Cambridge charges schools an entry fee per syllabus per candidate, from a fees list each school sees in Direct, not a public list. Entries after the final deadline pay late fees; entries after the late deadline pay very late fees. November 2026 final entries closed on 16 August, late entries on 21 September. June 2027 entries close in February.
How does Cambridge publish its fees?
Privately, to each school. The Cambridge Handbook 2026 says fees are “in our fees list, which is published in the ‘My Messages’ section of Direct”. It adds: “Fees may be updated from time to time. You should always refer to the updated fees list on Direct.” Cambridge’s fees page lists a school application fee, “annual programme fees” that “maintain your status as a Cambridge school”, and exam entry fees. It asks schools to contact Cambridge “for full details of the fees for your region”. Payments must be made “in the same currency as stated on the invoice”.
What fees does a school pay per exam?
An entry fee per syllabus, plus penalties for lateness and changes. From section 2.4 of the Handbook:
| Fee | When it applies (Handbook wording) |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | ”We charge an entry fee per syllabus per candidate” |
| Group award fee | ”There is a fee per candidate for Cambridge ICE and the Cambridge AICE Diploma” |
| Late entry fee | ”For any new entries you make, and for any entry amendments or syllabus changes after the final entry deadline” |
| Late fee per change | ”We charge a late fee for each change. If you change an entry option twice we will charge two sets of late fees” |
| Syllabus switch | A new syllabus entry fee and a late entry fee |
| Very late entry fee | ”For any entry or change you make after the late entries deadline” |
So there are three price points for the same entry: on time, late and very late. Changing an option, such as Core to Extended, after the final deadline is charged as a late change each time.
What are the 2026-27 Cambridge entry deadlines?
| Series | Estimated entries | Final entries | Late entries | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 10 May 2026 | 16 August 2026 | 21 September 2026 (also retakes from June 2026) | AS & A Level 7 January 2027; IGCSE and O Level 14 January 2027 |
| June 2027 | 10 October 2026 | February 2027 (exact date in the 2027 Handbook) | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Sources: November 2026 key dates; Handbook 2026; Monthly calendar 2026. For June 2027, Cambridge tells schools to “start planning now to meet the January deadline for candidates requiring modified question papers, and the February deadline for all other entries”. The 2027 Handbook, with exact dates, is due online from November 2026, and entries open in mid-November.
The next date to act on is 10 October 2026, the estimated-entries deadline for June 2027.
How much does a Cambridge IGCSE exam cost?
It depends on the country, and Cambridge does not publish prices. Local exam administrators sometimes publish their own price lists for the candidates they enter. For example, British Council Egypt’s list for October–November 2026 shows (British Council Egypt):
| Syllabus (British Council Egypt, Oct–Nov 2026) | Normal fee | Late stage |
|---|---|---|
| IGCSE Mathematics 0580 | EGP 10,960 | EGP 16,333 |
| IGCSE Biology 0610 | EGP 11,990 | EGP 17,363 |
| AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 | EGP 17,820 | EGP 23,193 |
These are one administrator’s local prices, including its own charges. They are not what a Cambridge school pays Cambridge. The late-stage price is about 50% higher, which shows what missing a deadline costs.
How do Pearson Edexcel fees compare?
Pearson publishes its penalty rules openly. Its 2026/27 key dates say: “From the late fee date, the entry (subject or unit) fee is doubled. The entry fee is trebled from the high late fee date.” Amendment fees apply for changing an option or tier from the high late fee date (Pearson key dates 2026/27).
| Pearson series | Entry deadline | Late fees from | High late fees from |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAL January 2027 | 16 October 2026 | 17 October 2026 | 14 November 2026 |
| International GCSE and IAL June 2027 (international centres) | 21 March 2027 | 22 March 2027 | 22 April 2027 |
Pearson’s UK fee for an International GCSE (excluding modern foreign languages) in 2026/27 is £69.05, but that applies to UK centres. Schools outside the UK get prices from Pearson’s regional office. See the IAL modular strategy guide.
How should a school budget for exam fees?
Build the budget from entries, not last year’s total. Our method:
- List every candidate and syllabus for each series, with the tier or option.
- Price each entry from the current fees list in Direct.
- Add group awards, such as ICE and the AICE Diploma, where used.
- Add retakes, with their own entry deadlines, such as 21 September for November retakes from June.
- Hold a contingency for late entries and changes, which are charged per change.
- Include annual programme fees and any local administrator charges.
- Decide who pays. Whether the school or families pay entry and late fees should be set in policy before entries open.
Most late fees come from late decisions on tiers, options and retakes. A mock before the entry deadline, with a decision meeting, prevents most of them. See the mock exam calendar and Core vs Extended entry decisions.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
Late fees usually follow late decisions. AI Buddy’s mock exams and topic data give heads of department readiness and tier evidence before the entry deadline, so entries are right the first time. Better-prepared students also need fewer retakes. The fees themselves are set by Cambridge and paid through Direct.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Cambridge IGCSE exam fees in 2026?
Cambridge does not publish fees publicly. Each school gets a fees list in Direct, priced for its region. Local administrators’ lists, such as British Council Egypt’s, show prices for the candidates they enter.
What are the Cambridge 2026 exam fee due dates?
For November 2026, final entries closed on 16 August 2026 and late entries on 21 September 2026. Fees are paid by the payment due date on the invoice.
What is the Cambridge entry deadline for June 2027?
The estimated-entries deadline is 10 October 2026. Final entries are due in February 2027, with the exact date in the 2027 Handbook.
Does Cambridge charge late entry fees?
Yes. Late entry fees apply after the final entries deadline, a late fee applies to each change, and very late fees apply after the late entries deadline.
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Sources
- Cambridge International, Cambridge Handbook 2026, section 2.4, and Our fees
- Cambridge International, Key dates for November 2026 series and Monthly calendar 2026
- British Council Egypt, Cambridge International price list, October–November 2026
- Pearson, Key dates 2026/2027 and Fees