IGCSE in brief
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is a two-year course, usually taken in Years 10 and 11 (roughly Grades 9 and 10). The two main boards offering it are Cambridge International, and Pearson Edexcel, whose version is called the International GCSE. Many international schools in the Gulf and elsewhere follow one or the other, and some mix subjects from both.
Students choose their subjects, commonly English, Maths and the sciences plus a selection from languages, humanities, business and computing. Each subject is a separate qualification with its own grade.
How the years fit together
Primary years. Schools following Cambridge often use Cambridge Primary, and many Edexcel schools follow a programme based on the English National Curriculum. Reading, number work and science foundations matter most here.
Lower secondary (roughly Grades 6 to 8). Cambridge Lower Secondary leads into IGCSE, and some schools use Checkpoint tests at the end of it. This is where IGCSE readiness is built: algebra, scientific method, and extended writing in English.
IGCSE (Years 10 and 11). The two-year exam course. Some students take certain subjects a year early.
After IGCSE. Students usually move to A-Levels, the IB Diploma, or, for families moving back to India, CBSE or a state board for Classes 11 and 12.
How IGCSE assessment works
Assessment is mainly by final exams at the end of the course, with exam sessions usually held more than once a year. Some subjects include coursework or practical assessment.
Many subjects are tiered. Cambridge uses Core and Extended papers, and Edexcel uses Foundation and Higher tiers. The tier decides the range of grades a student can reach, so the choice matters. Grades are given on a 9 to 1 scale or an A* to G scale, depending on the board and subject.
IGCSE mark schemes are specific. Examiners look for particular steps, keywords and units. A student can understand a topic well and still drop marks by not answering in the way the paper expects, which is why practice with real past papers is so useful.
What IGCSE students commonly find hard
- Extended Maths: functions, vectors, harder algebra and problem-solving questions that combine several topics
- Sciences: precise definitions, multi-step calculations and data-analysis questions
- English: analysis and directed writing for First Language English, or reading and writing tasks for English as a Second Language
- The pace: a lot of content in two years, with mock exams arriving early
- Switching in: students who join from CBSE or another board meeting topics they have not seen, or meeting familiar topics taught differently
How a one-to-one IGCSE teacher helps
A teacher who teaches your child’s board knows the syllabus document, the paper structure and the way marks are given. In class, your child works through activities and problems in Qlive Space, Qlive’s AI-powered learning platform, and the teacher goes through their working with them on Google Meet, explains where a mark would be lost, and shows what a full-mark answer looks like.
Lessons follow your child’s school scheme of work, then shift towards past papers and timed practice as exams approach. Worksheets and checkpoints every two to three weeks in Qlive Pulse show which topics are secure and which need another look. Written answers are photographed and marked with comments by the teacher or Qlive’s academic team.
Your Student Success Partner keeps your child’s IGCSE goal in view and brings in what helps, such as past paper practice before exams or a change of teacher if one is needed. They keep you updated in the Qlive Learn app, which shows every class in your own time and has a chat for each class with the teacher and the Qlive team.
Switching between CBSE and IGCSE
Many Gulf families move a child from CBSE to IGCSE, or the other way, often around Grade 8 or after IGCSE when planning a return to India. The content overlaps a great deal, but topics appear in different years and questions are asked differently. The free assessment shows which topics are missing for the new board, and the teacher plans the first weeks around them.
Subjects we teach for IGCSE
Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Hindi, Arabic, French, Spanish, German, Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies and Computer Science. Maths, Physics and Chemistry are among our most requested subjects overall.
Getting started
IGCSE schools are common across the Gulf, and class times are set around your timezone and school day. Start with the free assessment: about 40 adaptive questions, guided live by a Qlive counsellor, with a report on strengths and gaps. Fees for international boards are shared after the assessment.
