Skellefteå

Since its launch in 1988 the IGCSE has become the most used international qualification for students up to the age of 16 across the globe. It is understood and valued by employers as well as universities in a wide range of countries including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and beyond.

Students at IES Skellefteå taking the IGCSE are in good company, joining 750,000 students at 5,000 schools in more than 145 countries who are part of this programme. This means it is easier for students following the Cambridge Pathway, and taking the IGCSE, to move between schools in countries throughout the world.

The IGCSE is accessible to those of almost all levels of ability. Questions are often differentiated in terms of levels of difficulty to meet the needs of the most able student as well as those who find academics challenging. Assessment in the IGCSE is exam based and supplemented by coursework. Because most assessment takes place at the end of the course, it allows more time for students whose first language is not English, so they can learn over the course of the programme before demonstrating their learning at the end. 

While the IGCSE is linked closely to the United Kingdom’s GCSE qualification, and is recognised by UK regulators as being at an equivalent level, the IGCSE has been adapted for international students.  The IGCSE is recognised by the UK regulator Ofqual as being at an equivalent level to the GCSE. The IGCSE is designed to be a preparation for further international study, such as the Cambridge Advanced programme for students aged 16-19, which leads students towards university study.

IGCSEs provide a University admissions department with a more rounded picture of the candidate. It is equally highly-regarded as an international qualification by European universities and North American colleges, who also take it into account alongside the relevant advanced programme or equivalent.