GCSE
Is IGCSE Harder Than GCSE? Difference Between GCSE and IGCSE
Imagine you’re sitting with your friends at school, talking about which subjects to pick for next year. Some of your friends are choosing GCSEs, while others are thinking about IGCSE. You’ve heard different opinions—some say IGCSE is harder, and others say it’s just different. Now you’re wondering, which one is really harder? Is IGCSE harder than GCSE?
To put it simply, before 2017, IGCSEs were considered harder because they relied only on final exams. But now, GCSEs are also mostly based on final exams, so there’s no big difficulty difference!
In this blog, we’ll show you the real differences between IGCSE and GCSE to help you see which one might be tougher for you.
Table of Content
What is GCSE?
The full form of GCSE is the General Certificate of Secondary Education. It’s the UK’s most widely recognised secondary education qualification that most high school students take at the end of their compulsory education in Year 11.
They achieve this qualification by studying full-time in school, and it usually takes about 2-3 years or five school terms to finish. The GCSE journey typically starts in Year 9 or 10 (aged 14 to 16), depending on the subject, school, or exam board, and it ends with final exams.
These exams test how well students understand subjects like Maths, English, Science, History, and more. The grades from these exams help students decide what to do next. They may —
- keep studying in college,
- move on to A-levels to prepare for university,
- get a job or
- learn a specific skill.
Want to master GCSE Physics topics like Energy, Electricity, and Forces with flexible classes?
GCSEs follow the rules set by the UK government, and students have to study some compulsory subjects, like English, Maths, and Science, as part of the national curriculum. Different exam boards, like AQA, Edexcel, OCR, CCEA, and WJEC, create the exam papers, mark them, and give students their final grades.
You can check out this important write-up on how GCSE grades work to get a detailed idea. GCSE grades are explained in detail there.
What is IGCSE?
The full form of IGCSE is the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, an internationally recognised high school qualification. This is like the global version of GCSE. It gives students the same level of education as GCSE, but the subjects and content chosen are based on a more global, non-UK curriculum.
While GCSE is mostly taken in the UK and a few other countries, IGCSE is offered in over 150 countries. It’s recognised in the UK as equal to the GCSE for measuring students’ achievements. In the UK, the IGCSE is typically taught at international schools or private schools rather than at state schools.
Cambridge Assessment International Education developed it, and other exam boards like Edexcel, LRN, and Oxford AQA have their own IGCSE versions. Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel are the most popular IGCSE exam boards. Students (aged 14 and older) usually start studying for IGCSEs in Year 10 and take the exams in Year 11, though some may start earlier.
You get a separate IGCSE certificate for each subject you study, with common subjects being languages, math, and science. Basically, IGCSE subjects are similar to GCSE, but most of them don’t have coursework except for practical subjects like Art and Design.
IGCSE qualifications also help students move on to A-levels or other international courses, preparing them for university, especially if they want to study abroad.
Difference Between GCSE and IGCSE
Here is a table that highlights the key differences between GCSE vs. IGCSE.
Aspect | GCSE | IGCSE |
Availability | Mainly offered in the UK, with limited availability outside. | Available in over 150 countries worldwide, including the UK (mostly in private or international schools). |
Regulation | Monitored by Ofqual in the UK | Recognised globally and equivalent to GCSEs |
Exam Boards | Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas | Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge |
Curriculum | Follows the UK curriculum with topics that are important in the UK. (e.g., Shakespeare is compulsory in English) | Has an international curriculum that is designed for students around the world. (e.g., Shakespeare is optional) |
Coursework | Historically more coursework, but reduced since 2017 | Doesn’t usually have coursework (except for practical subjects like Art and Design) |
Grading System | Uses number grades from 9* to 1, where 9* is the highest and 1 (the lowest). | A*-G system (Cambridge), 9-1 system (Pearson Edexcel) |
Flexibility and Suitability | Best for students studying in the UK under the national curriculum. | Suitable for students in international schools or those moving between countries, offering more flexibility. |
When exams happen | May-June (main exams) with November resits | It varies depending on the exam board, with sessions in May/June and November, while some boards offer additional sessions in months like February, March, and December. |
Is IGCSE Harder Than GCSE?
If you want to know about the difficulty factor between the two, then first, you should know why IGCSEs used to be considered harder than GCSEs:
- Coursework: Before the 2017 reforms, GCSEs had a lot of coursework, which meant you could easily get good grades by doing well in assignments and projects in addition to final exams. IGCSEs, on the other hand, were mostly based on final exams.
- Grading System: The grading systems for IGCSEs and GCSEs were also different. IGCSEs used a more traditional letter-based system, while GCSEs had a newer numerical system. This might have made IGCSEs seem a bit tougher.
But then, GCSEs changed:
- In 2017, the UK government made GCSEs more focused on exams and less on coursework. This made them more similar to IGCSEs.
- Plus, starting in June 2017, schools in England began using a new grading system from 9 to 1 for IGCSEs.
So, why are now GCSE grades equivalent to IGCSEs?
- Because both IGCSEs and GCSEs are now mostly based on exams, and both are graded through a numerical grading system, so, they’re now seen as having a similar level of difficulty. This means that universities and employers don’t really see one as being better than the other.
Picking the Right Path: GCSE or IGCSE?
If you’re in the UK and planning to stay there for higher studies, GCSE might be a good choice. But if you’re from outside the UK or aren’t sure where you’ll end up for higher studies, IGCSE is a great choice. It’s recognised in many countries, and you’ll have more options for your future.
FAQs
1 ) How many subjects are there in GCSE UK?
Most students take between 7 and 10 subjects. Some subjects are compulsory, like English, Maths, and Science. You can choose other subjects based on your interests, like History, Geography, or languages.
2 ) Which are the different GCSE examination boards?
There are five GCSE exam boards in the UK: AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC, and CCEA. Each board has slightly different ways of organising the questions and materials for the exams.
3 ) What is the British GCSE grading system?
The UK grading system for GCSE uses a scale from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest. A grade 9 is equivalent to an A*, 8 and 7 are equivalent to A, 6 is equivalent to B, and so on. This new grading system was introduced in 2017 to better differentiate between students of different abilities.
4 ) Which are the hardest GCSE subjects?
GCSE Maths, Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, English Literature, and History are often considered some of the hardest GCSE subjects. However, the hardest subject for you depends on your personal strengths and weaknesses. Some people find subjects with lots of memorisation difficult, while others struggle with subjects that need creative thinking.
5 ) Are IGCSE and GCSE the same?
IGCSE and GCSE are similar qualifications. Both are taken at the end of high school and are recognised by universities worldwide. The main difference is that IGCSE is designed for international students, while GCSE is primarily for students in the UK.
6 ) When did GCSEs start?
GCSEs started in September 1986 to create a standard qualification for students leaving school at 16 who didn’t want to continue with A-Levels or go to university. The first GCSE exams were taken in 1988.
Wrapping Up
So, coming to this point, we can assume that you now have a pretty good idea of the question, “Is IGCSE harder than GCSE?” Both qualifications are great! Don’t stress too much about difficulty. Talk to your school counsellor or teachers about which option best suits your plans for the future.