Cargo Cult Computer Science: Exposing the Rot in Cambridge Assessment
Welcome to what I can only describe as a necessary unraveling — a public record of how one of the world’s most prestigious examining bodies, Cambridge International Education, is failing Computer Science students, educators, and the subject itself.
This blog exists because going through the official channels failed. The truth was met with superficial politeness instead of honesty and accountability. It would fly in the face of everything I stand for to remain silent while this misinformation is institutionalised under the banner of academic rigour and excellence at a global scale.
Cambridge International claims rigour, alignment, fairness. But the proof is in the pudding — and it is rotten to the core. It is riddled with errors, contradictions, evasions, and excuses. If their assessments were held to the same standards they expect of students, they would fail miserably.
This isn’t just a complaint. It’s a case study in how a global exam board has become a closed, self-reinforcing system — one that punishes understanding, rewards parroting, and defends the indefensible rather than admit fault.
Here, we will be examining exactly what Cambridge gets wrong, why it matters, and what it means — using their own materials: syllabuses, exam papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, guidance documents, and formal correspondence. The goal is not just to expose flaws, but to protect the integrity of the subject from those who should be safeguarding it.
If you’re a student, teacher, examiner, academic, or anyone who actually cares about the integrity of Computer Science and education, then I invite you to read, share, and speak up.