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Most parents who intend to arrange for their children to study in an international curriculum will assess and choose between the IGCSE and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme - both of which offer English language and literature courses.

Although the two English language and literature courses seem similar, they differ significantly. Let's start by examining the different features of the two courses.

What are the characteristics of the IGCSE English language and literature courses?

The IGCSE, originating from the United Kingdom, has been widely recognized internationally, and examination boards worldwide offer IGCSE English language and literature courses, including Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Although different examination boards provide slightly different materials to schools, students must take public exams covering the same content as students worldwide upon completing the courses.

In the IGCSE English language course, students must understand the meanings behind each passage and article.

Through extensive reading, they learn the vocabulary, structures, and techniques that different authors use for various purposes. In addition, students need to engage in creative writing, learning how to use words to unleash their imagination, and trying various narrative techniques to engage readers.

On the other hand, students also need to explore different genres beyond creative writing.

For example, some examination boards may require students to write for specific purposes. After reading one or two designated passages, students must write an article, speech, letter, or essay in response.

Students studying the IGCSE English literature course must explore various themes, forms, and texts from other countries, including novels, poetry, and plays.

They enrich their literary knowledge and expand their English vocabulary by analyzing and deconstructing the meanings of the language authors use to better understand texts' underlying meanings.

Students studying the IGCSE English literature course need to analyze not only the texts they have learned in class but also unseen texts, which are texts they have yet to encounter in class. They thus have to apply and demonstrate their ability to analyze literary texts flexibly.

After the examination boards confirm the results of the public exams, students are awarded a certificate valid for life and recognized by most educational institutions worldwide, giving them an advantage in their future studies and career paths.

What are the unique features of the IB English language and literature courses?

The International Baccalaureate program aims to cultivate students' ability to explore knowledge independently.

Therefore, the design of the MYP English language and literature courses focuses on helping students to establish a solid foundation in language, develop sensitivity to the English language, explore various literary movements, and prepare for more in-depth literary analysis in the future.

Since the MYP curriculum is designed to be cohesive with students' growth, the difficulty of the MYP English language and literature courses increases as students progress through different grade levels.

MYP English language and literature students will face the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from 16 to 19 years old. Therefore, students should equip themselves with various analytical and writing skills as well as enhance their language and literature proficiency during the five years of study before age 16.

Schools offering the MYP English language and literature courses design their curriculum content based on the language concepts and theories provided by the International Baccalaureate organization.

They offer reading lists for students to explore different perspectives, become proficient in language application, and develop their ideas to understand the intentions and purposes behind authors' writings.

Through this process, students can establish their writing style, authoring critical articles with a personal touch.

Unlike the IGCSE, the MYP curriculum design does not include compulsory public exams.

However, schools can design their assessments and tests based on the teaching framework provided by the International Baccalaureate Organization for internal evaluation.

Some schools may also use online assessments (eAssessment) designed by the International Baccalaureate Organization as the final year's assessment content, allowing students to better understand their proficiency before entering the IBDP.

In our next column, we will compare the two courses to see which is the best fit for individual students.