IGCSE Board

IGCSE was formed in 1988. It is a comprehensive two-year programme from Class 9 and 10 and leads to the final examinations offered every year in May and November. IGCSE assessment is conducted by two UK assessment bodies: Edexcel and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). A student who has passed IGCSE is eligible for any +2 level qualifications, like Class 12 CBSE/ ICSE or any international pre-university programme. CBSE versus ICSE syllabus Of late there is an increasing school of thought that ICSE syllabus is far tougher. This is mainly because of the fact that CBSE has done away with the exam system in Class X. In ICSE, Maths and Sciences, some experts say are tougher while in case of CBSE, some say languages are given more weightage. IGSCE versus other Programmes IGCSE offers a wider range of subjects.

It has set high academic standards.
Practical approach to teaching and learning.
Assessment not limited to conventional written papers.
Variety of tests are included e.g. oral and listening tests.
There is an eight-point grading scale, from A+ to G, with A+ being the highest.
Curriculum is balanced.
Flexible course of study.
Most subjects offer a choice between core curriculum and extended curriculum.

How does this help the students?

Students of all ability levels have the freedom to choose subjects that are right for them.

This presents a wonderful chance to get good scores.

The core curriculum is an overview of the subject.

IGCSE is tailored for a more multi-cultural and more multi-lingual audience.

Curriculum vs Extended Curriculum

The curriculum is suitable for students who are expected to achieve grades C to G.

The extended curriculum is, sort of, a specialisation in that subject. It is more challenging and designed for students who are expected to achieve grades A+ to C.

Status Previously, IGCSE was a two-year programme starting at the Class 9 level. A student who has done his/ her early schooling from any other board can join the IGCSE programme at the Class 9 level. However, things might have changed now in the last two or three years and now there are schools that impart IGSCE curriculum from the lower classes. This needs to be verified from the concerned schools. What are the subjects in the IGCSE curriculum? There are five Subject Groups in IGCSE with several subjects to choose from, in each group:

Group 1: Languages (First Language, Second Language, Foreign Language, etc)
Group 2: Humanities and Social Sciences (Geography, English Literature, History, etc)
Group 3: Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc)
Group 4: Mathematics (Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, etc)
Group 5: Creative, Technical & Vocational (Accounting, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Music, etc)

For each subject, the certificate merely indicates the grades scored, and not pass or fail. Five scores of 'C' or higher indicates a student's readiness to pursue +2 level qualifications, like the Class 12 CBSE, IB Diploma, Advanced Placement Diploma (US), etc. Why should I select IGCSE for my child? 1. IGCSE develops and encourages vital educational skills, including oral skills, investigative skills, problem solving, team work, recall of knowledge, and initiative. 2. The IGCSE programme has worldwide status and credibility. It is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as being at par with CBSE, ICSE, etc. 3. The IGCSE curriculum is balanced and lends an international perspective to studies. It also takes account of differing abilities of students. 4. IGCSE students can take advantage of the Cambridge Checkpoint, a diagnostic service comprising of standardised tests that highlights students' strengths and weaknesses in key curriculum areas. My Opinion Prima facie, it appears that IGSCE syllabus is suited to children whose parents are on the move (locally or internationally), so that they will be able to manage change effectively. The fee structure for these schools also may be radically different. However, though the benefits of the syllabus are good, we need to understand only from other parents whose children may be studying in such schools about the stress factor. While attempting to brighten the future of the child, we have to be circumspect about not causing too much of stress in the present. References: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jan/31igcse.htm

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