Review the Cambridge AS Level exam schedule and difficulty
The Issue
As a Cambridge AS Level candidate, I am reaching out to express the sheer exhaustion and stress experienced during the recent October 2026 examination period. The structure of the exam timetable was such that it left no room for recovery between exams, and this is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.
On September 30th, we faced a grueling day with two major exams back-to-back. Writing the Mathematics exam was challenging enough, but it was immediately followed by the English General Paper 21, which was exceptionally difficult this year. This scheduling resulted in severe cognitive exhaustion, leaving many of us struggling to maintain our performance standards.
Additionally, the timetable for October brought further challenges. The AS Business Concepts Paper 11 was scheduled for October 5th, just a day before the AS Economics Data Response & Essay Paper 21 on October 6th. Both these subjects demand extensive writing and critical thinking, and the lack of recovery time between them severely hindered our ability to perform optimally.
The current scheduling and level of difficulty are not sustainable. As students, we put significant effort into preparing for these exams, only to be disadvantaged by an unreasonable timetable that compromises our performance. It is vital for Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) to conduct an administrative review of this scheduling approach, ensuring that future exam timetables allow sufficient recovery time between exams, particularly for those that involve heavy essay writing.
Students like me deserve the opportunity to demonstrate our knowledge and skills without being overwhelmed by fatigue and stress due to scheduling conflicts. We request a thoughtful reconsideration of the exam schedules and a balance in the difficulty levels, so that future candidates can face their examinations with confidence and readiness.
By signing this petition, you stand with thousands of students who are advocating for a fairer and more manageable examination experience during critical education milestones. Please help us ensure that no student has to endure what we did during the October 2026 AS Level exams.
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The Issue
As a Cambridge AS Level candidate, I am reaching out to express the sheer exhaustion and stress experienced during the recent October 2026 examination period. The structure of the exam timetable was such that it left no room for recovery between exams, and this is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.
On September 30th, we faced a grueling day with two major exams back-to-back. Writing the Mathematics exam was challenging enough, but it was immediately followed by the English General Paper 21, which was exceptionally difficult this year. This scheduling resulted in severe cognitive exhaustion, leaving many of us struggling to maintain our performance standards.
Additionally, the timetable for October brought further challenges. The AS Business Concepts Paper 11 was scheduled for October 5th, just a day before the AS Economics Data Response & Essay Paper 21 on October 6th. Both these subjects demand extensive writing and critical thinking, and the lack of recovery time between them severely hindered our ability to perform optimally.
The current scheduling and level of difficulty are not sustainable. As students, we put significant effort into preparing for these exams, only to be disadvantaged by an unreasonable timetable that compromises our performance. It is vital for Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) to conduct an administrative review of this scheduling approach, ensuring that future exam timetables allow sufficient recovery time between exams, particularly for those that involve heavy essay writing.
Students like me deserve the opportunity to demonstrate our knowledge and skills without being overwhelmed by fatigue and stress due to scheduling conflicts. We request a thoughtful reconsideration of the exam schedules and a balance in the difficulty levels, so that future candidates can face their examinations with confidence and readiness.
By signing this petition, you stand with thousands of students who are advocating for a fairer and more manageable examination experience during critical education milestones. Please help us ensure that no student has to endure what we did during the October 2026 AS Level exams.
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Petition created on 1 October 2026