An Overview of Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum

For a qualification that travels well, it’s hard to look past the University of Cambridge’s International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Aligned to Britain’s GCSE, the IGCSE qualification is recognised internationally by top universities and employers. The curriculum is content-rich, and prioritises the development of creative thinking skills, problem solving and inquiry.

What is the IGCSE qualification?

Highly rated by leading universities and employers all over the world, the Cambridge IGCSE qualification is the most popular international qualification for 14-16 years olds. Many high performing international schools use IGCSE as the basis for their curriculum. It is seen as exceptional preparation for advanced study and higher education, and a yardstick for achievement and excellence across many different core and specialist areas of study.

Created 30 years ago by the University of Cambridge to align with Britain’s highly regarded GCSE, the program has grown in strength and reputation. It is testament to its success as a highly sought after international general certificate that the GCSE now follows the Cambridge assessment international education standards, with both assessment centres cross-checking their results to ensure their alignment.

The IGCSE offers a flexible curriculum with 70 subjects and over 30 languages for students to choose from. This includes core subjects as well as special interest topics. The aim of the IGCSE is to introduce students to many different subject groups and enable them to make connections between different disciplines.

As it is offered worldwide, curriculums allow for students of all backgrounds and mother tongues (additional to English language), to participate and achieve high standards without cultural bias. Core and extended subjects are given local context to add relevance for students in many different localities.

Can home educators offer the Cambridge curriculum?

While distance learning and online classes are not available through the IGCSE, the program does offer clear outlines of syllabus and all resources required to teach the curriculum, whether that be from home or from a traditional school setting. This includes everything from mapping documents, which lead teachers and home educators through the curriculum using the provided resources, as well as lesson plans, IGCSE exam preparation documents, and textbooks.

Students must be registered as Private Candidates if they wish to study for IGCSE qualifications independent of a registered school. This means finding an exam centre that offers IGCSE examinations and accepts Private Candidates. Usually, this will be a high school or college approved by the IGCSE exam board. Examinations are held twice a year, in June and November, with results issued in August and January.

Assessments take place at the end of the course and will often include written, oral, coursework and practical components. To cater to a range of ability levels, most subjects offer both core and extended curriculum.

With the help of IGCSE teachers and examiners, Education Perfect has developed an extensive array of interactive lessons and exam preparation documents to help students looking to achieve this qualification. At present this includes resources for IGCSE Science, Maths, English Literature, and English Language, with scope to extend to other subjects in the near future.

Why might the IGCSE curriculum be a good choice for my child?

For students who achieve a high standard of results in their schooling and strive for top results, the IGCSE will open doors to all kinds of opportunities across the globe, including many of the world’s leading universities such as MIT, Harvard and Cambridge. Children who achieve exceptional results may still struggle to find a place in these leading tertiary institutions if their qualification is not recognised. That’s why the highly esteemed IGCSE credentials are so useful for securing entry into competitive tertiary education environments.

But it’s more than just a qualification that students receive through the IGCSE curriculum. An IGCSE program is designed to foster a love of learning in students, to give them the skills they need in all areas of life, from school to higher education and out in the field of research and work. Through a well-rounded education that places importance on confidence and independent thinking, IGCSE qualified students are ready to take on anything the world can throw at them and achieve to their greatest academic potential.

If your child has a drive to learn and sets high expectations for themselves in their education, and often achieves high results, the IGCSE may be a good fit to help them find their place in the bright, wide world of higher education and learning.

Find out how EP’s online learning resources can support an IGCSE curriculum