What is the IGCSE ?

IGCSE is an International General Certificate of Secondary Education that is globally recognized by high-profile and elite universities.

This system started and developed in 1988 by Cambridge University, one of the  most renewed and pioneered universities across the world. The UK issued its domestic system “GCSE”.

Each subject has 3 levels, IGCSE/GCSE/OL, AS and A2. The AS and A2 make up the full AL. The OL is the basic level that prepares the students for the AL, providing the students with a more in-depth understanding of the subject.

It differs from the usual national school system as you have diverse subjects that cover different areas, such as languages, humanities, Math, Arts and Sciences,to choose from based on your interest and your desired major.

The student finishes their subjects from 2 to 3 years and they are divided across a maximum of 5 sessions. Each student is evaluated by end-of-session exams that test their writing, speaking, practical or research skills.

Who manages the exam process?

The British Council manages the registration, supervision and organization of the exams in addition to conferring imperative licenses to schools in order to grant IGCSE certificates.

In Egypt, there is no direct contact between the students and the British Council. The British Council coordinates with the schools and then the schools communicate with the teachers and students. Every student has to be enroled on a school.

Who are the boards that grant the Certificates ?

In the IGCSE, there are 3 main boards, Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA. Each board introduces their curriculum and their exams style. However, some subjects are more popular in some boards than others. This depends on the difficulty and flexibility. According to your school , you will know which subjects under which boards are available.

Exam Timing

Cambridge: May/ June and October/November

Pearson Edexcel: May/June, October/ November and January

Oxford AQA: May/June, October/November and January

How does IGCSE differ from the other systems?

According to parents’ and teachers’ opinions, the IGCSE system teaches the student how to think and broaden their horizons deviating them from the by rote learning. Even the IGCSE exams assess the student’s understanding, their ability to analyze information and their creativity, resulting in fostering their problem-solving and innovation skills.

Curriculum and Marking

Every IGCSE subject is classified into two parts, core and extended. The students in Egypt take core in Grade 9 and it is internally assessed. They study these 5 mandatory subjects in grade 9: English, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Physics

However, they shift to an extended curriculum in Grade 10. The minimum accepted grade for OL is C and 4 in the (9-1) grading system . 9 and is equivalent to the A* and 1 is the lowest mark.

IGCSE AL =  AS +A2

All boards provide OLs in most of the subjects. The student can study the Advanced Level of the Subject (AL) after passing the OL. The AL consists of AS and A2. The student has the choice to study the AS only or the AL altogether.