Cambridge IGCSE is an alternative to GCSE which is recognised by universities and higher education institutions both in the UK and in other parts of the world. It is taken in 135 countries and there are over 450,000 student entries a year.

The popularity of the IGCSE is growing; UK entries for Cambridge IGCSE are up 95% on June 2010. Over 500 UK schools now offer Cambridge IGCSE, including 200 state schools and 300 from the independent sector.

Key facts for language teachers

• University of Cambridge International Examinations is currently the only UK exam board to have Ofqual-accredited and funded IGCSE language syllabuses
• Cambridge IGCSEs in French, German, Greek, Hindi and Spanish count towards the English Baccalaureate and are included in the Government’s school performance tables
• Cambridge IGCSE is available in 30 language syllabuses
• English as a Second Language, French, German, Greek, Hindi and Spanish are Ofqual-accredited and funded for teaching in UK state schools
• Mandarin Chinese has been submitted to Ofqual for accreditation

Features of Cambridge IGCSE language syllabuses

• Designed to be taught holistically with exams at the end of two years.  This linear approach means that there is no controlled assessment as with a standard GCSE.  Teachers should consider whether their learners would benefit more from this linear approach, ie have more teaching time followed by an external final exam or whether they would perform better in a controlled assessment via a normal GCSE route.
• Cambridge IGCSE language syllabuses develop learners’ skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing
• All Cambridge IGCSE language syllabuses include a compulsory oral examination at the end of the course which is internally assessed and externally moderated by Cambridge. And the final written exam offers good preparation for post-16 language study

Grading standards

• Cambridge IGCSE is recognised as equivalent grade-for-grade with UK GCSE
• University of Cambridge International Examinations carries out comparability studies with OCR GCSE to check that the standard is equivalent. They use many of the same examiners as OCR. Indicators used in awarding include forecast grades and previous performance, including at GCSE
• Cambridge IGCSE assessments are criterion-referenced, not norm-referenced. Learners are measured against a standard, not against each other so there is no risk of the international student cohort disadvantaging language learners in the UK
• Teachers who are new to teaching Cambridge IGCSE want to know more about the standard required. Component level grade boundaries (up to grade A) are available on the Cambridge Teacher Support website which is free to access for all Cambridge Teachers. Syllabus level boundaries are available on request from University of Cambridge International Examinations – including grade A*, which is only awarded at syllabus level
• New Example Candidate Responses standards booklets which show the standard required to obtain a particular grade will be published on the Cambridge Teacher Support website in late 2011, and will also be available on request

Comprehensive support for schools

• Help is available from University of Cambridge International Examinations to support UK schools make an easy transition from GCSE to Cambridge IGCSE, including guidance on the registration process and teacher support services and resources such as curriculum mapping, exam materials, and INSET
• INSET courses for Cambridge IGCSE language syllabuses will take place in September and October 2011. They are aimed at teachers who have recently started teaching Cambridge IGCSE, or are considering teaching it. Training will be given on marking to help teachers understand the standards required of students. To register, please go to: www.cie.org.uk/igcseinset
• Over 9000 schools worldwide are registered with Cambridge.  Cambridge hosts discussion forums on their free Teacher Support website so that teachers can connect with their peers, Cambridge subject specialists, and examiners. Teachers can also share resources such as lesson plans, schemes of work, teaching notes, activities and tests

Find out more

To learn more about Cambridge IGCSE contact University of Cambridge International Examinations: email international@cie.org.uk call 01223 553 554 or visit their website http://www.cie.org.uk/uk