Cambridge IGCSE Curriculam
IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a two year programme leading to externally set, marked and certificated examinations from the University of Cambridge. It is a unique UK government endorsed programme provided to thousands of schools around the world.
The Cambridge international curriculum sets a global standard for education, and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. … They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.
The Cambridge international curriculum sets a global standard for education, and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. Our curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.
What is an international curriculum?
- Over 10,000 schools in over 160 countries follow the Cambridge international curriculum
- The curriculum is international in philosophy and approach, but can be tailored to local contexts
- Cambridge students study for Cambridge international qualifications which are accepted and recognised around the world
- Schools can also combine the Cambridge International curriculum with national curricula
- Cambridge students moving between Cambridge schools can continue their studies following the same curriculum
- The four stages lead seamlessly from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage – Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced – builds on the learners’ development from the previous one, but can also be offered separately. Similarly, each syllabus adopts a ‘spiral’ approach, building on previous learning to help advance students study. Our curriculum reflects the latest thinking in each subject area, drawn from expert international research and consultation with schools.
- There are annual programme fees for the Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary & Advanced programmes. There is information about the fees we charge here but for full details of the fees for your region please contact us.
- Knowledge, understanding and higher order thinking skills
- Cambridge programmes combine an emphasis on mastering subjects in depth with the development skills for study and work in the future. We value deep subject knowledge as well as the conceptual understanding that helps students make links between different aspects of a subject. We also encourage students to develop higher order thinking skills – problem solving, critical thinking, independent research, collaboration and presenting arguments. These are transferable skills that will last a lifetime, preparing students for their future lives. They also make learning enjoyable and rewarding.
- Cambridge Global Perspectives
- Cambridge Global Perspectivesis a unique, transformational programme that helps students at every stage of school education develop outstanding transferable skills, including critical thinking, research and collaboration. The programme is for students aged 5 to 19 years, leading seamlessly from Cambridge Primary through to Cambridge Advanced.
- A unique feature of Cambridge Global Perspectives is the dedicated Online Learning area– free to schools that offer the subject.
- Choice and flexibility for schools and students
- Cambridge schools tailor the Cambridge international curriculum to their culture and ethos, and their students’ needs. We offer over 70 subjects at Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level, and over 55 subjects at Cambridge International AS & A Level. This allows Cambridge schools to build a curriculum which offers real choice– both of subject and subject combination.
- Many schools around the world use Cambridge programmes and qualifications as the English-medium strand of a bilingual education programme. Bilingual teaching methods vary, but the flexibility of the Cambridge approach means that learners can work towards a Cambridge qualification through the medium of English while also following their own national curriculum.
Cambridge Advanced is typically for learners aged 16 to 19 years who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education. It offers learners two routes: Cambridge International AS & A Level, and Cambridge Pre-U.
Cambridge Advanced builds on the foundations of Cambridge Upper Secondary, although learners do not need to complete that stage before this one.
Curriculum
Cambridge International AS & A Level and Cambridge Pre-U help learners develop independent study skills which universities value highly.
Classroom support
We provide full support for Cambridge Advanced teachers, including a secure support website, teacher guides, training and resources.
Qualification
Learners take internationally-recognised Cambridge International AS & A Level or Cambridge Pre-U qualifications at the end of Cambridge Advanced.
Community
Our education events and training courses bring schools together. Cambridge teachers can also join the discussions on our secure Teacher Support site.
We have found the examinations not only provide students with an excellent foundation for tertiary study, but they also provide an easily understood and transparent pathway into university study.
ACG Strathallan, New Zealand
Thousands of learners worldwide gain places at leading universities every year with Cambridge International AS & A Levels. The syllabuses develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
Curriculum
Schools have a choice of 55 subjects and the freedom to offer them in almost any combination. Learners can specialise or study a broad range of subjects.
We help schools to build a Cambridge Advanced curriculum that brings success for learners. The syllabuses prepare learners for university study, which is why universities worldwide value and recognise Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications.
Cambridge International AS & A Level develops learners’ knowledge, understanding and skills in:
- In-depth subject content
- Independent thinking
- Applying knowledge and understanding to new as well as familiar situations
- Handling and evaluating different types of information source
- Thinking logically and presenting ordered and coherent arguments
- Making judgements, recommendations and decisions
- Presenting reasoned explanations, understanding implications and communicating them logically and clearly
- Working and communicating in English.
We offer a choice of 55 subjects and schools can offer them in almost any combination. This flexibility means schools can build an individualised curriculum, and learners can choose to specialise in a particular subject area or study a range of subjects.
Cambridge International A Level is typically a two-year course, and Cambridge International AS Level is typically one year. Some subjects can be started as a Cambridge International AS Level and extended to a Cambridge International A Level. Find out more about the different assessment options.
Classroom support
A wide range of training and support resources is available to help teachers plan and deliver Cambridge International AS & A Level programmes.
Qualification
Learners can choose from a range of assessment options, including Cambridge International AS Level qualifications alone, or as part of a progression to Cambridge International A Level.
Thousands of learners gain places at leading universities around the world with Cambridge International AS & A Levels every year. They are a passport to success.
Our ethos of excellence in education extends to training, support and services to help you deliver engaging and effective courses, and develop as a professional.
Teaching materials
We have a wealth of teaching and learning materials to help you plan and deliver the Cambridge International AS & A Level programme. They suit a wide range of teaching methods and different international contexts and include:
- Teaching schemes of work and lesson plans
- Textbooks and publisher resources
- Example candidate responses (standards booklets)
- Mapping documents to explain how the resources support teaching
- Exam preparation materials.
The exam preparation materials, including mark schemes, examiner reports, previous examination papers and results statistics by grade and subject, enable you to provide valuable feedback to learners before final assessment.
New support resources for the redeveloped Cambridge International AS & A Level syllabuses are available now. Read more.
Find teaching resources for Cambridge International AS & A Levels.
School Support Hub
We offer a secure School Support Hub for Cambridge teachers. Here you will find all the materials you need to teach our syllabuses, including past question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, lesson plans and schemes of work. You can also talk to our subject experts and other Cambridge teachers in the discussion forums.
Cambridge Professional Development
We hold regular training workshops for Cambridge International AS & A Level syllabuses, and online training is available for teachers to learn at their own pace. Training builds the knowledge and skills needed to help learners succeed with Cambridge. Find a Cambridge International AS & A Level training course.
We also provide professional development qualifications and services for schools. They help develop teachers’ thinking and practice.
Cambridge International A Level is typically a two-year course, and Cambridge International AS Level is typically one year.
Assessment options
Your learners can choose from a range of assessment options to gain Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications:
- Take the Cambridge International AS Level only. The syllabus content is half a Cambridge International A Level.
- Take a ‘staged’ assessment route – take the Cambridge International AS Level in one examination series and complete the final Cambridge International A Level at a subsequent series. AS Level marks can be carried forward to a full A Level twice within a 13 month period.*
- Take all papers of the Cambridge International A Level course in the same examination session, usually at the end of the course.
We hold Cambridge International AS & A Level examination series twice a year, in June and November. Results are issued in August and January.
* The staged assessment route is not possible in all subjects. The outcomes awarded for Cambridge International AS Level language syllabuses cannot be carried forward to Cambridge International A Level.
Reporting achievement
Each subject that a learner takes receives a separate grade.
Grades are benchmarked using internationally recognised grades, which have clear guidelines to explain the standards of achievement.
The Cambridge International A Level is reported on a grade scale from A* (highest) to E (minimum required performance). There is no A* grade for Cambridge International AS Levels, which run from grade A to E.
We also provide worldwide results statistics for Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications.
Performance feedback
Many schools use Cambridge International AS Level to give learners valuable feedback on their performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses before they complete their full Cambridge International A L
What is Cambridge Global Perspectives?
Cambridge Global Perspectives is a unique, transformational programme that helps students at every stage of school education develop outstanding transferable skills, including critical thinking, research and collaboration.
This innovative and stimulating skills-based programme places academic study in a practical, real-world context. It gives students aged 5 to 19 years the opportunity to develop the skills that they need to be successful at school and university as well as in their future careers.
The programme taps into the way today’s students enjoy learning, including group work, seminars, projects and working with other students around the world. The emphasis is on developing students’ ability to think critically about a range of global issues where there is always more than one point of view.
Who is it for?
The programme is for students aged 5 to 19 years, leading seamlessly from Cambridge Primary through to Cambridge Advanced. Each stage builds on the learners’ development, whether from a previous Cambridge stage or from another educational system.
Our flexible approach means schools can offer every stage of the Cambridge Global Perspectives programme, or just focus on specific stages. Progression through the different stages enables skills to be developed by revisiting and engaging with concepts at deeper levels and in different contexts.