"IGCSE" is used for two different families of qualifications: Cambridge IGCSE, from Cambridge International, and the International GCSE, from Pearson Edexcel. Singapore international schools use one or the other, and some use both for different subjects.
The subject content often overlaps, but the papers, grades, and tiers differ in ways that change how a student should prepare. This guide explains the differences and how to find out which board your child is taking.
The main differences
The table summarises the differences that matter most for preparation. Details vary by subject, so the current syllabus for each subject remains the final reference.
| Cambridge IGCSE | Pearson Edexcel International GCSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | A* to G (some 9 to 1 versions exist) | 9 to 1 |
| Tiers | Core and Extended in many subjects | Foundation and Higher in some subjects, single tier in others |
| Science papers | Multiple choice, theory, and a practical paper | Two written papers |
| Practical skills | Practical test or Alternative to Practical paper | Assessed within the written papers |
| Main exam sessions | May/June and October/November | May/June, with January for some subjects |
| Syllabus codes | Four digits, e.g. 0580, 0620 | Letters and digits, e.g. 4MA1, 4CH1 |
Grades: A* to G or 9 to 1
Most Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses are graded A* to G, while Edexcel International GCSEs are graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest. A 9 is not simply an A*: it is awarded to a smaller group of top candidates, and the boundary between grades 7 and 6 is broadly comparable to A and B.
When comparing results, universities and sixth-form or IB admissions teams understand both scales. What matters more is whether the student meets the grade a particular programme asks for.
Tiers: Core, Extended, Foundation, and Higher
Cambridge offers Core and Extended routes in many subjects. Extended includes harder content and gives access to the top grades, while Core caps the grade at C. Edexcel uses Foundation and Higher tiers in subjects such as Mathematics, with Foundation capped at grade 5, but its science subjects are single tier.
The tier matters because it limits the best possible result. Schools usually confirm entries after mock exams in the final year.
How practical skills are assessed
In Cambridge sciences, practical skills form 20% of the grade through either a laboratory practical test (Paper 5) or a written Alternative to Practical paper (Paper 6). Many international schools in Singapore enter students for Paper 6.
Edexcel assesses practical skills through questions within its written papers, often based on required practicals. Either way, practical knowledge is examined, but the format and the way students should practise differ.
Is one board harder than the other?
Neither is simply harder. Students sometimes find one board's style suits them better: Cambridge's separate practical paper and non-calculator mathematics paper can feel more demanding for some, while Edexcel's longer combined papers suit others.
The more useful question is whether a student is preparing with the right materials. Practising with the wrong board's past papers wastes time and can teach the wrong format.
How to find out which board your child is taking
Check before booking any tuition, because it determines the past papers, mark schemes, and tier decisions that matter.
- Look for a syllabus code on school reports, the exam entry, or the subject handbook: four digits for Cambridge, a code like 4MA1 for Edexcel.
- Ask the subject teacher which board, syllabus code, and tier the student is entered for.
- Check the exam timetable the school sends, which lists the board and paper codes.
Related pages
Need a tutor who knows your child's board?
Share the board, syllabus code, tier, and recent marks. We will match a tutor who teaches that exact syllabus.
Request an IGCSE tutor