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Cambridge exam administrationCambridge groups every exam centre into one of six administrative zones, each with its own timetable, and runs exams in series (mainly June and November) with a cascade of entry deadlines. Here’s how it all fits together — so nothing is missed.
Cambridge allocates every exam centre to one of six administrative zones, which helps it maintain exam security and manage timetabling. Each zone has its own timetable, so your centre’s zone determines the exact times and dates its candidates sit.
The UK has a dedicated “Zone 3 UK” timetable — but UK centres are still within Zone 3; it’s an extra file, not a seventh zone.
Source: Cambridge Exams Officers’ Guide — administrative zone & exam timetables. Verified 8 July 2026.
Every Cambridge series has three entry deadlines in sequence — estimated entries, then final entries, then late entries — followed by the exam window. The worked example below is the November 2026 (International) series. The pattern repeats each series; the dates do not, so always confirm the current key-dates document for your series and zone.
Source: Cambridge — key dates for the November 2026 series (International). Verified 8 July 2026.
Cambridge treats an entry as a retake only when all three conditions hold: the candidate sat the same syllabus in the immediately preceding series; the series being entered has its own separate retake deadline; and the exams officer ticks the retake box when first submitting the entry. If any one of the three is missing, Cambridge does not class the entry as a retake.
The candidate sat the same syllabus (any option code) in the immediately preceding series.
The series being entered has its own retake deadline (which attaches to the series being entered).
The exams officer ticks the retake box at first submission of the entry.
Source: Cambridge Exams Officers’ Guide — retake entries. Verified 8 July 2026.
Cambridge allocates every exam centre to one of six administrative zones to maintain exam security and manage timetabling. Each zone has its own downloadable timetable, so a centre’s zone determines its candidates’ exam times and dates. The UK has a dedicated “Zone 3 UK” timetable, but UK centres are still within Zone 3 — it is an extra file, not a seventh zone.
Cambridge runs distinct exam series, with June and November as the two main international series. Each series has a cascade of entry deadlines (estimated entries, then final entries, then late entries) before the exam period itself. Exact dates change every series, so always check the current key-dates document for your centre and zone.
Cambridge treats an entry as a retake only when all three conditions hold: the candidate sat the same syllabus in the immediately preceding series; the series being entered has a separate retake deadline; and the exams officer ticks the “retake” box at first submission.
Use your child’s own exam centre’s zone timetable. Cambridge places each centre in one of six administrative zones, and every zone has its own downloadable timetable with its own times. Cambridge cannot accept responsibility for candidates who miss an exam after checking the wrong zone’s timetable, so always confirm your centre’s zone before relying on any dates.
Largely, yes — Cambridge exam dates are broadly common worldwide, but each administrative zone can have its own start times and timetable variants. That’s why the date your child sits may match another country while the time differs. Cambridge publishes a separate timetable for each of its six zones, so the right reference is always your own centre’s zone.
Cambridge’s entry timeline includes a late-entries deadline that falls after the final-entries deadline, so there is a short late window. In the November 2026 International series, for example, final entries closed on 16 August and late entries on 21 September 2026. These dates change every series, so always check the current key-dates document for your series and zone.
No. Where a school may choose between A*–G and 9–1 grading, the two scales are entered under separate syllabus codes — for example, IGCSE Mathematics is 0580 (A*–G) and 0980 (9–1). Once the entries deadline has passed, a centre cannot switch a candidate between the two scales, so the choice needs settling before you enter.
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