Two international public examinations have been canceled due to the pandemic, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority announced yesterday.

Students who were scheduled to take the General Certificate of Education or International General Certificate of Secondary Education exams in May and June will be contacted via e-mail or on the phone about further arrangements.

The cancellation of the two exams, offered by the British body Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International), will not only affect Hong Kong students but also more than 10,000 schools globally.

The news came at the heels of the cancellation of another important public exam, the International Baccalaureate exams, last week.

The GCE is the British A-Levels exam for entering universities, while IGCSE form the basis of entry requirements for sixth form study to A-Level or IB Diploma studies.

Cambridge International said that students will still receive a grade and a certificate for their further studies.

"We recognize students have been working very hard towards these exams. We will be working with schools to assess students' achievements using the best available evidence. Students will receive a grade and a certificate from Cambridge International, given the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their programs of study. This will ensure students do not face disadvantage as a result of these extraordinary circumstances," Cambridge International said.

"We will provide guidance to schools on how students will receive those grades. We are talking to universities worldwide, and they are factoring these unprecedented circumstances into admissions decisions so students can continue with their education journeys as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong exam authority said it is also deliberating with another exam provider, Pearson Edexcel, which also offers the GCE, IGCSE, International Advanced Levels and GCSE exams, on exam arrangements. Updates will be announced as soon as possible.