Cambridge is withdrawing eight syllabuses with final exams in 2027 or 2028. At IGCSE, First Language Malay, Sanskrit and American History end in June 2027, and Latin in June 2028. O Level Statistics and the Project Qualification end in November 2027, and AS & A Level Arabic 8680 and 9680 in November 2028. Four of the eight have replacements.
Which Cambridge syllabuses are being withdrawn?
Cambridge’s Syllabus Changes (International), September 2026 lists them. “Following consultation with centres, these syllabuses have been withdrawn”:
| Qualification | Syllabus | Code | Final exam | Replaced by | Availability note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | First Language Malay | 0696 | June 2027 | None | Zones 4 and 5 only |
| IGCSE | Sanskrit | 0499 | June 2027 | None | June only |
| IGCSE | American History (US) | 0409 | June 2027 | None | Zones 1 and 2 only |
| IGCSE | Latin | 0480 | June 2028 | None | Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 only |
| O Level | Statistics | 4040 | November 2027 | IGCSE Statistics 0479 | November only |
| AS & A Level | Cambridge International Project Qualification | 9980 | November 2027 | CIPQ 9494, first exam June 2028 | March series in India in 2027 |
| AS & A Level | Arabic | 8680 | November 2028 | Arabic 9865, first exam June 2029 | — |
| AS & A Level | Arabic | 9680 | November 2028 | Arabic 9865, first exam June 2029 | — |
The same document also lists American History 0409 among republished syllabuses for later years. Schools teaching 0409 should confirm its status with Cambridge before planning beyond June 2027.
What are the transition options for each?
Syllabuses with a replacement. The move is to a new code, sometimes with a different series.
| From | To | What changes for schools |
|---|---|---|
| O Level Statistics 4040 (last exam November 2027) | IGCSE Statistics 0479 (first exam June 2027) | From O Level to IGCSE; 0479 is June only, in zones 3 and 4 in 2027 and zones 3–6 from 2028 |
| Project Qualification 9980 (last exam November 2027) | CIPQ 9494 (first exam June 2028) | New code; 9494 lists June and November only, with no March series |
| AS & A Level Arabic 8680 and 9680 (last exam November 2028) | Arabic 9865 (first exam June 2029) | One new syllabus replaces two; a two-year course for June 2029 starts in September 2027 |
Statistics needs the most care. 4040 is November-only and 0479 is June-only, so a school must change its series as well as its syllabus. Students in zones not covered by 0479 in 2027 have no direct replacement that year. See IGCSE Psychology 0266 and Statistics 0479.
Syllabuses with no replacement. For First Language Malay, Sanskrit, American History and Latin, schools choose between alternatives:
| Withdrawn | Options to consider (our suggestions) |
|---|---|
| First Language Malay 0696 | Another Malay qualification available locally; for Malaysian students, national-curriculum Bahasa Melayu (see the Malaysia guide) |
| Sanskrit 0499 | Another board’s classical language, or a school certificate |
| American History (US) 0409 | Cambridge IGCSE History 0470, or the new AS & A Level US Government & Politics 8293 (first exam June 2028) for older students |
| Latin 0480 | Another board’s Latin, where available in your region |
When must schools act?
Now, for anyone starting a two-year course. A student starting IGCSE Sanskrit or American History in September 2026 would reach exams in 2028, after the last June 2027 exam. Our timeline:
| Withdrawn syllabus | Last cohort that can start a two-year course | Decision needed by |
|---|---|---|
| IGCSE 0696, 0499, 0409 (final June 2027) | September 2025 | Already passed: no new two-year starters |
| IGCSE Latin 0480 (final June 2028) | September 2026 | Now |
| O Level Statistics 4040 (final November 2027) | September 2025, for November 2027 | Already passed for two-year courses |
| AS & A Level 9980 (final November 2027) | Students who can complete by November 2027 | This term |
| AS & A Level Arabic 8680/9680 (final November 2028) | September 2026 for the full A Level | Before September 2027 |
Students who miss a final exam, through illness or a resit need, have no later series. Build a resit plan into the last cohort’s timetable, using the final November series where one exists.
What else is changing around these dates?
Two series-level changes affect planning. The March series for IGCSE Art & Design 0400 ends after 2028: “the last March series examination will be 2028”. The Business transition, from IGCSE 0450 to 0264, 0986 to 0774 and O Level 7115 to 7081, finishes with the November 2026 series. For every other 2027–2029 change, see Cambridge Syllabus Changes 2027-2029.
How should a department plan a withdrawal?
- Identify affected students by year group and code.
- Confirm the last series and any zone restriction for your school.
- Stop new starters on syllabuses that end before they would sit.
- Choose the replacement, or an alternative for syllabuses with none.
- Plan resits for the final cohort before the last series.
- Tell families early, especially where no Cambridge replacement exists.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
When a syllabus changes code, departments lose their bank of past papers for the new one. AI Buddy provides past-paper-style practice in the subjects it covers, with topic-level data for the final cohort on a withdrawn syllabus. Ask us which of these syllabuses and replacements AI Buddy covers today.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cambridge syllabuses are being withdrawn in 2027?
IGCSE First Language Malay 0696, Sanskrit 0499 and American History 0409 (final exams June 2027), O Level Statistics 4040 and the Project Qualification 9980 (November 2027).
Which Cambridge syllabuses end in 2028?
IGCSE Latin 0480 (June 2028) and AS & A Level Arabic 8680 and 9680 (November 2028).
What replaces O Level Statistics 4040?
Cambridge IGCSE Statistics 0479, first examined in June 2027. It is June only, in zones 3 and 4 in 2027 and zones 3 to 6 from 2028.
What replaces Cambridge AS & A Level Arabic?
A new AS & A Level Arabic 9865, first examined in June 2029, replaces both 8680 and 9680.
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Sources
- Cambridge International, Syllabus Changes (International), September 2026 version 1, sections 1–3
- Cambridge International, IGCSE Statistics 0479