The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education popularly known as IGCSE is the most popular program of the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) (previously CIE) Curriculum. Cambridge IGCSE is for students aged 14 to 16 years. The IGCSE is recognised among leading universities across the world. CAIE has program for students aged between 3 to 19. Find out more about all CAIE Programmes Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Secondary 1, IGCSE and Cambridge Advanced AS & A level. Read our other article to know about Approved CAIE Schools in India, List for Cambridge Primary Schools in India, Cambridge Secondary 1 Schools in India, Cambridge IGCSE Schools in India and AS & A level schools in India. Continue to read this article to know more about Diploma Programme (IBDP).
IGCSE – International General Certificate of Secondary Education
The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a two-year curriculum programme leading to a Certificate which is internationally recognized. IGCSE is equivalent in standard to the British GCSE and International GCE ‘O’ LEVEL Examinations. Cambridge IGCSE is taken in 145 countries.
More than 70 subjects are available (including more than 30 languages) and students can take them in any combination. The IGCSE syllabuses are international in outlook, but retain a local relevance.
IGCSE subjects are divided in 5 subject groups
| Group | Subjects |
| Group 1 Languages: English Language and Literature | English – First Language English – Second Language English (as an Additional Language) English as a Second Language English – Literature World Literature |
| Group 1 Languages: Languages | First language Arabic Bahasa Indonesia Chinese Czech Dutch French German Japanese Korean Malay Portuguese Russian Spanish Thai Turkish Second language Afrikaans Chinese English (Core) Hindi IsiZulu Kazakh Urdu Foreign language Arabic Dutch French German Greek IsiZulu Indonesian Italian Japanese Malay Mandarin Chinese Portuguese Spanish Spanish – Literature |
| Group 2 Humanities and Social Sciences | Economics Geography Global Perspectives History History – American Islamiyat Latin Pakistan Studies Religious Studies Sanskrit Sociology |
| Group 3 Sciences | Agriculture Biology Chemistry Environmental Management Marine Science Physical Education Physical Science Physics Science – Combined Science – Co-ordinated Science – Co-ordinated (Double award) |
| Group 4 Mathematics | Mathematics Mathematics – Additional Mathematics – International |
| Group 5 Creative and Professional | Accounting Art & Design Business Studies Computer Science Design & Technology Drama Enterprise Food & Nutrition Information & Communication Technology Music Physical Education Travel & Tourism |
Top 10 Cambridge IGCSE Subjects
Refer to the list below for the top ten Cambridge IGCSE subjects worldwide
- Mathematics (Without Coursework)
- English as a Second Language
- First Language English
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Business Studies
- French / Hindi
- Economics
- Information and Communication Technology
Know about CIE CAIE Cambridge IGCSE Past Papers, Syllabus, Learner Guides
IGCSE Subject Selection
Students enrolled in the IGCSE curriculum have to take
- Two languages, and
- one subject from each of the other subject groups: Humanities and Social sciences, Sciences, Mathematics and Business, Creative, Technical & Vocational.
- The 7th subject may belong to any group from 2 to 5
Environmental Management can count as either a Group 2 or a Group 3 subject, and Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) counts as two subjects.
IGCSE Assessment
Cambridge IGCSE examination sessions occur twice a year, in June and November. Results of IGCSE examination are declared in August and January.
IGCSE Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, A* to G, which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade.
Cambridge IGCSE ICE – International Certificate of Education
Cambridge IGCSE Examination is taken as a qualification towards International Certificate of Education (ICE).
The ICE is awarded to the candidate who passes in at least seven IGCSE subjects including two from Group 1 (Languages) and one from each of Groups 2 (Humanities and social Sciences) to 5 (Creative & vocational). The seventh subject may be chosen from any of the syllabus Groups.
The candidates who qualify for the ICE award are given any one of the three categories
| Distinction | Grade A (a) or above in five subjects and Grade C (c) or above in two subjects. |
| Merit | Grade C (c) or above in five subjects and Grade F (f) or above in two subjects. |
| Pass | Grade G (g) or above in seven subjects. The requirements for the ICE must normally be satisfied at one and the same examination. |
