IGCSE results yesterday!

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honscupboard
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:06 pm

IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by honscupboard »

What a surprise! DC went in to get one AS result yesterday (sat in year 11) and was handed Cambridge IGCSE science results too! School had not informed us that they would be in earlier than the GCSEs, but thankfully it was a pleasant surprise and confirms A level choices a week before we had anticipated! Just the remaining ones next week :)
Sunshine 11
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Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:29 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by Sunshine 11 »

What is an IGCSE please ?
Sunshine 11
Que sera, sera
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by KB »

A simple question but see how long the answers will be :)

It stands for 'international' and in very basic terms was taken up a few years ago by fee paying schools and was then accepted by government into league tables so state schools gave taken up, mainly science subjects and English.
It is generally seems as a return to more old fashioned approach - no modules ( this was before GCSE no module change) and generally more vigorous ( debatable of course!) For example, our local GS goes iGCSE in individual sciences as believe it to be better prep for A level, which many of the boys go on to do.

In the past it was considered harder to get the top grades than in GCSE but with changes to GCSE that may change anyway.

Lots of people have different opinions but hopefully this is an outline :)
FluffyCat
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Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:26 am

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by FluffyCat »

Are we sure it was included in league tables? Last year DD's high performing school was bottom of the league table because they did IGCSE English which wasn't included - therefore no-one officially got the EBAC subjects.
Tolstoy
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Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:25 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by Tolstoy »

My DSs have been doing IGCSEs. No idea how they compare but I would say that DS2 having only done one year of IGCSE course work is doing practice GCSE whole tests and hitting scores from 70s to 90s, most high 80s. Okay he is doing them in the comfort of his bedroom but apart from Physics there is very little work he hasn't already covered in maths, biol, and Chem. Not seen a French IGCSE paper so not sure if it differs but he was amazed that in the French GCSE papers the questions are in English as in their school tests they were always in French (we are in France, could be relevant).

International Schools that wish to tie in with the British system do I(nternational)GCSEs Sunshine.
southbucks3
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Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:59 am

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by southbucks3 »

The English is supposed to be easier in igcse, not as thorough and less texts, the sciences more thorough and no multi choice at all, so thought as better prep for A level sciences.
Obviously this is only what the broadsheets and TES website reports suggest. I looked it up as the boy has the option of both at his school, so wanted to know about them.

Obviously things are changing, so for us it's still a bit of a guessing game.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by Guest55 »

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ifications" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These are the qualifications included in performance tables.
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by KB »

FluffyCat wrote:Are we sure it was included in league tables? Last year DD's high performing school was bottom of the league table because they did IGCSE English which wasn't included - therefore no-one officially got the EBAC subjects.

Some certainly were because our GS used to gave boys take a basic science GCSE in year 9 to meet requirements then they did iGCSE in years 10&11.
The year 9 business was dropped when iGCSEs were recognised by the government.

Maybe the English exam this school used was a new one that hadn'r been through necessary validations?
moved
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Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by moved »

English wasn't recognised last year, but is this year.
KB
Posts: 3030
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:28 pm

Re: IGCSE results yesterday!

Post by KB »

Slightly confused then as DC did iGCSE English last year and was sure the results table included it as a recognised English qualification. Must have got my wires crossed somewhere - shall investigate when next avoiding a chore :)
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