What is IGCSE? A guide for parents in the UAE
In short
IGCSE is the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, a two-year subject qualification usually taken at 14 to 16, set by Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel or OxfordAQA.
- Cambridge offers over 70 IGCSE subjects, and Pearson Edexcel 37 International GCSE subjects.
- Ofqual, the regulator in England, does not regulate IGCSEs or International GCSEs.
- Cambridge ICE needs seven IGCSE passes from five subject groups, including two languages.
If your child is in Year 9 or 10 at a British-curriculum school in Dubai or Sharjah, IGCSE is the next big step, and it usually arrives with a list of subjects, codes and exam boards. This guide explains what IGCSE is, who sets it, how it differs from the GCSE taken in England, and what it means in the UAE, using the boards' own published information.
What IGCSE stands for
IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. That is how Cambridge prints it on its certificates. Cambridge first examined IGCSE in June 1988, two years after first teaching began, at the same time as the UK introduced the GCSE.
Strictly, "IGCSE" is Cambridge's registered trademark. The other two boards UAE schools use call theirs International GCSE: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and OxfordAQA International GCSE. Parents and schools use "IGCSE" for all three, and so do we.
Who sets IGCSE exams
Three exam boards set most of the IGCSEs taken in the UAE:
- Cambridge International, part of the University of Cambridge, which offers over 70 IGCSE subjects, including 30 languages, in any combination.
- Pearson Edexcel, which offers 37 International GCSE subjects, studied in over 80 countries.
- OxfordAQA, a partnership between Oxford University Press and AQA.
Each subject has its own syllabus code: Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics is 0580, Pearson Edexcel's is 4MA1, OxfordAQA's is 9260. Schools often mix boards, choosing a different board for different subjects. Our IGCSE page lists the codes for each subject, and our comparison of AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge explains how the boards differ.
Age, years and subjects
Cambridge describes IGCSE as typically for learners aged 14 to 16, and Pearson aims its International GCSEs at the same ages. Each IGCSE is a separate subject qualification, usually studied over two years. In British-curriculum schools that is normally Years 10 and 11, with the exams at the end of Year 11.
Cambridge designs each IGCSE syllabus for about 130 guided learning hours. How many subjects a student takes is decided by the school; the boards set no fixed number. Our guide to choosing IGCSE subjects covers how many, which sciences and what the UAE adds to the timetable.
One exception is Cambridge ICE, the International Certificate of Education, a group award for students who pass at least seven Cambridge IGCSEs from five groups: two different languages, and one subject each from humanities and social sciences, sciences, mathematics, and professional and creative subjects, plus a seventh from any group.
How IGCSE differs from GCSE
GCSEs are the qualifications taken in schools in England. The UK government sets their content and Ofqual, the regulator in England, sets the rules for assessing them. Ofqual says plainly that it does not regulate International GCSEs or IGCSEs, despite the name, and Pearson's specifications say each International GCSE is not regulated by any UK regulator.
That does not make IGCSE a lesser qualification. Cambridge says it aligns Cambridge IGCSE standards with the GCSE taken in England, and that leading universities and employers worldwide accept it. Pearson says its International GCSEs are equivalent, grade for grade, to UK GCSEs.
The practical differences:
| IGCSE and International GCSE | GCSE in England | |
|---|---|---|
| Set for | Schools around the world | Schools in England |
| Regulated by Ofqual | No | Yes |
| Exam series | June and November | June; November for English Language and maths only |
| Grades | Cambridge A* to G, or 9 to 1 versions; Pearson and OxfordAQA 9 to 1 | 9 to 1 |
The November series matters in the UAE: a student who wants to improve a grade can usually resit in November rather than wait a year. Not every subject runs in both series, so check the subject's syllabus.
Tiers, sciences and practicals
Some IGCSE subjects have two tiers, and the tier caps the grade. In Cambridge maths and sciences, the Core route leads to grades C to G, so a student aiming for an A needs the Extended route. Pearson Edexcel maths has Foundation and Higher tiers. Schools usually settle the tier after the Year 11 mocks.
Sciences can be taken separately, as three IGCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology, or as a combined course worth one or two IGCSEs. Cambridge's sciences add a practical paper; Edexcel and OxfordAQA test practical skills in the written papers. Each of our subject pages sets out the papers board by board: maths, physics, chemistry and biology.
How IGCSE is graded
Cambridge IGCSEs are graded A* to G, with A* the highest, and Cambridge also offers versions of many subjects graded 9 to 1. Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA International GCSEs are graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest. The boards line the two scales up at three points: grade 7 with A, grade 4 with C and grade 1 with G. Our guide to IGCSE grades covers pass marks, grade boundaries and percentages in detail.
IGCSE in the UAE
In the UAE, the Ministry of Education is the body that makes school certificates equivalent to the national ones, for example for university admission. Families apply to the Ministry with the original certificates and school reports, attested as the Ministry asks.
The UAE government's portal links a KHDA document, from 2018, that lists what a British-curriculum student needs for a Grade 12 equivalency: at least five GCSE or IGCSE subjects at grades A to E and at least one A Level or two AS subjects at grades A to D, Arabic not counted, with school reports in Arabic and, for Muslim students, Islamic Education. Because that document predates the 9 to 1 grades, check the current requirements with the Ministry before relying on it.
One more UAE note: in June 2026, Cambridge and Pearson cancelled the IGCSE exams in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, and awarded grades from evidence of each student's work instead. Our guide to IGCSE grades explains what that meant.
IGCSE or CBSE?
Both lead to university, in the UAE and abroad. IGCSE is subject by subject, with written exams set by an international board; CBSE is a single board's programme with its Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. Which suits a child depends on how they learn and where they are heading. Our guides on Indian or international curriculum and switching curricula in Dubai go through the choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of IGCSE?
International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Cambridge uses the name IGCSE; Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA call theirs International GCSE.
Is IGCSE the same as GCSE?
No. GCSE is the qualification for schools in England, regulated by Ofqual. IGCSE is the international version set by Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA, with its own syllabuses and exam dates. Cambridge aligns its IGCSE standards with the GCSE taken in England.
What age do students take IGCSE?
Usually at 14 to 16, studying over two years and sitting the exams at the end of Year 11.
How many IGCSE subjects should my child take?
The school decides; the boards set no fixed number. Cambridge's ICE award, if the school offers it, needs at least seven Cambridge IGCSEs from five subject groups.
Is IGCSE recognised by universities?
Cambridge says leading universities and employers worldwide accept Cambridge IGCSE, and Pearson says its International GCSEs are equivalent, grade for grade, to UK GCSEs. Universities set their own entry requirements, usually in grades, so check the courses your child is considering.
Can a student resit an IGCSE?
Yes. Cambridge and Pearson both run a November series as well as June, and a candidate can retake a qualification as often as they like. Entries close months before the exams: for November 2026, in September.
Career Launcher UAE offers IGCSE and GCSE tuition in maths, the sciences, business, economics, accounting and English, taught to the Cambridge, Edexcel or OxfordAQA syllabus your child's school uses, at our Dubai and Sharjah centres and online. See our IGCSE and GCSE page for every subject and code.