GCSE & IGCSE: What’s the difference?
The term GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. Predominantly taken by students located in the UK, the GCSEs represent the first major academic qualification for young learners completing their 11 years of compulsory education. GCSEs are available in more than 60 subjects and vocational areas.
There are not one but five GCSE examination boards used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, CCEA, and WJEC. Additionally, the GCSE system in England has transitioned from letter grades to numerical grades.
IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. These examinations are sat by students living and learning outside of the UK. The IGCSEs are taught in roughly 145 countries worldwide. In some instances, candidates may be able to sit IGCSEs in the UK. However, this would only be in certain international or private schools and is generally not the norm. In contrast to the GCSEs, the IGCSEs are accredited by only two exam boards. These are either Cambridge (Cambridge International Examinations) or Edexcel (Pearson Edexcel). Both carry equal weight.
The most obvious difference has already been mentioned. The GCSE is for UK-based learners—specifically in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—while the IGCSE is for international students. However, this is not where the differences end.
As opposed to the GCSEs, the IGCSEs have no mandatory core subjects. Yet, there may be requirements placed on students by their schools. There is also a difference in content within subjects. For example, the GCSE is tailored to what could be described as a more “local” student base, while the IGCSE is more international in scope and looks further beyond the UK in terms of its course content. Finally, the exam dates for the GCSE and IGCSE differ. For those sitting the GCSE, their exams take place across May and June. The IGCSEs, on the other hand, have exam periods in November and January, as well as between May and June each year.
Whether your child is sitting the GCSEs or IGCSEs, BartyED can help. Our expert tutors have experience guiding young learners through both the GCSE and its multitude of exam boards, as well as the Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel IGCSE. Through the use of online classes, there are no limitations as to the support we can offer. Whether you or your child are located in Hong Kong or elsewhere around the globe, whether they are a GCSE or IGCSE student, BartyED can offer the essential academic support needed to achieve success.
If you believe that your child could benefit from a GCSE or IGCSE tutor, contact us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com)