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Parent guide · IGCSE

Choosing IGCSE subjects: a guide for Year 9 families

IGCSE options are usually chosen in Year 9 and taught across Years 10 and 11. Maths and English are compulsory almost everywhere, and in UAE schools Arabic and, for Muslim students, Islamic Studies run alongside. The decisions that matter most are which sciences (three separate sciences, double award or fewer), whether to take English First Language or English as a Second Language, and which subjects your child may want at A-Level or IB, because sixth forms often require a good IGCSE grade in a subject before letting a student continue it. Choose for strength and interest first, then check nothing important is closed off.

Facts checked:

At a glance

When
Chosen in Year 9, taught in Years 10 and 11
Compulsory
Maths and English almost everywhere
UAE extras
MOE Arabic and, for Muslim students, Islamic Studies
Subjects available
Cambridge lists over 70 IGCSE subjects
Biggest decision
Science pathway, then subjects needed for sixth form

What a real Dubai options sheet looks like

From one Dubai British school's published 2024 to 2026 options, as an example. Every school's grid is different.

PartWhat students take
Compulsory IGCSE or GCSEMathematics (Foundation or Higher), English Language or English as a Second Language, English Literature
Compulsory, not IGCSEMOE Arabic (for non-Arab students in Year 10 only), Islamic Studies for Muslim students, moral, social and cultural studies, physical activity
Science pathwayChoose one: triple science, one or two single sciences, or BTEC Applied Science
Option blocksFive blocks such as Spanish, French, history, geography, economics, business, accounting, computer science, psychology, art, music, drama
RulesSome subjects cannot be combined, and full subjects are removed from the grid

Source: GEMS Founders School Al Barsha options sheet for 2024 to 2026. Use your own school's sheet for real decisions.

Start with the science pathway

The science choice shapes sixth form more than any other. Three separate sciences (biology, chemistry, physics as separate IGCSEs) is the strongest preparation for science A-Levels or HL sciences in the IB. Cambridge also offers Co-ordinated Sciences (a double award worth two IGCSEs) and Combined Science (one IGCSE), and some schools offer fewer single sciences or a BTEC.

If your child might study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering or any science degree, keep at least two sciences and ideally all three. For example, the University of Cambridge requires chemistry and one or two of maths, biology and physics at A-Level or IB Higher Level for medicine, and maths and physics for engineering. Sixth forms usually want a strong IGCSE grade in a science before accepting it at A-Level, so dropping a science at 14 can close a door at 16.

How IGCSE choices connect to later plans

If your child might study...Keep at IGCSEWorth considering
Medicine or dentistryChemistry and biology, plus physics if possibleExtended tier in maths and sciences
Engineering or physicsPhysics and Extended mathsAdditional Mathematics (Cambridge 0606) if offered
Economics or businessExtended mathsEconomics or business, though not usually required
Law, humanities, languagesEnglish Literature and at least one humanityA modern foreign language
Computer scienceExtended mathsComputer Science IGCSE, helpful but rarely required
UndecidedMaths, English, two or three sciences, a humanity, a languageA creative subject the child enjoys

English First Language or Second Language?

Most Gulf schools offer both Cambridge First Language English (0500) and English as a Second Language (0510 or 0511), or the Edexcel equivalents. First Language English expects analysis of texts and sophisticated writing; English as a Second Language tests reading, writing and listening at a level suited to students still developing English, and is the right choice for many bilingual children.

Two practical points. First, some universities and sixth forms treat the two differently for their English language requirements, so check the specific ones your child is considering. Second, the school usually decides the entry based on Year 9 work. If your child is close to the line, ask what would move them up.

Rules of thumb for the options form

  • Count the subjects. The school sets the total through compulsory subjects and option blocks; adding extra IGCSEs is not better if grades drop.
  • Choose subjects your child is good at and enjoys. A strong grade in a subject they like beats a weak grade in a subject chosen to impress.
  • Check sixth-form entry rules at your school or the one you are aiming for: many ask for a 6 or 7 (A) in a subject before it can be taken at A-Level or HL.
  • Keep a language other than English if you can; it counts for some degree courses and is hard to restart later.
  • Ask about tiers in maths and sciences now, not in Year 11, because the lower tier caps the grade.
  • Do not choose a subject only because a friend did, or avoid one only because of a teacher you may not have next year.

When the choice turns out to be wrong

Most schools allow changes in the first weeks of Year 10, while content is still near the start. After that, switching subjects means catching up on taught content, and dropping a subject altogether is often easier than swapping. Private candidates can also add an IGCSE in a later series through an exam centre, which is useful for a language a child speaks at home.

How one-to-one lessons help with IGCSE choices

A tutor cannot choose options for your child, but an experienced one can give an independent read in a few lessons: is your child genuinely Extended-tier in maths, ready for three sciences, or better suited to English as a Second Language? That evidence, from your child's own written work, is useful before the options deadline.

Once options are set, lessons follow the exact syllabus codes your child is entered for. LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, online, with tutors who teach Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE subjects.

Common questions

How many IGCSE subjects should my child take?

The school sets the usual total through its compulsory subjects and option blocks, and the example grid above has three compulsory IGCSEs, a science pathway and five option blocks. Grades matter more than the count, so a child under pressure is often better with fewer, stronger subjects.

Are three separate sciences necessary?

Not for everyone, but they are the strongest preparation for science A-Levels and degrees such as medicine and engineering. If your child might go that way, keep at least two sciences and ask your school's sixth-form rules.

Should my child take English as a Second Language?

If English is still developing, often yes. It is a respected IGCSE. Check whether the sixth forms and universities your child is considering accept it for their English requirement.

Is IGCSE Arabic compulsory in the UAE?

IGCSE Arabic is optional at many schools, but UAE schools teach the Ministry of Education's Arabic programme and, for Muslim students, Islamic Education alongside IGCSE. Check your school's rules for your child's year.

How much do IGCSE lessons with LiveTutor cost?

$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.

Sources

Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.

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