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IGCSE tutors in Riyadh: Cambridge and Edexcel, online

IGCSE in Riyadh is taught by British-curriculum schools such as Reigate Grammar School Riyadh and British International School Riyadh, and by the English or IGCSE sections of community schools such as Daratassalam International School and Sri Lankan International School. Most enter Cambridge IGCSE; some, like SLISR, use Pearson Edexcel. Every one of them is licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Education and teaches Arabic and Islamic studies alongside the IGCSE subjects. LiveTutor matches Riyadh students with tutors who teach the exact board and syllabus their school uses, in one-to-one online lessons after the Sunday to Thursday school day.

Facts checked:

At a glance

Boards used in Riyadh
Cambridge (most schools) and Pearson Edexcel
IGCSE years
Years 10 and 11 (Grades 9 and 10 in some schools)
Main exam series
May/June; Cambridge also October/November
Eid al-Adha break 2027
7 to 22 May 2027 (Ministry calendar)

Schools in Riyadh that teach IGCSE

Each was checked on the school's own website or a school directory on 6 October 2026.

SchoolBoard or routeWhat the school states
Reigate Grammar School RiyadhCambridge alongside the English National CurriculumSecondary students study towards IGCSE and A Level
British International School Riyadh (BISR)British (board varies by subject)IGCSE and GCSE, then A Levels or the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form
Daratassalam International School, IGCSE sectionCambridgeCambridge centre numbers SA025 (boys) and SX025 (girls)
Ellesmere College RiyadhIGCSE routeOffers an IGCSE Diploma track beside the IB and American Diploma
Sri Lankan International School RiyadhPearson EdexcelEdexcel IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10, then IAS and IAL
New Middle East International SchoolIGCSE sectionRuns a separate IGCSE section next to its CBSE section
Misk SchoolsCambridgeInternational GCSEs in Grades 9 and 10, with identity subjects taught in Arabic

The Ministry of Education's part in a Riyadh IGCSE school

Cambridge or Pearson approves a school as an exam centre; the Saudi Ministry of Education decides whether it may operate at all. Daratassalam International School shows both on its homepage: Cambridge affiliation numbers for its boys' and girls' IGCSE sections, and Ministry of Education licence number 142. The ministry also requires international schools to teach Arabic, Islamic studies and Saudi history and geography, in Arabic for Saudi students, so an IGCSE student in Riyadh usually carries those periods on top of seven to ten IGCSE subjects.

That load is one reason Riyadh IGCSE students run short of time in Year 11. The identity subjects are not optional and are not examined by Cambridge or Pearson, but they take the same school hours.

Exam series, Ramadan and Eid in 2026-27

Riyadh schools enter IGCSE candidates mainly for the May/June series, with Cambridge also running October/November for resits. School candidates sit papers at their own school, which is the registered centre. Private candidates have traditionally used the British Council's exam offices in Riyadh or a school that accepts external entries; check availability and fees with the centre well before the entry deadline.

The 1448 calendar matters more than usual this year. Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, so mock exams in many schools fall during the fast, and the Ministry's Eid al-Adha break runs from 7 to 22 May 2027, in the middle of the May/June series. Exam boards set dates internationally, so papers can fall during the Eid holiday. Plan revision so the heaviest weeks are in April, not May.

How online IGCSE lessons work for Riyadh students

The tutor starts from the syllabus code on your child's entry, for example Cambridge 0580 or Edexcel 4MA1 for Maths, because question styles and paper structures differ between boards. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, in LiveTutor's online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard, so the student writes working out where the tutor can see every step.

Riyadh is on UTC+3 all year. Lessons from 4pm to 8pm on Sunday to Thursday fit after school and before late dinners, and Friday or Saturday mornings suit a second lesson in the exam term. From January of Year 11 most lessons move to timed past-paper questions marked against the board's mark scheme, with a running list of where marks are lost.

Common questions

Do Riyadh schools use Cambridge or Edexcel for IGCSE?

Many use Cambridge, including Reigate Grammar School Riyadh and Daratassalam's IGCSE section. Sri Lankan International School Riyadh uses Pearson Edexcel. Ask your school for the syllabus code for each subject, because tutors prepare to the code.

Can my child sit IGCSE in Riyadh as a private candidate?

Usually yes, through a centre that accepts private candidates. The British Council has run school exams from Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar; confirm current entry deadlines and fees with the centre, as they change by series.

Will IGCSE exams clash with Eid in 2027?

Possibly. The Ministry's Eid al-Adha break is 7 to 22 May 2027 and the May/June series runs through that period. Boards publish the final timetable months ahead, so check it as soon as it appears.

How much do IGCSE lessons cost?

$15 a lesson for any IGCSE subject, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly ($60 a month for one lesson a week). The first lesson is a free trial.

Can lessons be in Arabic?

Lessons are taught in English, the language of the exam. Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book if your child would like explanations in Arabic as well.

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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