At a glance
- Level
- The same: end of Year 11, about age 16
- GCSE boards
- AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR (England)
- IGCSE boards
- Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel International GCSE
- Grades
- GCSE 9 to 1; Cambridge IGCSE A* to G (9 to 1 in some regions); Edexcel 9 to 1
- Standard pass
- Grade 4 (C on the letter scale)
IGCSE and GCSE side by side
| GCSE | IGCSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Written for | Schools in England, regulated by Ofqual | Schools worldwide |
| Boards | AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR (plus WJEC Eduqas) | Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (and OxfordAQA international GCSEs) |
| Grading | 9 to 1 since 2017 | Cambridge: A* to G, or 9 to 1 where offered; Edexcel International GCSE: 9 to 1 |
| Exam sessions | May and June | Cambridge and Edexcel: May to June and November |
| Content | Department for Education subject content, UK contexts and set texts | International contexts and texts, more subjects (Cambridge lists over 70) |
| Coursework | Limited to a few subjects | Varies by syllabus; several offer coursework or practical alternatives |
| Recognition | UK and worldwide | Aligned to the GCSE standard and accepted as equivalent |
Same level, different design
Cambridge states that it aligns the standard of its IGCSEs with the GCSE taken in England, and UK sixth forms, universities and employers treat a grade in one as matching the same grade in the other. A grade 7 in GCSE Maths and a grade 7 (or an A) in IGCSE Maths tell an admissions tutor the same thing.
The difference is in who the course is written for. GCSE content is set by the Department for Education, so English Literature uses English set texts and history and geography have a UK focus. IGCSE syllabuses use international contexts, a wider range of texts, and subjects that make sense outside the UK, such as English as a Second Language, Arabic as a first language and Global Perspectives.
For Gulf families, the practical difference is usually exam sessions. GCSEs are sat once a year, in May and June. Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel International GCSE both also run a November series, which gives more chances to retake a subject without waiting a full year.
Reading the two grading scales
The anchor points that boards and the UK government use to line the scales up. Grades in between do not map one to one.
| 9 to 1 scale | A* to G scale | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | No direct letter | The highest grade on the new scale |
| 7 | A | Bottom of grade 7 lines up with bottom of grade A |
| 5 | No direct letter | UK government's strong pass; many sixth forms ask for 5 or 6 in subjects taken further |
| 4 | C | Standard pass; bottom of grade 4 lines up with bottom of grade C |
| 1 | G | Bottom of grade 1 lines up with bottom of grade G |
Source: Ofqual's guide to the 9 to 1 scale and the Department for Education's standard and strong pass definitions.
Tiers work the same way, with different names
Maths and the sciences are tiered in both. GCSE uses Foundation and Higher tiers; Cambridge IGCSE uses Core and Extended; Edexcel International GCSE uses Foundation and Higher in maths and sciences. In every version, the lower tier caps the grade a student can achieve, so a student entered for the lower tier cannot reach the top grades however well they do on the day.
If your child wants to take maths or a science on to A-Level or the IB, ask early which tier the school plans to enter them for and when that decision is fixed. Our guide to Core and Extended explains the caps in detail.
Why some Gulf schools mix the two
Many British schools in the Gulf choose the board subject by subject. A school might enter students for Cambridge IGCSE Maths and English as a Second Language, Edexcel International GCSE sciences, and a UK GCSE from AQA in a subject where the department prefers that specification. This is normal and does not disadvantage the student.
It does matter for revision. Past papers, mark schemes and grade boundaries are specific to each syllabus, so a student revising from the wrong board's papers is practising the wrong exam. Find the syllabus code for each subject, for example Cambridge 0580 for IGCSE Mathematics, and use only that syllabus's materials.
How one-to-one lessons help
A good tutor starts from the exact syllabus code, not the subject name. For IGCSE that means teaching to the Cambridge or Edexcel specification your child is entered for, working through that board's past papers and mark schemes, and checking the tier placement against your child's real work. For GCSE it means the AQA, Edexcel or OCR specification and its particular question styles.
Students moving from a school in England to the Gulf (or back) often need a short bridging block: different set texts in English Literature, different required practicals in the sciences, or topics that appear on one board and not the other. LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, with tutors who teach the board your child sits.
Common questions
Is IGCSE harder than GCSE?
No. Cambridge aligns IGCSE standards with GCSE, and universities treat them as equivalent. Individual syllabuses differ in style, so one board can suit a particular student better, but neither is a harder qualification overall.
Do UK universities accept IGCSE?
Yes. UK universities and sixth forms accept IGCSE grades in the same way as GCSE grades, including for English and maths requirements.
What is a pass in IGCSE?
Grade C on the A* to G scale or grade 4 on the 9 to 1 scale is the usual standard pass. Many sixth forms ask for higher grades, often a 6 or 7 (A), in subjects a student wants to continue.
Can my child take some GCSEs and some IGCSEs?
Yes, and many Gulf British schools do exactly this, choosing the board subject by subject. Each certificate stands on its own.
How much do IGCSE or GCSE lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$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.
- Cambridge International: Cambridge IGCSE (standards aligned with GCSE in England, over 70 subjects)
- Cambridge International: IGCSE grading choice, A* to G and 9 to 1
- Pearson: the 9 to 1 grading scale explained (International GCSE)
- Ofqual: GCSE 9 to 1 grades, a brief guide for parents
- Department for Education: standard pass (grade 4) and strong pass (grade 5)