Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs are based on questions asked by students of LACAS across different branches as a consequence of the cancellation of the CAIE May/June 2020 examinations. If you have any further questions, please email them to your respective campus email address (where you have to send the confirmation of your preferred option). Please go through the answers provided carefully before inquiring further.
LACAS has provided all students with an option to either choose the grading option or the deferral option whereby students appear for their examinations in Oct/Nov 2020.
With regards to the grading option, LACAS will send the grades of every student for each syllabus they have been registered to appear in. The grades sent by LACAS will be based on the evidence available with the school over the course of study in the O Level programme. The evidence will include continuous assessments, first and final examinations, send up and mock results and forecast grades.
Q. What grades will LACAS send?
LACAS will send Predicted grades for its students. These grades will be based on the evidence available with the school and will be in the school’s judgment (which includes teachers) the grades a student would have attained had the CAIE examinations taken place.
Q. Can the school share the Predicted grades with the students?
The school (which includes teachers) are bound by a very strict confidentiality requirement. Any attempt by anyone to flout this requirement will constitute malpractice.
Q. Are the Predicted grades final?
The predicted grades are not final. These will be sent to CAIE who will run an independent process before finalizing the grades.
Q. Is there a right to appeal?
Students will have a right to appeal. However the appeal procedure is still under process by CAIE.
Q. Will CAIE results be delayed?
The CAIE results are expected to be released as per schedule.
Q. Will subjects usually offered only in June be available in the November 2020 series?
We are yet to receive a confirmation on which June only subject will be offered in November.
Q. Will the CAIE grades for the May/June 2020 session be recognized by universities?
The grades awarded for the June 2020 session will have the same value as grades awarded in any other series.
Q. What will happen to the fee paid by students for the CAIE May/June examination session?
There is no fee refundable to students who have opted for the grading option. Cambridge will update us on whether the fee paid for May/June examinations will be the same for the October/November session or revised.
Students’ Questions
Q. Will we receive our Mock results to help us decide, if so, when?
The Mock results will be e mailed to students of grades 10 and 11 on Tuesday April 14, 2020.
Q. Can we combine both options, choosing to Grade for some subjects and attempt the exams for other subjects?
No. LACAS students have to select one option i.e either the grading option or the deferral option (i.e. taking the examinations in Oct/Nov 2020).
Q. Under the Grading option, will Cambridge refund the money?
No. The grading option will be in lieu of the CAIE May/June examinations. (Already answered this question above)
Q. If a student did not sit either the Sendup or the Mocks (or both), how will they be graded under option 1?
Students will be graded in accordance with the evidence available to the school via continuous assessment, and the objective judgment of teachers. However, reduced evidence may potentially negatively impact the students’ grade – as CAIE explicitly stated that more evidence enables them to make fairer and more accurate decisions regarding grading.
Q. Will the school share the forecasted grades with the students before sending them to the CAIE?
As stated above, the school is required by CAIE to keep the predicted grades strictly confidential.
Q. Will all subjects, including Urdu, be available in the Oct/Nov sitting?
CAIE is trying to make arrangements to offer June syllabuses in November. We are yet to receive confirmation on this. (Already answered this Question above)
Q. What if I was unable to attain respectable grades for a subject throughout the O Level programme, how will I be Graded?
Grades will be based on the evidence available with the school.
Q. If we plan to take the FSc, what is recommended?
The CAIE result under both the option will have exactly the same weightage.
Q. For Urdu B, there is no evidence or records, how will I be graded?
Predicted grades will be sent based on the evidence of the students’ performance in Urdu during their course of study at LACAS.
Q. What is the last date to decide?
The last date to submit your selection is Wednesday, April 15, 2020, via e mail by 5.00pm.
Q. What will happen if we miss the deadline and you do not hear from us by the deadline?
If the school does not receive the e mail sent by students within the stipulated deadline the school will select the grading option for such students.
Q. How will sitting the exams in Oct/Nov affect the A Level admission when the result will be received in January and the classes commence in June?
The A Level classes will commence for all students in June. Details of the school schedule including the orientation will be sent to all students at a later date. If students select the deferral option and are taking their examinations in Oct/Nov they will be given two weeks off for revision to appear for their O Level examinations.
Q. How will both options affect our SAT preparations/exams?
SAT preparation classes will continue as per usual practice.
Q. If we opt for Grading, do we take the remaining Mock Examinations?
No.
Q. Will the online classes continue and what is the use of them now?
Yes. They will help the students to be in touch with their subjects and help them with A Level.
Q. If we opt for the Oct/Nov exams, will the school teach and support us until then and do we have to pay the school fees until Oct/Nov?
Students will be transferred to the A Level programme as stated above. The school will run a crash revision course for students appearing for the O Level examination in Oct/Nov examinations. The fee question has been answered above.
Q. Is it possible that a forecasted ‘A’ might be given a ‘B’ by Cambridge?
The final decision on what grade is to be awarded to students rests with CAIE.
Q. Is it possible for a student to score poorer in the CAIEs than the mocks?
It is possible but unusual. This is not the pattern that we usually witness.
Q. Is there any chance that the Oct/Nov exams may get cancelled or postponed?
No. There is nothing at the moment to suggest this.
Q. Can we appear in two sittings Oct/Nov 2020 and May/Jun 2021?
Yes. The school however, will not take responsibility for the May/Jun 2021 examinations.
Q. Can we appear for additional subjects (grade X) in the Oct/Nov exams?
No. Students can only opt for Pakistan Studies and Islamiat in Oct/Nov.
Q. If I attained As in the last few exams, will my forecasted grade be A*?
The grades given by the school are confidential. However the school will be very fair when reviewing the evidence and sending the grades.
Q. Will the Oct/Nov attempt cause the December exams to be delayed?
We have not finalized the school calendar for the next academic year. But it is definitely something that the school will consider.
Q. For the Oct/Nov exams, who will send our registration, the A level or O Level campus?
The O level campus.
Q. If the Oct/Nov results are in January, will we sit AS exams in June 2021?
LACAS does not offer AS.
Q. Will the academic session run from Sept to May OR Jan to Dec now?
The academic term for the next session 2020/2021 will be from June 2020 till May 2021.
Q. How will the scholarships be offered for students taking the Grading option?
We will be sending you details of this shortly.
Q. Why is A Level starting in June and not September?
The new academic year starts in June 2020 this year. And because of the disruption caused in the previous academic year we are starting the A Level classes early to ensure that all courses are covered and students who are choosing the deferral option are not at a disadvantage.