ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IGCSE
What’s the IGCSE?
The International General Certificate of Education is based on the British curriculum (GCSE), however, it has been updated for a more globally-minded student body. It’s primarily text-based, and it’s graded by the university’s test board. Cambridge Assessment International Education and Edexcel are two of the most well-known. Because it seeks to be as open as possible to students from a variety of linguistic backgrounds, the Cambridge test board provides over 70 disciplines, including 30 languages. This allows them to continue studying their home tongue. In several topics, the IGCSE allows for different levels of skill by offering both Core and Extended curriculum papers.
What distinguishes it from the GCSE?
Families in the United Kingdom may be curious about the differences between the IGCSE and the GCSE. The IGCSE curriculum is set in a broader worldwide perspective, which is the fundamental distinction between the two. For example, in Geography GCSE, students will practice map abilities using UK maps, however, in IGCSE, they may use maps from another country. As previously indicated, the IGCSE offers a greater choice of disciplines, notably languages, to be as adaptable as possible to varied circumstances. Another distinction is that the GCSE includes a mandatory practical coursework component that is also included in the final test. This coursework component is optional in the IGCSE because it is designed to address the reality that completing lab experiments or going on fieldwork excursions may be difficult in some countries or circumstances. Depending on the topic, the IGCSE may cover more than one topic. Integration and sets, for example, are two very in-depth and theoretically hard concepts in math. This gives the impression that the IGCSE is more difficult than the GCSE, however, this is not always the case.
ACE teachers who are familiar with both programs virtually unanimously agreed that the differences are minor and not cause for alarm. Families from the United Kingdom studying for the IGCSE in another country may find that the grading system is slightly different. The IGCSE is graded from G to A*, whereas the GCSE is scored from 1 to 9. There is no difference between the GCSE and the IGCSE in terms of how they are valued by secondary schools and universities.
What are the different exam boards, and why are they important?
Cambridge Assessment International Education and Edexcel are the two primary boards that offer the IGCSE. Individual schools must choose which test board they want to use to provide the IGCSE. While the content of the IGCSE varies little, if at all, amongst exam boards, the exam structure may differ. For example, Cambridge has four separate examinations in Geography, whereas Edexcel just has one 3-hour exam. Universities, on the other hand, don’t care which exam board was used, and a high result in any exam will be well-regarded by universities.