For parents and students navigating the UK education system, understanding the differences between IGCSEs and GCSEs is crucial when making an informed decision about which option to choose. Both qualifications have distinct structures, assessment methods and suitability depending on a child's learning style and future aspirations.
In this article, Ed Richardson, Managing Director of Keystone Tutors, breaks down the key differences between these two qualifications. With extensive experience in teaching and education consultancy, Ed provides insights to help families determine which pathway best suits their needs.
If you are looking for extra academic support, explore Keystone’s GCSE tutors and IGCSE tutors.
What are GCSEs and IGCSEs?
The General Certificate in Secondary Education or GCSE is a subject-based academic qualification typically taken by UK students at the end of their compulsory education in Year 11 (age 16). They are normally studied over 2 or 3 years, starting in either Year 9 or 10 - depending on subject, exam board or school - and finish with a set of examinations at the end of the course.
The IGCSE was conceived in 1988, 2 years after the GCSE, to be more relevant to students learning in a non UK context. The ‘I’ in IGCSE stands for ‘International’.
Is an IGCSE equivalent to a GCSE?
The IGCSE is recognised as the international equivalent of the GCSE. Both are studied and examined at the same point in the UK education system. Neither qualification has an age restriction and consequently they have been sat by many students both younger and older than 16. Both GCSEs and IGCSEs will affect the onward trajectory of a student and serve as the precursor to sixth form academic study, i.e. UK Years 12 and 13 for A Levels or IB.
Do schools offer both the GCSE and IGCEs?
This depends on where you are in the world!
In the UK it is technically possible for both state-maintained (i.e. government run) and independent schools to offer GCSE and IGCSE qualifications. However, in state-maintained schools IGCSEs are increasingly less prevalent, as the UK Government stopped including IGCSE results in the national performance data (i.e. league tables) in 2014, which ranks state schools on academic attainment in nationally standardised exams (i.e. the SATs, GCSEs and A Levels). In response to this most state-maintained schools have reverted back to offering only the GCSE.
At independent schools in the UK you are however more likely to find both qualifications on offer. Whether or not a particular subject follows a GCSE or IGCSE qualification will be decided upon by the Head of Subject in conjunction with a school’s Director of Studies. Thus, parents and students often have a choice between the qualifications. It is possible for a student at an independent school to be studying both GCSE and IGCSE qualifications simultaneously.
Internationally, schools outside the UK are likely to only offer the IGCSE, as the GCSE is only really examined in the UK (although it is on offer in a very small number commonwealth countries, i.e. Canada and India).
How to choose your GCSE/IGCSE subjects?
If you attend a state-maintained or independent school in the UK the following subjects at Key Stage 4, i.e. Years 10 and 11, are compulsory:
- English (English Language is compulsory in all schools, but most schools also make English Literature compulsory as well.)
- Maths
- Science
These are often referred to as the ‘core’ subjects. In the UK it is a requirement for students to achieve a Grade 4 or above in Maths and English GCSEs or IGCSEs, whichever they are taking. Students need to retake examinations until they achieve this ‘pass’.
UK state schools are performance-measured against something called the EBacc, ( English Baccalaureate). This is a group or set of key subjects designed to keep a student’s future study options as broad as possible and therefore increase the likelihood of them being able to study at university. The EBacc consists of the following subjects at GCSE level:
- English Language and Literature
- Maths
- The Sciences
- Geography or History
- A Language
Whilst studying all of these subjects is not compulsory, the UK government’s ambition is to see 75% of pupils studying the EBacc subject combination at GCSE by 2022, and 90% by 2025. Thus, most UK state schools will look to ensure all students sit all EBacc subjects, if appropriate for the student in question.
Outside of the ‘core’ or ‘compulsory’ subjects students are able to choose from a range of ‘optional’ subjects from four groups:
- Arts (e.g. Art, Music or Drama)
- Technical Subjects (e.g. Design and Technology or Computer Science)
- Humanities (e.g. History, Geography or Religious Studies)
- Modern Foreign Languages (e.g. French, German, Spanish)
The range of the ‘optional’ subjects is however school dependent so do check with your school to find out what is on offer.
There are 5 GCSE examination boards used in the UK:
- Pearson Edexcel
- CCEA
- OCR
- WJEC
- AQA
Each examination board offers a slightly different exam.
How many GCSE/IGCSEs should you take?
Core subjects constitute 4 or 5 GCSE or IGCSE qualifications:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Maths
- Science (either individually as Biology, Chemistry and Physics or as Combined Science which generates 2 grades)
On average UK students tend to study 9 GCSE or IGCSE subjects, though some take as many as 12!
It is also worth noting that most UK based jobs have a minimum requirement of 5 GCSE grades (at Grade 4 or above) and as such this tends to dictate the minimum.
When do I pick my GCSE subjects?
In the UK this tends to happen in the Spring Term in of Year 9, the academic year in which a student turns 14 years old. At Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9 in the UK education system) students study a broad range of subjects, allowing them to develop their interests widely in advance of having to select their GCSE or IGCSE options.
Is GCSE harder than IGCSE?
Historically, IGCSEs were considered by many to be more challenging than the GCSEs. This was principally because IGCSEs tended to rely less on coursework than GCSEs. However, under Michael Gove’s (former Secretary of State for Education in the UK Government) reforms to the GCSEs, coursework elements were removed from many subjects which has led to the GCSE being viewed as much more rigorous. There is even a suggestion by some that IGCSEs are ‘easier’ than GCSEs, although this is a contested view and remains subjective. Some students (and teachers) may feel that certain exam formats are easier or more logical, for example.
Because the GCSE course has always been designed for a British rather than international students, this has at times been reflected in the content for certain subjects. Shakespeare, for example, is always a part of GCSE English Literature study, but it is optional for IGCSE.
There are also minor differences in themes and topics covered by other Humanities syllabuses like History and Geography.
Do universities prefer IGCSE or GCSE?
Both GCSEs and IGCSEs are recognised and accepted by UK Universities and they do not distinguish between the two, treating them as equivalent qualifications.
The “Russell Group” of UK universities (the top ranking 24 research universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial) recently confirmed that they make no distinction between GCSEs and IGCSEs when reviewing students’ academic qualifications.
GCSE and IGCSE tuition
If your child has difficulties with any specific GCSE or IGCSE subjects or topics, do get in touch so that we can find a GCSE or IGCSE Tutor. Subject specialist tutors can provide ongoing support, or help with focus on exam technique and exam skills in the run up to exams.