What is GCSE in UK for international students?

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (International GCSE) and International Advanced Level (IAL) are the UK equivalent of school-leaving or university entrance examinations and are available in a wide range of subjects.

What is the international equivalent of GCSE?

International recognition

First and foremost, IGCSEs and GCSEs are both highly regarded and well recognised in the UK and numerous countries around the world. And, when it comes to university admissions, IGCSEs are considered equivalent to GCSEs.

What are GCSEs called now in UK?

IGCSE stands for “International General Certificate of Secondary Education”. It is equivalent to the GCSE qualification which is taken by students in Year 10 – 11 in the UK to prepare them for further pre-university level study, such as A-levels.

What is GCSE qualification in UK?

What GCSEs are. GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. They are highly valued by schools, colleges and employers. The qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a subject, together with some investigative work, while some subjects also involve practical work.

Is international GCSE the same as GCSE?

IGCSEs are more globally recognised and have a broader curriculum, while GCSEs are more UK-focused and offer a more in-depth study of subjects. Additionally, some universities in the UK may prefer GCSEs over IGCSEs for certain subjects, while universities worldwide recognise both qualifications for admissions purposes.

What is International GCSE and A level

Do international students need GCSE?

If you're planning to continue your studies to higher education, you may need GCSEs in certain subjects. Most universities and colleges will ask for five GCSE grades A*- C, including English and maths, as well as A levels, International Foundation, or comparable qualifications in case of top tier institutions.

Is international GCSE harder than GCSE?

The differences between IGCSE and GCSE

IGCSEs are international qualifications, and the GCSEs are UK qualifications. IGCSEs are more challenging and cover a wider range of topics than GCSEs. Cambridge IGCSEs are assessed externally and are graded on a different scale.

Is GCSE compulsory in UK?

GCSEs are the main qualifications that young people do in key stage 4 (usually this is in Y10 and Y11 but some schools start in Y9). You will be able to choose some of your GCSE courses but there are some compulsory GCSE subjects that everyone has to take.

Can you get into college without GCSEs UK?

You might be led to believe that having no GCSEs to your name means that you have no hope of further academic success, or that getting into university is virtually impossible. While universities usually require a passing grade in GCSE Maths and English, it's certainly possible to get in with no GCSEs.

How many GCSE do you take?

How many GCSEs do you need to take? You're required to take a minimum of five subjects, but most students choose between nine and ten. The exact number can vary based on your academic ability and school resources.

What happens if you fail GCSE?

GCSE examination resits

Most schools and colleges allow GCSE students to resit failed examinations. You can resit English and Maths exams in November and examinations in other subjects are then taken in the following June. You will need to double check the examination schedule with your school.

How many subjects are there in GCSE UK?

Most students will do nine or ten subjects depending on how your school organises its curriculum. To secure the best grades, it's best not to overload students — more than ten can be counterproductive.

Are international GCSE harder?

For this reason, IGCSEs were often argued to be a more difficult examination since O-Levels were taught at a higher level. The study mentioned previously by the Department of Education suggested that it is harder to achieve a grade A in science subjects under IGCSE.

What age is international GCSE for?

Aimed at learners aged 14 to 16, they provide the skills and knowledge needed to progress to A Levels, International A Levels, onto university and into employment.

How hard is GCSE?

You may be studying as many as ten or twelve different subjects at GCSE, and juggling them all can be challenging. This is where you'll start to develop the time management skills that you'll find essential throughout the rest of your academic career and into the workplace beyond that.

Are GCSE equivalent to A-levels?

A-levels are generally considered to be a higher academic requirement than GCSEs. A-levels are a prerequisite for many university degree programs, while GCSEs are a prerequisite for A-levels.

What is level 7 GCSE equivalent to?

Grade 7 is the equivalent of a grade A. Grade 6 is the equivalent of just above a grade B. Grade 5 is the equivalent of in between grades B and C.

What is a 5 in GCSE equivalent to?

Equivalent GCSE grades

Grade 5 is a 'strong pass' and equivalent to a high C and low B on the old grading system. Grade 4 remains the level that students must achieve without needing to resit English and Maths post-16.

Can you do anything with no GCSEs?

Look for alternative qualifications: There are other qualifications that you can consider, such as vocational courses or apprenticeships. Build your skills and experience: Consider volunteering, internships, or work experience opportunities.

What subjects are needed for GCSE?

Most further education courses, whether at school, sixth form, college, university, will expect you to have GCSEs (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications) in English Language, Maths and Science, so it's likely that your school will make these three subjects compulsory.

How many years is the GCSE?

Pupils usually study for their GCSEs for two years so they start at the beginning of year ten and finish at the end of year 11. This is called the end of Key Stage 4. At the end of year 10 there will be exams set by the school.

What is the hardest subject in GCSE?

Summary. Whilst GCSE subjects vary in difficulty based on individual strengths and interests, some subjects have a reputation for being particularly hard. GCSE Maths, GCSE Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, GCSE English Literature, and History often rank among the hardest GCSE subjects.

What is the easiest GCSE to take?

What is the best GCSE to have?