Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge), for instance, who announced last month that it will be rolling out digital exams. From June 2026, students at schools in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the US will have the opportunity to take exams on laptops instead, including the Cambridge International AS English General Paper and multiple choice questions in Cambridge IGCSE accounting, economics, biology, chemistry and physics.
This announcement is significant as it marks the start of Cambridge’s global roll-out of digital exams across its full Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A level curricula. And for those concerned about whether they are as sound and legitimate as paper-based exams, representatives from Cambridge insist that the laptop-taken exams meet the same validity, reliability and comparability standards.
Rod Smith, group managing director for international education at Cambridge, says, “Our world has become digitised, and education is no exception.”
Early adopter programme
Select schools across different regions around the world are now invited to enlist in Cambridge’s first phase of the digital roll-out – known as the early adopter programme – and will be given first-hand and exclusive access to the digital exam platform.
On the platform, schools and students will gain access to tools such as digital mock tests and familiarisation sessions. They will also be simultaneously testing out new platform functionalities and support materials – and in doing so, providing feedback to Cambridge to further refine and enhance the platform.
