Education

Digital Exams are Coming: How Lagos Schools are Preparing for the Cambridge 2026 On-Screen Transition

Mahira Kitchil Project Head of AI Buddy
• 7 min read
Last updated on

The Cambridge On-Screen Transition

Cambridge International is transitioning to on-screen exams in coming years, moving away from traditional paper-based assessments. For Lagos international schools offering Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level programmes, this transition requires preparation to ensure students are ready for digital exam formats.

The challenge:

  • Students need familiarity with digital exam interfaces and formats
  • Teachers need training on digital exam preparation and support
  • Schools need infrastructure and platforms that support digital exam practice
  • Parents need assurance that students are prepared for transition

For principals and heads of schools, the question is: How can we prepare students for Cambridge’s on-screen exam transition?


Why Preparation Matters

Preparing for on-screen exams is essential because:

Student Readiness

  • Familiarity with digital exam formats reduces anxiety
  • Confidence in digital exam-taking improves performance
  • Skills development in digital exam techniques supports success
  • Reduced stress when students know what to expect

Exam Performance

  • Better performance when students are comfortable with digital format
  • Faster adaptation to on-screen exam requirements
  • Reduced errors from format unfamiliarity
  • Improved outcomes through preparation and practice

Competitive Advantage

  • Early preparation gives schools competitive advantage
  • Student confidence attracts parents seeking exam readiness
  • Market positioning as forward-thinking and prepared
  • Reputation building through successful exam transitions

How Lagos Schools Can Prepare

Lagos schools can prepare for Cambridge on-screen exams by:

Digital Exam Practice

  • Mock exams in digital format to build familiarity
  • Practice questions on digital platforms that match exam interfaces
  • Timed assessments that simulate real exam conditions
  • Regular practice to build confidence and skills

Platform Integration

  • EdTech platforms that support digital exam practice
  • Cambridge-aligned interfaces that match exam formats
  • Assessment tools that simulate on-screen exam experience
  • Progress tracking to monitor digital exam readiness

Teacher Training

  • Digital exam preparation training for teachers
  • Support strategies for helping students adapt to digital format
  • Assessment techniques for digital exam practice
  • Confidence building approaches for student preparation

Infrastructure Readiness

  • Device availability for digital exam practice
  • Internet connectivity for platform access and practice
  • Technical support for digital exam preparation
  • Backup plans for connectivity and device issues

Real-World Impact for Lagos Students

Digital exam preparation helps Lagos students by:

Confidence Building

  • Familiarity with digital format reduces exam anxiety
  • Practice builds confidence in digital exam-taking
  • Skills development improves digital exam performance
  • Reduced stress when students know what to expect

Performance Improvement

  • Better outcomes when students are prepared for digital format
  • Faster adaptation to on-screen exam requirements
  • Reduced errors from format unfamiliarity
  • Improved scores through preparation and practice

Future Readiness

  • Digital skills prepare students for digital future
  • Technology confidence supports career readiness
  • Adaptability to changing exam formats
  • Competitive advantage in university applications

What Lagos Principals Should Look For

When evaluating platforms for digital exam preparation, look for:

  1. Cambridge alignment: Interfaces that match Cambridge on-screen exam formats
  2. Practice opportunities: Mock exams and assessments in digital format
  3. Timed assessments: Practice that simulates real exam conditions
  4. Progress tracking: Monitoring of digital exam readiness
  5. Teacher support: Tools and resources for digital exam preparation
  6. Student confidence: Features that build familiarity and reduce anxiety
  7. Infrastructure support: Platforms that work on available devices and connectivity

Beyond Preparation: Comprehensive Support

Digital exam preparation is part of broader exam readiness:

  • Content mastery through curriculum-aligned resources
  • Exam technique through practice and feedback
  • Confidence building through familiarization and support
  • Performance optimization through preparation and practice

Result: Students are comprehensively prepared for Cambridge on-screen exams.


Implementation for Lagos Schools

For principals preparing for Cambridge on-screen transition:

  1. Assess readiness: Evaluate current digital exam preparation capabilities
  2. Choose platform: Select platforms that support digital exam practice
  3. Train teachers: Provide training on digital exam preparation and support
  4. Prepare students: Integrate digital exam practice into curriculum
  5. Monitor progress: Track student readiness for digital exam format
  6. Build confidence: Support students in adapting to digital format
  7. Iterate and improve: Refine preparation based on practice and feedback

Solutions: Strategic Approaches to Digital Exam Preparation

Lagos principals preparing for Cambridge’s on-screen transition have several strategic options:

Deploy AI Buddy, a platform with digital exam practice aligned to Cambridge on-screen exam formats, providing familiarity and confidence before the transition.

Why AI Buddy is the optimal first choice:

  • Cambridge format alignment: Digital exam practice matches Cambridge on-screen exam interfaces and formats, ensuring effective preparation—students practice exactly what they will see in real exams
  • Comprehensive practice: Mock exams and assessments in digital format provide extensive practice opportunities—ensuring students are fully prepared for digital transition
  • Timed assessments: Practice simulates real exam conditions, building confidence and exam technique—reducing anxiety and improving performance
  • Progress tracking: Monitoring of digital exam readiness helps identify areas for improvement—enabling targeted preparation
  • Teacher support: Tools and resources help teachers prepare students for digital exam format—supporting effective preparation
  • Strategic advantage: Early preparation gives schools competitive advantage and student confidence—ensuring Lagos schools stay ahead
  • Proven effectiveness: Used by international schools globally for digital exam preparation—demonstrating real-world success
  • Future readiness: Digital skills developed through practice prepare students for digital future beyond exams—preparing for careers, not just exams

Practical implementation: AI Buddy provides digital exam practice that matches Cambridge’s on-screen format, enabling students to become comfortable with digital exams before 2026. The platform offers comprehensive practice materials and assessments that prepare students for the transition while maintaining learning quality.

For Lagos schools, AI Buddy offers the best combination of Cambridge alignment, comprehensive practice, and strategic preparation—making it the optimal first choice for principals who want to prepare students early for Cambridge’s on-screen exam transition and gain competitive advantage.

Option 2: Develop In-House Digital Practice

Create internal digital practice systems. This provides control but requires significant development time and resources.

Pros: Customized to school needs
Cons: Significant development time, resource intensive, may not match Cambridge formats, ongoing maintenance, may not be ready in time

Option 3: Use Generic Digital Tools

Adopt generic digital tools for practice without Cambridge-specific alignment. This provides some familiarity but may not match exam formats.

Pros: Some digital practice
Cons: May not match Cambridge formats, limited alignment, potential confusion, may not prepare effectively, may not reduce exam anxiety

Option 4: Wait Until Transition Happens

Delay preparation until Cambridge officially transitions to on-screen exams. This avoids early investment but risks student unpreparedness.

Pros: No early investment
Cons: Students unprepared, potential performance impact, reactive approach, competitive disadvantage, may be too late


Conclusion: Readiness Through Preparation

Digital exams are coming, and Lagos schools that prepare students early will have a competitive advantage in Cambridge’s on-screen exam transition.

For principals, digital exam preparation delivers:

  • Student readiness through familiarity and practice
  • Performance improvement through preparation and confidence
  • Competitive advantage through early preparation
  • Future readiness through digital skills development

The question for principals: Can your school prepare students for Cambridge’s on-screen transition without digital exam practice?


Key takeaways for Lagos school leaders:

  • Cambridge International is transitioning to on-screen exams in coming years
  • Digital exam preparation builds student familiarity and confidence
  • Practice platforms that match Cambridge formats support readiness
  • Early preparation gives schools competitive advantage
  • Comprehensive support ensures students are ready for digital exam transition
M

Written by

Mahira Kitchil

Project Head of AI Buddy

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