You have probably come across the news, at a parents' evening or in a letter from the school: IB and Cambridge exams are "going digital". And behind the announcement, a fair worry: is my child ready for this? will it complicate an already demanding year?
Rest assured: the change is real, but it is gradual, structured, and less unsettling than it first sounds. What moves on screen is the way the exam is sat — not what it assesses. So let us look, without jargon, at exactly what is happening at each board, what changes in practice for your child, what does not, and the few precise questions to put to the school so you can approach the exams with a clear head.
What is actually happening?
Two of the major international curricula found in Switzerland are moving their exams towards the screen, each at its own pace.
At the IB (International Baccalaureate), digital examinations are being introduced for the Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP) from the 2026 session, starting with a small number of subjects. This is the first stage of a multi-year, phased project: paper and screen run side by side, and each school keeps sitting exams on paper until it is ready to move across. The exams are taken on computers (laptop or desktop) within the school and, at first, they mirror the paper exams to keep them fair and comparable.
At Cambridge International (the IGCSE and the AS & A Levels), the first digital exams arrive in the June 2026 session, through an early-adopter programme. The first wave covers five IGCSEs — Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Physics — and AS Level English General Paper. A gradual roll-out then opens from 2027, subject by subject and region by region, with the stated aim of making the large majority of subjects available both on screen and on paper by the early 2030s.
Two things to take from this: the transition is spread over time, and for now it lets paper and screen coexist. No one is switching everything, all at once.
What actually changes for your child
For a student, an on-screen exam mostly changes gestures, not knowledge. Three changes really matter.
Reading on screen. Texts, documents, data, question papers: part of the reading now happens on a screen rather than on paper. That calls for a different stamina and different reflexes — scrolling, going back, spotting information without a pen to underline. It is a skill that can be practised.
Typing. Depending on the subject, part of the answers are typed rather than handwritten. Keyboard fluency — speed, accuracy, simple formatting — becomes a genuine exam skill. A student who is slow at the keyboard can lose valuable time, regardless of how well they know the subject.
Working within a platform. The exam runs in dedicated software: moving between questions, flagging a question to return to, tracking the time left, using the tools provided. Nothing insurmountable — but it is far better to have handled the interface before the day, not during it.
One useful nuance, subject by subject: some answers remain particular on screen — a diagram, a graph, a formula. How each platform handles these varies by subject; it is exactly the kind of detail to check with the school.
What does not change
Here is the reassuring message, and it matters: the syllabus, the expectations and the standard do not change. The same knowledge and skills are assessed as before. Early in the transition, the boards deliberately design the digital papers to remain comparable to the paper ones — an on-screen exam is neither easier nor harder, it is simply sat differently.
In other words, the heart of your child's preparation is still mastery of the subject. Moving on screen adds a layer of technical familiarity to acquire, not a new academic mountain. To place the major curricula against one another — Swiss Matura, IB, A-levels — our comparison Swiss Matura, IB or A-levels: which curriculum? remains the right starting point; the exam medium does not change that underlying decision.
Paper or screen: does your child have a choice?
This is the question most families ask, and the honest answer is: it depends — on three things, precisely.
On the subject, first: not all move at the same time. On the session: the timetable is spread over several years. And on the school: it decides when it is ready, according to its equipment and preparation. Your child may well sit one paper on screen and another on paper in the same year, or everything on paper if the school has not yet made the move.
The practical consequence is simple: do not rely on a general rule found online. The only information that holds for your child is the school's, subject by subject and for their specific session. That is the first call to make as soon as the question arises.
How to help your child prepare
The good news: this preparation is concrete, and it is done without drama.
- Ask for the specimen digital exams. The IB and Cambridge provide these to schools precisely so that students can grow familiar with the format in advance. Make sure your child can practise under real conditions, on the relevant platform.
- Work on timed typing. A few weeks of regular practice is often enough to turn a weak point into a reflex.
- Practise reading long texts on screen: spotting the essentials, annotating with the software's tools, not getting lost in the scroll.
- Have them handle the interface — flagging a question, using the timer — so that on exam day all their attention goes to the subject, not the software.
- Keep the focus on substance. The medium is secondary: mastering the syllabus is what matters.
The questions to ask the school
To take into your next conversation with the school. Closed questions, which a school that knows its subject answers plainly.
- Which of my child's papers will be on screen this session, subject by subject?
- Has the school already moved across on certain subjects? Which ones, and since when?
- On what equipment is the exam sat (the school's computers?), and what is the fallback in case of a breakdown or outage?
- Will my child be able to practise on specimen digital exams before the exam?
- How do access arrangements (extra time, adjustments) work on screen?
The quality of the answers will tell you as much as their content: a school that is ready will answer precisely and calmly.
And next?
The move on screen is a genuine shift in the major international curricula — but, for your child, it is very manageable provided it is anticipated. The substance does not move; it is the exam gesture that adapts. Ask the school the right questions, give your child time to grow familiar with the platform, and the deadline returns to its proper size.
If you are unsure about the curriculum itself, or about the school best prepared for this transition, that is exactly the kind of decision we advise on. You can browse our selection of schools, or talk it through with us directly.
Frequently asked questions
Are IB and Cambridge exams really moving on screen?
Yes, but gradually. The IB is introducing digital examinations for the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) from the 2026 session, starting with a small number of subjects, as the first stage of a multi-year, phased project. Cambridge International launches its first digital examinations in the June 2026 session, on a selection of subjects, before a wider roll-out. In both cases, paper and screen run side by side during the transition.
From when, and for which subjects?
For the IB: from 2026 on a small number of subjects, then a phased expansion. For Cambridge: in the June 2026 session, five IGCSEs (Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Physics) and AS Level English General Paper, then a gradual roll-out by subject and region from 2027. The exact timetable depends on the subject, the region and the school: check it with your child's school.
Will my child be required to sit exams on screen?
Not necessarily, and not everywhere at once. The switch is gradual and depends on the subject, the session, and the school, which decides when it is ready. Your child may sit some papers on screen and others on paper, or everything on paper if the school has not yet moved across. Ask the school, subject by subject, which format applies to their session.
What actually changes for the student?
The medium, more than the substance. The student reads texts on screen, types part of their answers, and works within an exam platform. Keyboard fluency and on-screen reading become exam skills. At first, the digital papers mirror the paper exams, to keep things fair.
Do the level and the syllabus change too?
No. It is the medium that changes, not what is assessed. The syllabus, the expectations and the standard stay the same; early in the transition, on-screen papers are designed to remain comparable to paper ones.
How can I help my child prepare?
By making the format familiar in advance: specimen digital exams (via the school), timed typing practice, reading long texts on screen, handling the platform's tools. The substance does not change: mastering the subject remains the heart of it.
Official sources
- International Baccalaureate — Digital examinations for the DP and CP: ibo.org — accessed 13 September 2026. Digital examinations introduced for the DP and CP from 2026, on a small number of subjects, within a multi-year project; paper and screen coexist; specimen exams available to schools.
- Cambridge International — Digital examinations to launch in June 2026: cambridgeinternational.org — accessed 13 September 2026. Digital exams launch in June 2026 (early-adopter programme), then a gradual roll-out.
- Cambridge International — Digital exam availability: cambridgeinternational.org — the subject-by-subject and session-by-session timetable (consult for the current detail).
The precise timetable (subjects, sessions, regions) evolves and depends on each school: the information above gives the general direction, but the reference for your child remains their school.
