International General Certificate of Secondary Education

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The International General Certificate of Secondary Education, or IGCSE, is an international qualification for school students. IGCSE was developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in 1988, and is currently offered as a qualification by CIE and London Examinations (Edexcel International).

The IGCSE is typically taken by 14 to 16-year–olds, and it prepares students for further academic work, including progression to A Level, AS Level study and the IB Diploma Programme. Cambridge IGCSE is recognised by academic institutions and employers around the world. UCAS recognises IGCSE as equivalent to the UK GCSE.

Cambridge IGCSE provides a broad study programme and covers subjects from a variety of areas: Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Creative, Technical and Vocational. With a choice of Core and Extended papers in most subjects, IGCSE is suitable for students of different ability levels and in some subjects, and can be taken with or without coursework, making it suitable for schools with less specialised staff.

The IGCSE allows teaching to be placed in a localised context, making it relevant in different regions. It is intended to be suitable for students whose first language may not be English and this is acknowledged throughout the examination progress.

In 2004-05, Cambridge IGCSE papers in more than 60 subjects were taken by students in over 120 countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom.