Cambridge IGCSE

Download IGCSE booklet (in PDF)

General information

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (iGCSE) is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, recognised by leading universities and employers worldwide, and is an international passport to progression and success.

IGCSE is equivalent to UK GCSE and O level, with students studying a range of challenging and creative syllabi through Years 10-11. The curriculum offers a variety of routes for learners into higher education, including those whose first language is not English. Students have a range of options that they can take at this stage of their educational career – focusing on those subjects that they excel in, and which will be most beneficial to their future career aspirations. Along with the core subjects of English and Maths, students also choose additional subjects from several options which currently include German, Spanish, Art and Design, Computer Science, Geography, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. Many students also complete iGCSE examinations in their mother tongue. As of next academic year, the school will be offering an even greater range of subject options: English Literature, Business Studies, French and Global Perspectives among other options.

Thought the program, students are assessed internally. The faculty tracks how well they learn the content of each course, and gives feedback in their process. Assessment tools range forms traditional tests and essays to one-on-meetings.
The programme takes two years of study and finishes with students sitting external examinations at the end of the programme.

Qualification

Cambridge IGCSE assessment takes place at the end of the two year course and can include written and oral examination, coursework and practical assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly those for whom English is a second language.
Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, A* to G, which have clear guidelines to demonstrate the standard of achievement for each grade.
High grade certificates are regarded as extremely desirable by all top colleges, universities and workplaces.

Accessibility

The core subjects: English, maths and science offer both core and extended syllabi, allowing all students to aspire to challenging goals and reach their full potential. The questions are often differentiated in terms of levels of difficulty to meet the needs of both the most able student as well as those who, for whatever reason, find academical study challenging.
Because most assessment takes place at the end of the two year course, students whose first language is not English are granted the time to fully embed the skills and understanding required of the syllabus, before demonstrating their learning at the culmination of the course. IGCSE is certainly an excellent option if you know your child has strengths in assimilating knowledge and understanding, and is capable of demonstrating this knowledge under exam conditions.

Progression into IB Diploma

GCSE examinations are excellent preparation for the final two years of schooling, and are required by many British universities as part of their application process. iGCSE examinations pave the way for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and provide an excellent platform and smooth transition to the rigours of this higher learning curriculum.

We encourage our students to strive for academic excellence in every subject, and we are very proud of the examination results achieved by our students every year.