Both GCSEs and IGCSEs are qualifications offered by British examination boards. Parents often ask 'what's the difference?'

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education while IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. The similarity of name indicates just how similar these two qualifications are in practice. GCSEs are qualifications that are mainly examined within the UK whilst IGCSEs are mainly examined outside the UK. Some independent schools in the UK are now offering IGCSEs and there are a small but growing number of examination centres within the UK able to offer exam facilities for IGCSE students.

The biggest difference between GCSEs and IGCSEs has traditionally been that IGCSE exams do not involve coursework or controlled assigmments (except ICT) whilst most GCSE examinations do require controlled assignments which it is difficult to undertake as a private candidate not attending a school or college. For this reason alone, IGCSEs have become popular with UK-based home educators.

For overseas home educators IGCSEs are popular because they often mean that students can sit exams without the need to return to the UK.

IGCSEs are regarded as being comparable in standard to GCSEs by employers and universities. If anything, there is a view amongst some colleges and universities that IGCSEs may be a grade harder than GCSEs.

NSUK's advise to parents considering GCSEs and IGCSEs is to start with the question of exam centres. Can you locate an exam centre that is willing to provide exam facilities for your son or daughter? If you are overseas this is will be an Edexcel or CiE IGCSE centre. In the UK this may be an IGCSE exam centre or it may well be a local school or college offering AQA exam facilities. In reality, it is most likely the availability of exam centres that will largely determine your choice of GCSE or IGCSE.

Do remember, however, that NorthStarUK now offers exam centre facilities for those wishing to sit CiE exams. Visit our dedicated exam centre web site to find out more.

For more information about IGCSEs why not visit the British Council's special IGCSE site - Flying colours, by clicking HERE.

Alternatively why not download CiE's guide to IGCSEs by clicking here. If you would like to know more about the prestigious University of Cambridge International Examinations, the world's largest provider of international qualifications, you can download a brochure here.