WHAT IS THE IGCSE PROGRAM? BENEFITS OF STUDYING IGCSE

IGCSE program is currently the international school program chosen by many international – bilingual schools to teach students in grades 9 – 10 in order to provide a foundation of knowledge and skills needed to progress to higher education programs higher level such as A-level or IB.

See also: What are international programs?

1. What is IGCSE?

IGCSE – stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education – is the world’s most popular international secondary education program, lasting 2 years for students aged 14-16. IGCSE is the international version of GCSE. These two programs are similar, but if GCSE is only applied in the UK, IGCSE is taught in many countries around the world.

There are a total of more than 70 IGCSE subjects divided into the following groups:

• • Compulsory subject groups:
    • English Language and Literature 
    • Mathematics
    • Sciences

• • Elective subject groups:
    • Languages
    • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Creative and Professional 

The number of subjects is large, but each school will have different subject offerings depending on specialists at the school. Students in IGCSE program will choose from 5 to a maximum of 14 subjects, normally the number of subjects that each student chooses is 6.

1.1. What is an IGCSE certificate?

After completing 2 years of study and taking the final exam, students will be awarded an IGCSE certificate for each individual subject that they successfully pass. Except for the Co-ordinated Sciences subject, which counts 2 certificates, the remaining subjects will be awarded 1 certificate when students finish the program.

These IGCSE certificates are a necessary condition for students to progress to higher education programs. For example, the A-level program has an entry requirement that students need at least 5 IGCSE certificates with a minimum academic score of C.

1.2. What is an IGCSE degree?

IGCSE degree, or Cambridge ICE degree, is a very popular certification in the US and South America. Unlike IGCSE certificates for individual subjects, to receive an ICE degree, students need to complete the curriculum and sit for a minimum of 7 subjects. The division of subjects at ICE is also different from the IGCSE subjects taught at school, when it is divided into 5 groups instead of 6 groups:

• • Group 1: Languages
  • Group 2: Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Group 3: Sciences
  • Group 4: Mathematics
  • Group 5: Creative, Technical and Vocational

Out of 7 selected subjects, 2 subjects belong to group 1, and 1 subject each group from the remaining groups. The method of choosing this subject is quite similar to the IB Diploma. Another similarity between an IB and an ICE degree is that there are subjects that can fall into both groups. If the IB program has ESS subject that can both be in the Personal and Social group and also in the Science group, then IGCSE has 2 subjects: Environmental Management (group 2 and group 3) with Global Perspectives (group 2 and group 5) .

ICE degree allows schools to offer a more diverse curriculum, while encouraging students to learn evenly and balanced across multiple areas.

1.3. IGCSE score scale

Each subject in IGCSE program has a scale from A* to G, in addition, there is a U grade as unclassified. However, that is just the general score spectrum, and the specific scale has differences between difficulty levels.

IGCSE grading scale is divided into 2 levels. In most subjects, students will be able to choose between two levels in the curriculum, Core and Extended. Core is a basic knowledge program about the subject, while Extended includes Core program content and advanced sections. Extended program is designed for students with better academic ability and difficulty comparable to high school international programs.

For the Core level, the scale is only from C-G, which means the maximum score a student can get is C. The Extended level will have A* – E. So, for students who want to aim for a high score of IGCSE, it is mandatory to choose Extended, although A* is a score that very few students get. Usually a C is necessary for a student to be ready for further study such as A-levels and IB.

See also: Typical subjects in Cambridge IGCSE program

2. Benefits of studying Cambridge IGCSE

2.1. Foundation for pre-university programs

IGCSE is a program designed to prepare students for international high school or pre-university programs. Students who complete IGCSE program will find it easier to understand A-level or IB concepts than other standard high school programs.

Another advantage of IGCSE is that it is organized in the form of exams to assess students’ abilities. Therefore, they will have exam experience and avoid being surprised when taking the exam at the next level. Meanwhile, the similar program IGCSE is MYP does not hold the exam. Therefore, students studying from MYP to IB can only experience the feeling of taking the final exam, from which it will take more time to get used to and to prepare mentally.

2.2. Comprehensive development

The fact that IGCSE has elective subjects and does not have to study too many subjects will meet the unique learning needs of each student, but not so that students learn differently. Actually, it helps them develop holistically in terms of knowledge and skills. In addition to English ability and subject knowledge, students also learn how to apply that knowledge to real-life situations flexibly, stimulating the development of thinking and a deeper awareness of the world around them.

2.3. Chances of success when entering society

Students in the IGCSE program are equipped with presentation, problem-solving, research and teamwork skills. These are core skills that not only help them do well in high school and college, but also have great effects even after they graduate and enter society later.

With rigorous and fair assessment, IGCSE also ensures a very high standard of output. The reality is that IGCSE students with good results master both knowledge and skills, thereby having a higher chance of success than other students.

3. Why are more and more parents sending their children to IGCSE?

IGCSE is increasingly chosen by students and parents because it not only meets international standards of being taught in English, but also popular and convenient when studying and taking exams.

By choosing English as a compulsory subject as well as all subjects being taught entirely in English, students can both improve their specialized English and academic vocabulary, and can significantly improve their academic performance with the ability to communicate. They also become more proficient in the use of language through skills in synthesizing, organizing main ideas, and presenting effectively.

IGCSE is also a popular program and meets the diverse learning needs of the majority of students. Besides being able to choose subjects, students can also choose between Core and Extended levels in most subjects. Therefore, students can choose the program that best suits their level and interests.

IGCSE also stands out from other high school programs when it allows candidates to take the test freely. IGCSE scores are calculated based on the final exam, not the component or midterm exam, this means that students can study at home or practice at any center. After that, students can register as private candidates at educational institutions authorized by CAIE, which in Vietnam are British Council, RISS and ABCIS.

See also: IGCSE course

4. Conditions for studying the international program Cambridge IGCSE in Vietnam

As an international standard high school program, students at the beginning of IGCSE may encounter difficulties with a large number of specialized terms and vocabulary. The rich variety of knowledge is also a common obstacle for them. Therefore, to be able to attend IGCSE, students need to meet the following conditions:

• • Completed grades 8-9 with a minimum academic grade point average of C (the letter scale of schools according to the British education system).
  • Minimum English level of IELTS 4.5.

5. International schools that teach the IGCSE program

Because of its popularity and potential for further study, IGCSE is a sought-after program by many international, bilingual and integrated schools. The number of schools that integrate IGCSE into their curriculum is also higher than international programs such as IB, A-level, and AP. Here is a list of schools that offer IGCSE in Vietnam:

5.1. In Ho Chi Minh City

• • ABC International School (ABCIS)
  • British Vietnamese International School Ho Chi Minh City (BVISHCMC)
  • British International School Ho Chi Minh City (BISHCMC)
  • Renaissance International School Saigon (RISS)
  • Australian International School (AIS)
  • Singapore International School Ho Chi Minh City (SISHCMC)
  • Horizon International Bilingual School Ho Chi Minh City (HIBSHCMC)
  • Vietnam Australia International School Ho Chi Minh City (VASHCMC)
  • Vietnamese American School System (VASS)
  • Vinschool HCMC

5.2. In Hanoi

• • The International School @ ParkCity Hanoi (ISPH)
  • British Vietnamese International School Hanoi (BVISHN)
  • British International School Hanoi (BISHN)
  • Singapore International School Hanoi (SISHN)
  • Horizon International Bilingual School Hanoi (HIBSHN)
  • Vietnam Australia International School Hanoi (VASHN)
  • International School of Vietnam (ISV)
  • Alfred Nobel School (ANS)
  • Newton Grammar School (NGS)
  • Hanoi Academy International Bilingual School (Hanoi Academy)
  • Vinschool Hanoi
  • TH School
  • Greenfield School

Intertu Education is currently enrolling IGCSE program courses (IGCSE Math, IGCSE Physics, IGCSE Chemistry, IGCSE Biology, IGCSE Combined Science, IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences, IGCSE Economics, IGCSE Business Studies, IGCSE English…). If you have any questions about IGCSE exam preparation, please contact us directly, via email or hotline for free advice.