Study IGCSEs Online

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. GCSEs are the exams which students following the British Curriculum take between the ages of 14 and 16. Students start preparing for GCSEs in Year 10 and usually take their exams at the end of Year 11.

GCSEs are usually a student’s first encounter with gaining a formal qualification, and so they prepare students for the pressures that come with higher education. GCSEs are an opportunity for students to expand their academic knowledge and develop their study skills too. They can explore new subjects and discover which they have a passion for. Colleges, Sixth Forms and universities look to GCSEs to understand a student’s knowledge base, but also as an indication of a student’s personal attributes and study skills.

IGCSEs, which is what we offer at King’s InterHigh, are International GCSEs. Both GCSEs and IGCSEs are equally highly valued by universities and employers around the world. Most students take approximately 9 GCSE subjects and there may be a mixture of coursework and exams, depending on the individual subject. Take a look at the IGCSEs we offer, by clicking here.

International GCSEs, also known as IGCSEs, like British GCSEs, are internationally respected two-year courses available in a wide array of subjects, setting a solid foundation for A Levels or the IB Diploma Programme.

The key differences between the two are that IGCSEs can be studied anywhere in the world, and some IGCSE subjects include more globalised content. IGCSE exams are also available in three sessions per year (May to June, November, or January) to accommodate all students. All IGCSEs at King’s InterHigh are assessed entirely through examinations, and some subjects may be graded using the traditional ‘A* to G’ system (rather than the new ‘9 to 1’ scale).

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In the British education system, GCSEs are usually completed in Key Stage 4, when students are aged between 14 and 16 years old. Key Stage 4 is the term given to the two years of education for students in Year 10 and Year 11. International GCSE’s (IGCSEs) are the same as GCSEs, they are just studied outside of the UK.

IGCSEs are assessed through coursework and exams and are taken by the majority of Key Stage 4 students following the British Curriculum. Students will usually study for their IGCSEs over two years, through Year 10 and most of Year 11, with most exams taking place towards the end of Year 11.

IGCSEs are a very important stage in student’s academic life, and for many, it may be the first time taking external examinations to earn a qualification. IGCSEs prompt students to explore different study methods, work alongside their peers and learn to cope with the pressures that come with exams. This means that when they come to progress to A Levels, students have not just a broad academic understanding, but have developed their personal skills to be able to cope with the next step up.

King’s InterHigh delivers the Key Stage 4 British curriculum of IGCSEs to students around the world with highly qualified teachers. Find out more about who online IGCSEs are for, by clicking here.

You can study fulltime for your IGCSEs online with a virtual school. Online IGCSE courses are becoming more popular, with online classrooms offering all the benefits of a traditional school, plus added flexibility. You have the benefit of being able to learn from anywhere in the world and access lesson recordings at any time too.

Quality, online IGCSE courses are designed to replicate traditional UK schooling, whilst making use of the most innovative technologies. They bring studies to life whilst engaging with students in a virtual setting. Throughout the pandemic, the world experienced a shift in the way that we approached our work and school days, but the positive outcome is that many are exploring the benefits that online schooling can bring. Here at King’s InterHigh, we have been teaching the British Curriculum online for over 16 years. Students study with us for their International GCSEs from all over the world, in a way that is flexible to their lifestyle.

If you are exploring the possibility of studying for your IGCSEs outside of physical schooling , the support of an online school can give you much more structure than learning the syllabus on your own. You can be confident that every topic of the official IGCSE subject curriculum is covered, and you have the support of expert, UK qualified teachers every step of the way. Studying online also means you can learn in smaller class groups, so you get all the support you deserve, in a distraction-free learning environment.

If you are looking to move your study from a physical school to online education, click here to read our tips for transitioning to doing your GCSEs online.

Online learning can be a wonderful way to study for your IGCSEs outside of a physical international school. Online schooling revolves around the individual. Along with the flexibility to study anywhere at any time, virtual schools, such as King’s InterHigh, offer students a range of subject options, plus the ability to learn from specialist, qualified teachers. Plus, with the flexibility of recorded lessons which are available 24/7, so you can revisit or catch up on lessons whenever you need.

Studying for your IGCSEs online could also mean you can get started with your IGCSEs earlier than the British schooling system usually allows. King’s InterHigh alumnus, Kieran Bjegstrom, studied his GCSEs at age 13 and went on to study Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University by the age of 15.

To see if online IGCSEs could work for you, click here.

If you are already studying for your IGCSEs, at home or at a local international school, and are looking for extra support outside of school, King’s InterHigh’s 3-subject package allows students to enrol and select extra IGCSEs. These additional IGCSEs can be taken alongside in-school learning, or to support home educators studying their IGCSEs from home. For more information on the support we offer for homeschooling online, click here.

Usually there are no entry requirements to study your IGCSEs online, just the same as there are no entry requirements to study IGCSEs with a traditional UK school. Some online IGCSE schools may require an entry test, however, at King’s InterHigh we offer an inclusive education at all levels, with no academic entry requirements to join us at IGCSE level (other than a proficient level of English in order to participate in lessons and studies).

The purpose of IGCSEs is to provide students with internationally recognised qualifications which allow higher education institutions, like colleges and universities, as well as future employers, to understand how an individual’s intelligence compares with another’s. To keep IGCSEs fair, the exams must remain open to all abilities, so that every individual has the same opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence.

IGCSEs not only test academic ability, but they also equip students with skills they can use for years to come. IGCSEs teach a responsibility to take ownership of your learning, collaborate with peers on group projects and understand the examinations process. This all helps to prepare students for life after IGCSEs, with a foundation of skills ready to be built upon.

Usually, students take between 7 and 9 IGCSE subjects. This number is recommended so that you can develop a broad academic understanding, whilst not overloading you when it comes to taking your exams. Most schools will request IGCSE Maths and IGCSE English as compulsory subjects, as most Sixth Forms and Colleges have an entry requirement of these subjects at grade 4 or above. In addition to this, most will want you to have at least 5 IGCSEs at grade 4 or above.

UK Universities are now increasingly looking at IGCSE results, as well as A Levels, to decide who they offer places too. Lots of UK Sixth Form and College students apply to universities with similar A Level results, so succeeding at IGCSEs is another way to prove yourself a worthy candidate to UK universities.
Whilst it is tempting to try and study as many subjects as possible at IGCSE, make sure you are not overworking yourself. It is more important to focus on better grades in less subjects, than trying to take on too much and sacrificing your grades.

If you would like advice on choosing your IGCSE options or what subjects are recommended for certain progression pathways, click here to get in touch with our admissions team.

No IGCSE subject is ‘better’ to take than another. Most UK universities and employers will ask for the core subjects of English and Maths, as these develop the vital skills for you to be able to take the next steps in your studies. In these core subjects, you develop your analytical skills, learn to problem solve and think creatively. Alongside these core subjects, you are free to choose a selection of subjects which you feel you will enjoy and that will set you up for your future education and career.

It is important when choosing your subjects to think about what you want to do after studying your IGCSEs, and which subjects will align best with these future plans. Thinking ahead to your future career, or the industry you would love to work in can be a great starting point, and you can plan from there. Try researching your ideal A Levels or degree choices. UK Universities, Colleges and Sixth Forms will usually have on their websites the subjects they would recommend taking for various careers or UK university courses.

For example, if you would love to study Economics at university, you might see that this requires you to have studied Maths, Business and/or Economics at A Level. With this in mind, you want to choose IGCSE subjects which will prepare you for this. Alongside Maths, which is a compulsory IGCSE option at most schools, you may want to take Business Studies at IGCSE too, so that you can start to develop your understanding of the subject and the skills needed to succeed in it as soon as possible.

If you are not set on a future pathway just yet, there is no need to worry. A good starting point is to consider what you really enjoy learning. Often, the subject you enjoy the most will be the one you have the highest grades in, and potentially lead to a career you enjoy too!

Ideally, you should begin revising for your IGCSE exams starting in year 10. Whilst you are learning though, it is helpful to make notes with example questions and answers throughout the year whilst the topic is still fresh in your mind. Then, you can later revisit these when mock or real exams come around. As you begin revising, you will discover what does and doesn’t work for you. Adapting the way in which you revise to match how you learn best will mean you can revise more effectively.

Organisation is very important for IGCSE revision. Making yourself a revision plan with what you plan to revise, and when, will help you to manage your revision time and plan it in around other responsibilities so that you can focus on what is most important at each point in the academic year. It also means you won’t run out of time or forget to cover a crucial topic right before the exam.

Asking a parent or guardian for their help and advice with planning your revision schedule can be really helpful. Plus, speaking to someone else about what you plan to do means you are more likely to stick to your schedule.

Mastering a difficult topic needs patience. Break down each element and practice answering past exam questions until you can answer a typical exam question with ease. The more you practice, the more confident you will feel going into the exam, so you can better handle the stress of exam day.

Practice exam questions, practice writing paragraphs on a topic, practice with book open, practice with book closed – just practice!

Make sure you dedicate plenty of time to the topics and subjects which you feel you need most improvement on. It is tempting to start with the ones you feel confident with, but those you struggle with are the ones that will need the most revision time.

Making a checklist of the topics you find difficult for each subject will give you smaller goals to work towards, rather than entire subjects to tackle, which can feel larger and more daunting.

Studying your IGCSEs online also gives you the ability to revisit particularly challenging topics via the library of online lessons and resources, so you can go back through the content of that topic as many times as you need.

For parents: We would recommend checking in with your child regularly during their IGCSE years, especially when it is nearing exam time. Just a quick 5 minutes to check how their day was, whether they are managing to stay on track with their revision plan and homework, if there is anything you can help with on the topics they are learning at the moment will go a long way. Prompting a conversation is always better than leaving your child to stress on their own. If your child is studying online IGCSEs with King’s InterHigh, you can also use the Parent Portal to check in on their progress and grades too, without needing to overwhelm your child by asking for updates on every subject.

Equally, it is very important not to put too much pressure on your child and their IGCSE performance. Often just having someone to listen to their worries and offer some advice is all they need to grow in confidence and flourish.

Edexcel IGCSEs are graded from 9 – 1, with 9 being the highest grade achievable and 1 being the lowest.

Cambridge International Examinations IGCSEs, however, are graded differently in some regions. Most countries grade using the A* – G system, but in Administrative Zone 3, schools can choose to use the 9 – 1 system for some subjects.

IGCSE grades achieved online carry the same value as GCSEs achieved in physical UK schools. King’s InterHigh IGCSE students can choose to continue studying their A Levels or International Baccalaureate online with us, or at a physical sixth form or college.