The March examination cycle, designed to align with the Indian academic calendar, registered growth across both Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications. A total of 447 schools across India participated in the March 2026 series, making it the largest examination session conducted by Cambridge International Education in the country.
The most significant growth was reported at the senior secondary level, where entries for Cambridge International AS & A Level examinations rose by 12 per cent compared with the previous year. Within this segment, Cambridge International AS Level entries surged by 16 per cent, marking the highest growth rate across all qualifications in the series, while Cambridge International A Level entries increased by 8 per cent.
Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry remained the most sought-after subjects at the AS & A Level stage. Cambridge International Education stated that the consistency in subject preferences across qualification levels reflects sustained student interest in science, technology, engineering and commerce-oriented academic pathways.
At the secondary level, Cambridge IGCSE entries in India increased by 6 per cent in the March 2026 series, continuing the expansion of schools offering the curriculum. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry were also the most popular subjects at the IGCSE stage.
In addition to core science subjects, Cambridge reported participation in disciplines such as Global Perspectives, Environmental Studies and Business Studies, indicating broader academic engagement and a widening range of subject choices among schools.
Cambridge International Education noted that the March examination series enables students to receive their results in time to match domestic university admission schedules while simultaneously pursuing opportunities for higher education abroad. The organisation remains the only international awarding body to offer a March examination session specifically aligned with the Indian academic calendar.
In a significant development, Cambridge International Education introduced a March series of Cambridge Checkpoint tests for primary and lower secondary students for the first time this year. The organisation said the initiative is intended to assist schools in making progression decisions in accordance with the academic year followed in India.
Vinay Sharma, Regional Director for International Education in South Asia, said the strong rise in AS & A Level entries demonstrates increasing recognition among students and parents in India of the flexibility and academic advantages offered by Cambridge curriculum pathways.
The continued expansion of Cambridge International Education in India highlights a decisive shift in student aspirations, with more families choosing globally recognised qualifications that provide seamless access to higher education opportunities both within the country and around the world.
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