IGCSE / GCSE

This is a commonly asked question. There are various bridging curricula for the IBDP. In Hong Kong, most schools use either the IB MYP, IGCSE or the Pre-IB course as the bridging program, while in Singapore most schools use IGCSE (O-level) as the bridging course. Pre-IB means that schools start IBDP a year early to prepare students for the rigour of the IBDP. Students can explore which subject that they’d like to study in the Pre-IB year, allowing them to make a more informed decision on the subject selection.

A good bridging program for the IBDP 1) equips students with a solid academic background, 2) provides chances for students to select the subjects they wish to pursue at the IBDP, and 3) prepares them for the rigor of the IBDP external exams. Among all courses, GCSE / IGCSE seems more preferable than the other two curricula.

GCSE / IGCSE?

GCSE and IGCSE students usually do six to twelve subjects (there’s actually no subject limit), depending on the school’s requirements and their personal preferences. As most GCSE and IGCSE subjects are academic-heavy, like English Literature, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Geography, History etc., students should have built strong academic foundations in anticipation for their IBDP years.

Given that students would be able to do a wider range of subjects during the GCSE or IGCSE years, they could get a taste of what each subject is like before deciding on which IBDP course to do. This would allow them to make a more informed decision. Moreover, students would have to sit the external GCSE or IGCSE exams, usually in year 11. Although this means students would have to experience the stress of the external exams earlier, on the bright side, students would be more equipped with the necessary psychology to take on an external exam, and this in turn helps to prepare them to write the IBDP external exam papers.

IBMYP

Compared with the GCSE or IGCSE, IB MYP is a 5-year program ranging from year 7 to 11 that is offered by the IBO. Some schools do an abbreviated format of the MYP e.g. doing 2, 3 or 4 years instead of 5. You can see the last two years of the MYP as GCSE-equivalent. MYP students are required to do eight subject groups, including Language Acquisition, Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education and Design. You can check out more about the program structure of the MYP here:https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/curriculum/

IB MYP is more task and project-focused. Therefore, students are encouraged to do their own exploration in projects. For bright students, this is a perfect opportunity for them to explore their research, analytic and presentation skills. The process allows them to assimilate various theories or concepts. However, for students that require more guidance, they might possibly get lost in this process. The requirements of teachers to identify students’ weaknesses, as well as to be able to coach and debrief are extremely important. However, this could be a challenging task to the teachers given that all projects / researches that students deliver are all different.

From the perspective of examination, as the MYP curriculum is more task-based, you would expect less academic-heavy tests or exams. In a way, this helps students to relieve the stress of exams. However, it could sometimes be challenging to trace the student’s progress and make necessary remedy when needed.

IBO introduced the first e-Assessment in 2016 for the IB MYP students. This is equivalent to an external exam, with a full score of 56. The e-Assessment is not made compulsory for MYP schools. The e-Assessment would demand students to do some parts as on-screen exams, while other parts as ePortfolio. (https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/assessment-and-exams/)

Overall, the IGCSE or GCSE curriculum does seem to be more academically rigorous and able to create an IBDP-like exam environment for the students. I believe that for students that are very bright, they would benefit from both curricula regardless. For students that require more coaching, IGCSE or GCSE seem to be a better bridging program to the IBDP than IB MYP.

Location

The main difference between IGCSE and GCSE is that they are each used by different countries. The GCSE syllabus is mostly used in the UK - both public and private schools have the ability to offer GCSEs. IGCSE (International GCSE) is for overseas countries that are not the UK. Over 120 countries offer IGCSE. In the UK, some private schools offer IGCSE as well, but this is more rare.

Exam boards

The length of both the IGCSE and GCSE program is usually two years. Certain schools may condense it into one year, but this is again rare. In terms of exam boards, GCSE is offered by AQA, OCR, Edexcel, CCEA, and WJEC. IGCSE is offered by three boards - Cambridge, Edexcel, and AQA. Usually students will not be allowed to choose an exam board. Schools will decide which exam boards to use on a subject-by-subject basis, e.g. a school offers Chemistry with the Cambridge board and English with AQA. This variety in exam boards is common, no matter whether the school is offering GCSE or IGCSE.

Grading system

Another difference between GCSE and IGCSE is the system of grading. GCSE traditionally used letter grades (A*, A, B, etc.), but switched over to a 1-9 numerical grading system after the syllabus changed. IGCSE also changed its grading system, and now Edexcel and AQA grade on a scale of 1-9. Conversely, the Cambridge exam board has two syllabus options and depending on which one your school chooses, it uses either the numerical or letter grading system. Most schools will choose the 1-9 numerical grading system across all subjects in order to stay consistent. However, 8-9 in the numerical system is equivalent to an A*, making it easier to get an A* than to get a 9. Therefore the numerical grading system is arguably more difficult.

Exam schedules

The GCSE exams are annual and usually take place in May, which is best suited to UK school terms. They do not typically offer November or January exams, though with the recent Covid issue, another exam period in November has been made available.

IGCSE exams annually offer a May/June examination period. Some boards will offer an additional winter period (e.g. Cambridge offers winter exams in November, and Edexcel in January). But generally, the range of subject exams offered in the winter will be reduced compared to the main exams period in the summer.

Which one is harder?

There are negligible differences between GCSE and IGCSE. With different syllabuses, there will of course be slight variations in content and course, but 80-90% of the same subject will be the same across IGCSE or GCSE. Prior to the syllabus change, GCSEs required coursework, but now both syllabi are exams-based. Universities also don’t tend to prefer either syllabus over the other one.

Should I pick IGCSE or GCSE?

If you are an overseas student, it’s likely that the only thing available to you is the IGCSE, so you won’t have a choice in the matter. If you are in the UK, you do have a choice between schools that offer IGCSE or GCSE. The subjects on offer are usually the same, but IGCSE features some slight differences for English. GCSE only offers English Language and English Literature. IGCSE additionally offers English as a first or second language. If you are weaker at English, you can therefore consider choosing IGCSE English as a second language.

However, we also recommend you to consider future university applications. Some universities will not accept English as a second language to count towards a real language requirement, and additionally require you to take IELTS. If this is relevant to your situation, take care to consider it before deciding on IGCSE English as a second language.

If you have studied in Hong Kong all your life and are now planning to go to the UK to study for GCE/A-level or GCSE exams, the transition can be intimidating. Facing the prospect of an English-only environment, many students wonder if the change is very dramatic and difficult to handle. For students studying sciences, a large part of the change depends on what language you used in class in Hong Kong.

If your Biology, Chemistry, or Physics classes were conducted in Chinese, then you may find it initially challenging to understand your teachers in the UK. Even the simple Chinese terms that you learnt in cell biology will each have an English equivalent to learn, e.g. 線粒體, 葡萄糖, 胰臟 etc. will become mitochondria, glucose, and pancreas, respectively. In the beginning, you may have to relearn all the scientific terms you already learnt, which can be stressful and demotivating.

Moreover, even if your classes in Hong Kong were conducted in English, be aware that there are many different accents in the UK. For example, you might come across Scottish, Irish, or RP (how the queen speaks) accented English, or have Indian or Polish teachers. Even though you understood your teachers in HK, you may not be used to these new accents in the UK. In addition, it’s likely that UK teachers will speak English faster than you’re used to, so there is an adjustment period.

You may be feeling demotivated, since these UK syllabuses are in English and the Chinese knowledge you had seems wasted. But there are plenty of online free English sources available for your revision, so as soon as you get used to it, learning in class won’t be as difficult.

Some students may also fear that their lower proficiency in English puts them at a disadvantage for exams. There are a few things to remember here:

1. When you write responses to exam questions, these syllabuses will usually require you to write full sentences, so you cannot use bullet points.
2. Many students worry that their grammar is terrible and might affect their grade. We advise you not to worry, because examiners actually don’t care too much about it (unless you’re taking an English exam). UK syllabuses usually have international versions (International GCSE, or International A-level) and examiners are aware of second-language English students. The UK has many immigrant and different nationality students in their schools and it is very difficult to demand perfect grammar from all of them. As a general rule of thumb: As long as your grammar isn’t so wrong that it detracts from your answer’s meaning or the examiner can’t understand you, it’s okay!
3. Sometimes the English terms you used in the exam aren't entirely correct, e.g. you heard the term and spelt it wrong based on how it sounds - don’t worry, examiners often accept these answers as well! They are assessing your scientific knowledge and not your English, so there is some flexibility allowed.

Overall, if your classes in Hong Kong were conducted in English, and you completed homework assignments and exams in English, you will probably be completely fine when switching to the UK curriculum. If your classes in Hong Kong were conducted in Chinese, you may have some small difficulties with in-class lectures, written responses, long form questions and article-based exam questions. But keep studying and after a couple of months, you will be able to adapt well and get used to the new language environment!

When preparing for IGCSE Maths exams, it is important to know how to study according to your goals. Whether you are taking AQA, CIE, or Edexcel, all IGCSE Maths topics are generally split into two sections. The easier topics are under the Foundation section, and the harder topics are under the Extended section in the syllabus. Most students take both Foundation and Extended, though this varies between different schools and classes.

If you download the syllabus, you will see the Foundation section at the beginning of the syllabus. If you are a Foundation-only student, the highest grade you can achieve is a 5. If you are taking the Extended exam as well, the highest grade you can achieve is a 9. Different syllabuses have different phrasing, so the Extended syllabus is also known as Higher Tier.

Foundation topics in IGCSE Maths are generally considered to be easier. Examples include Algebraic operations, Expansion, Factorisation, Indices, etc. Most students, no matter if they are Foundation-only or Higher Tier students, perform the same way in Foundation topics. They will have mastered these concepts well.

Higher tier/Extended topics in IGCSE Maths are generally harder, and truly differentiate the students by their levels of ability. Topics include Calculus, Differentiation, Kinematics, Vectors, Functions, 3D Trigonometry, Probability, Sequences and Series, and Circle Theorems. Higher tier topics target the more challenging concepts, e.g. in Circle Theorem you may be presented with a circle and a few lines bisecting it, and required to calculate the angles between the lines on the circle etc. Usually, the difference between a level 7, level 8, and level 9 student will be how they approached the harder concepts and whether they revised in enough depth for these extended topics.

If you are a student who is aiming for the higher grades, you will need to target the Extended/Higher Tier topics and revise well. A typical IGCSE exam will focus on harder topics during the last 5-6 questions. We recommend that you download sample papers and past papers to try some examples. If you feel that you don’t have time to complete all the questions on these past papers, you can just attempt the last 5-6 questions of each paper. This is because the questions of the first half are typically easier, e.g. algebra operations. Students who are aiming high generally shouldn’t have a problem with them, and can spend their time more efficiently by skipping easy questions and training higher tier topics only.

Conversely, if you are not aiming for the higher grades in Maths and want a 5 or lower, we recommend that you focus on Foundation topics. If you revise well and are confident with Foundation topics, you won’t make mistakes and can get a solid grade in the Foundation part of the exam. During the exam, you could have a look at the Higher Tier topics and see if you can attempt to earn a few marks here and there. But for revision, don’t worry about the Higher Tier stuff and just concentrate on building fundamentals.

Most importantly, identify what kind of student you are and what your aims are. The tactics one may take to ensure their target grade will be different for each student.

The MYP and IGCSE are secondary education programs that have some significant differences. IGCSE or the International General Certificate of Secondary Education is the international equivalent of GCSE, which is a long-running and academically-focused British educational curriculum for 14-16 year olds. The MYP or Middle Year Program is an educational framework that does not have a set curriculum, and was created relatively recently with the purpose of preparing younger students for the rigorous IB program. The MYP is aimed at 11-16 year olds.

IGCSE curriculum vs. MYP framework

The most significant difference between MYP and IGCSE is that IGCSE has defined, subject specific curriculums and MYP does not. IGCSE takes a traditional approach with set topics and content that are specified in a syllabus set by an examination board and then taught in class, leading up to exams at the end of two years. IGCSE is arguably superior in training students for exam technique, coursework, time management, and individual subject skills. However, subjects are mostly taught in isolation from each other and are exam focused, which can lead students to feel that the education style they receive is too mechanical or formulaic.

In contrast, MYP does not have defined curriculums. It instead allows each school to customize the syllabus, and encourages students to learn subjects in conjunction. For example, MYP students may simultaneously study a unit on infectious diseases in biology, do a group project on The Black Plague in history, and look at the literature from malaria-stricken countries in English. In this way, students can gain a more holistic education with an awareness of the connections between different subjects and how they link to real-world global issues.

IGCSE is externally assessed, MYP is internally assessed

IGCSE offers standardized, externally assessed exams while MYP relies on internal assessments set by a school. Students are probably familiar with IGCSE’s teacher-led format, where they must learn and memorise the content and methods delivered in class. The IGCSE curriculum and assessment rubrics are clearly defined with little leeway for interpretation or student-led learning. This can be either constricting or beneficial, with some children finding it fruitful because there are clear requirements to achieve while others might feel overly pressured or restricted in the scope of their learning.

In contrast, MYP’s assessment rubrics are more vague. Content and assessments are largely dependent on a teacher’s interpretation. MYP also focuses strongly on inquiry-based learning. Students have greater control of their own education through personal projects and investigations in which they decide their own research questions. MYP students should cultivate the ability to ask in-depth, thoughtful questions on their topics, because a student’s quality of education is somewhat dependent on their skills as an inquirer. For these reasons, the quality of education in MYP often varies between schools, whereas IGCSE is more consistent. As an older program, IGCSE is also more widely recognised and respected, though MYP is gaining recognition for its links to IB.

MYP’s special features

MYP also features a Personal Project as part of its requirements. Students must decide on a learning outcome or goal and create a certain product, like a website, musical instrument, or short animation, to name a few, to achieve that outcome. This project aims to allow students to showcase skills they have learned and developed in the program, while pursuing an area of personal interest outside of subject classes. They will also have to give a presentation on the final product and document their process of creation the whole way through. There is no IGCSE equivalent.

All students are encouraged to engage in extracurricular activities throughout secondary school, no matter which program they are studying. They can enrich students’ lives and are also great to put on a personal statement for university applications. Extracurricular activities encompassing Creativity, Action, and community Service (CAS) are a requirement in MYP. This is to prepare students for fulfilling similar CAS hours in IB, and encourage young learners to think of themselves as community members and global citizens. IGCSE puts less emphasis on extracurricular activities, but students who are hoping to go into IB or university should get into the habit of participating anyway.

Whether IGCSE or MYP, CANA Elite provides the resources required for students to meet their potential and succeed. If you would like to seek more advice regarding the best option for your child, or would like to book a class with our plethora of expertly trained MYP and IGCSE tutors, feel free to contact us here.