IGCSE & GCSE

The primary qualifications for students at school-leaving age in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education). Those qualifications have an international version as well for students outside UK; these are IGCSEs (International General Certificates of Secondary Education). They are generally considered as the step before Advanced Levels, and are indeed a wonderful preparation before either A Levels or IB Diploma.

There are many exam boards offering GCSE Mathematics, and I have tutored students enrolled in each one of them, either in the UK or internationally:

• AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance – GCSE)
• CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment – GCSE)
• OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations – GCSE)
• WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee – GCSE)
• Pearson Edexcel (GCSE and IGCSE)
• Cambridge Assessment (IGCSE)
• Oxford AQA (IGCSE)

GCSE/IGCSE mathematics is an important subject for all students because it promotes the advancement of mathematical skills as a valuable life tool, and a solid foundation for further learning. Their curricula seek to instill trust in students by assisting them in developing knowledge and fluency in mathematical principles, processes, and skills, as well as a sense of quantities, patterns, and relationships.

I believe that it is extremely useful for a student to be prepared in mathematics at least one year before he/she enrolls in an A Level or IB Diploma program. GCSE/IGCSE offers pupils an opportunity for them to be actively engaged with advanced mathematics at a substantial level, and makes their transition to the next higher qualification much smoother. The majority of my students who achieve excellent results at A Level or IB mathematics have chosen GCSE/IGCSE mathematics at the previous stage.