IGCSE full form: International General Certificate of Secondary Education

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education — Cambridge's international Class 10 equivalent.

Quick facts

Full form
International General Certificate of Secondary Education
What is IGCSE?
IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education — Cambridge's international Class 10 equivalent.
Applies to
School admissions across India; specifics (income ceilings, cut-off dates) vary by state and school.

What IGCSE means

IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is an international qualification for the Class 9–10 years, administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education and also offered by Pearson Edexcel. It is the world's most widely taught international curriculum at that level and feeds into A-Levels or the IB Diploma.

What it means for your admission

In India, IGCSE schools usually market themselves as Cambridge or international schools. Parents choose it for subject flexibility (students assemble their own subject mix) and as a bridge to A-Levels or IB for university abroad. As with IB, expect premium fee bands and check how the school supports the transition into the final two years.

IGCSE — common questions

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education, administered by Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel.

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