The IGCSE is a great exam and is very popular worldwide due to its flexibility, allowing students the freedom of study. The aim of this article is to explain why I would recommend IGCSE as an alternative to students who are already studying other curriculums. I will discuss step by step benefits of IGCSE over other boards.
Benefits of IGCSE: is IGCSE better than other exam boards?
Most of the education boards focus on memorizing everything before getting tested instead of understanding the concepts. IGCSE, on the other hand, takes a student-centered approach and embraces the 21st-century skills of problem-solving and critical thinking. It is truly a fantastic curriculum that offers students more freedom and prepares them better for university life.
1) The Curriculum: student-centered vs Teacher Centred
Most of the curriculum is heavily teacher-centered with a narrow focus on passing exams. Learning takes place through heavy memorization and learning of concepts is done by rote without much understanding as to why those concepts are used in the real world. Students who fail to grasp it at once usually find themselves resitting the year until they get it because teachers are specifically trained to teach a test and not necessarily actual concepts.
In contrast, IGCSE employs a student-centered approach where learning through inquiry is encouraged over rote memorization. Students are encouraged to learn concepts and not merely memorize facts. Instead of spoon-feeding information, teachers allow students to explore the topic in deeper detail and explain why we use certain tools and techniques.
Most importantly, students are expected to answer questions using critical thinking.
2) The Curriculum: Rigour vs Relaxation
IGCSE is maybe a bit easier, but the reason why IGCSE students fare better in university caters to a different skill set.
Elementary mastery of skills is important but universities also look for critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. IGCSE requires students to think for themselves and come up with the right answer from their own thoughts. This is a more useful skill set that can be used in university and beyond because it allows students to learn concepts instead of merely learning facts and figures and then spitting them out on paper (which only helps them pass exams).
3) The Value of an IGCSE Grade: Subjective Grading vs Objective Grading
IGCSE grades (A* and A) only make up 16% of the total and marks are awarded based on a curve that takes into account:
- The difficulty of the paper compared to other papers on the same subject throughout the world
- The number of students who sat the exam compared to the total number of grade A*s given out.
Thus, it is possible for a student to score 99% on an IGCSE paper and still not get an A*. What this means is that only the top 16% of all students will obtain A* grades. This is a more accurate reflection of the individual's performance, as it prevents students from obtaining good grades by rote memorization alone (something that is common at international)
4) The Value of IGCSE Grade Vs Other Grading Systems
IGCSE grades are often compared to IB grades. They are similar, but not the same thing. Both exams have their pros and cons.
The biggest difference is that IGCSE uses percentage markings for its grading system, whereas IB uses points. All points are converted to the same percentage of the total marks, unlike IGCSE where an A* is worth more than an A. One minor problem that some IB students complain about is that the grading system also uses points, meaning that they are not able to gauge their performance properly since there are too many points to count.
5) The Value of IGCSE Grade Vs Other Exams
The biggest advantage IGCSE has is its portability. Since there are multiple-choice questions, it is easily converted to numerical grades and this makes it easier for universities in different countries (that use different grading systems) to compare students' performance.
Universities can compare students' performance more easily because IGCSE exams are multi-national, with a total of 20 countries that participate in these exams. In contrast, marks awarded in other exams will be different from those by international schools, making it harder for universities to compare grades.
6) The IGCSE Curriculum is Relevant to University Education
Some people argue that subjects found in O-level are sufficient enough for university education. However, this is not the case. Many universities require students to take a certain number of modules in order to get a degree and not all of these modules can be found in O-level or IB syllabus.
Final Thoughts
There are many more benefits of taking IGCSE, but these are the main factors that students should consider before making a decision on which curriculum to choose . While some people think that taking IB or A-level is better because the syllabus matches the university requirements, it does not mean that there are certain things required by universities cannot be learned through IGCSE. Students just need to take the time to research more about their options before making a final decision.
FAQ
Can IGCSE students appear for NEET?
Yes. To appear for NEET or any government exam, students must complete their 12th class. You will have to apply for a neet registration form and then appear for the exam. If you are able to pass that exam, then you will be eligible to take admission in various medical/dental colleges of your preference.
Can IGCSE students appear for JEE?
Yes. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination can sit for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and perform as well as those students who have completed 10+2 level.
The Joint Entrance Examination, commonly known as JEE or JEE Advanced is the examination that students across India take to get into engineering colleges. This is an all-India entrance test for admission to different undergraduate engineering courses. This examination is held at various centres throughout India, by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Some IGCSE schools in India follow a curriculum that is quite similar to that of Indian schools.
It has been observed that students who have scored well in IGCSE are able to score well in JEE, the entrance examination for admission in various engineering colleges in India.
Can IGCSE students apply for Malaysia Public University?
Yes. IGCSE/GCSE students apply for Malaysia Public University. Public universities in Malaysia ensure that the admission of students are strictly according to meritocracy, this means that they always consider their academic abilities before admitting any student. This is because these institutions believe in producing competent graduates at early stages of education. However, there are exceptions to this rule like when students have special talents in particular areas. Those with exceptional talent in sports, fine arts and other fields where a degree is not required can be admitted to a university.
The Malaysian public universities welcome students from all over the world, and there is no restriction on applying for admission based on citizenship or qualifications. The public universities will not ask you to sit for an entrance examination as long as your qualification is recognized by UPU Malaysia by checking with their registrar.
However, if you are applying to study in a public university in Malaysia under the Malaysian government scholarship, you must meet certain criteria. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you have to have been awarded an A-level certificate from a recognized institution [from UPU Malaysia list of recognized institutions] OR International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge Pre-U Certificate.
The government has agreed to finance the scholarship offered only for the IBDP/Pre-U and A-level or its equivalent.
It is also possible for an applicant to apply at one of the public universities while not getting any scholarship. Students who are not awarded scholarship will be required to pay full tuition fees, which vary from university to university.
The tuition fee ranges from RM 300 to 600 per year. A student would have to go through the same admission process as other international students who are not getting any scholarship.
Of course, there are also private universities that will offer you with a partial or full scholarship depending on your qualification and academic performance.
Can IGCSE students go to Harvard?
Yes. So at last we can say that if you want to study in those Harvard, you should work hard at your school