IGCSE / GCSE
IGCSE & GCSE support
The IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is the international qualification taken in the British-curriculum secondary phase, in Years 10 and 11 (ages 14 to 16). The GCSE is its domestic UK equivalent, and UK universities treat the two as equal. Both are normally taken across eight to ten subjects in parallel, and those grades become the foundation for A-Level, the IB Diploma and, in time, university applications. Founded in London in 1984, ELT supports both qualifications through online one-to-one lessons with qualified native-speaker teachers.
- Native-speaker teachers with CELTA, DELTA and similar qualifications
- Maths, Sciences and Humanities also taught in English
- Priorities and lesson frequency designed across eight to ten subjects
We are happy to start by explaining how the system works. There is no obligation to enrol
IGCSE VS GCSE
What is the difference between IGCSE and GCSE
The IGCSE and the GCSE are both secondary-phase leaving qualifications in British education, but they differ in where they are taken and how they are run. The GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is taken mainly within the UK and is used by the great majority of UK state schools. The IGCSE is its international version, sat at examination centres worldwide, and is common in international schools around the world and in some UK independent schools.
Five points parents actually use to decide
| Aspect | IGCSE | GCSE |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is taken | Available worldwide | Mainly within the UK |
| Typical candidates | International schools worldwide, and some UK independent schools | The great majority of UK state schools |
| Grading scale | Moving towards 9–1, though Cambridge still uses A*–G for some subjects | 9–1 (grade 4 is a standard pass, grade 5 a strong pass) |
| Coursework (internal assessment) | Examination-led | Some subjects include internal assessment, but the 2017 reform reduced it substantially and narrowed the gap with the IGCSE |
| Examination series | May–June and October–November (some subjects also run in January, depending on the board and centre) | May–June (some subjects can be resat in November) |
Which one do universities value
UK universities treat the IGCSE and the GCSE as equal. They also treat the 9–1 and A*–G scales as equal. What does vary is whether a given university sets its entry requirement at grade 4 or grade 5, so the requirements of each target institution need to be checked individually.
For parents, then, IGCSE versus GCSE is not a question of which is more advantageous: it is settled by which one your child's school uses. What matters is not the type of qualification but how the portfolio of eight to ten grades is built. ELT teaches for both.
GRADING
How grading works — reading 9–1 and A*–G
Two grading scales currently run side by side at IGCSE and GCSE: the numerical 9 to 1 (9 highest) and the alphabetical A* to G (A* highest). The GCSE has moved fully to 9–1, but at IGCSE both scales are still in use depending on the board and the subject, so a single report can show a 7 alongside a B. This is because the transition is being made in stages, and both scales are valid.
Approximate equivalence between the two scales
| 9–1 scale | A*–G scale | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | The highest grade, introduced to distinguish the very top of the old A* band |
| 8 | A* to high A | The A*/A borderline |
| 7 | Broadly A | The benchmark for a top grade |
| 5–6 | Broadly B to high C | 5 is a strong pass at GCSE |
| 4 | Broadly C | A standard pass at GCSE. On the Cambridge A*–G scale, C and above counts as a good pass |
| 3–1 | Broadly D to G | Below the pass threshold |
Note: these equivalences are indicative and are not a strict one-to-one mapping. The position described here is as of 2026. Because the transition is happening in stages, please confirm current practice with your child's school and examination board.
What counts as a pass
In one sentence: at GCSE, grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass, while on the Cambridge A*–G scale, C and above counts as a good pass.
What grades are needed for A-Level or the IB
Entry requirements for A-Level and the IB Diploma are set by each school, subject by subject; there is no single standard. As a general pattern, the subjects a student wants to continue into sixth form (Years 12 and 13) are the ones that demand the highest IGCSE or GCSE grades. This is precisely why the heart of study planning at this stage is not spreading effort evenly across every subject, but setting priorities around the subjects that will matter next. We are glad to work through those priorities, against your child's school and target schools, in a free consultation.
EXAM BOARDS
The boards — Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel
Two boards provide most IGCSEs: Cambridge International, the international examinations arm associated with the University of Cambridge, and Pearson Edexcel, run by the major UK examinations organisation Pearson. Both award fully recognised international qualifications, but they differ in how they operate.
| Aspect | Cambridge International | Pearson Edexcel |
|---|---|---|
| Grading scale | A*–G as standard, with 9–1 also offered for some subjects and regions (the two run side by side) | International GCSE uses 9–1 across all subjects |
| Examination series | May–June and October–November | May–June and October–November (some subjects also run in January, depending on the centre) |
The board is chosen by the school, subject by subject, so a single school can use different boards for different subjects. ELT confirms which board and syllabus your child is sitting, and teaches to that paper format.
THE REAL CHALLENGE
The difficulty of running eight to ten subjects at once
If the IB Diploma is a programme that builds one final score over two years, the IGCSE and GCSE are examinations in which eight to ten races run simultaneously and every result lines up at the entrance to whatever comes next. Viewed through the lens of a handful of core subjects, the load of that structure is easy to underestimate. The difficulties families bring to ELT come down to four.
Year 9 options are chosen without the information to choose well
Options are the choice, made in Year 9 at ages 13 to 14, of which subjects will be studied in Years 10 and 11. That choice does not only set the IGCSE subject line-up: it cascades into which subjects are available at A-Level and in the IB Diploma, and ultimately into which university courses are open. In many families, though, it is settled by what the child enjoys and what the school timetable allows.
Time is spread evenly across every subject, and nothing is finished properly
Eight to ten subjects are not all equally important. Subjects that will be continued, subjects that are prerequisites for a chosen field, subjects that simply need to clear the pass line — different roles call for different amounts of time. Effort without priorities tends to fill every line of the report with 'almost there'.
The mocks went badly, but nobody can say why
Mocks are the practice examinations schools run a few months before the real papers, and at many schools they inform predicted grades and progression advice. When the results disappoint, families often increase the volume of study without first separating whether the marks were lost to gaps in knowledge, to how answers are written in English, or to timing.
Parents cannot help with maths and science taught in English
Photosynthesis, simultaneous equations, oxidation — even where the content is something parents once studied themselves, the English subject vocabulary and the British conventions for writing answers stand in the way, and support at home stops working. There is no reason to feel any guilt about not being able to teach it. This is a matter of language and of an unfamiliar system, and it belongs with specialists.
What the four have in common is not ability in any individual subject. It is the absence of design and prioritisation across subjects.
OUR APPROACH
What changes with ELT's IGCSE and GCSE support
ELT's IGCSE and GCSE support is not remedial tuition on one weak subject at a time. We work backwards from the whole picture of eight to ten subjects and from where your child is heading next, and we are involved from the design stage: which subject, when, and for how much time.
Qualified native-speaker professionals who teach the mark scheme and the craft of answering
Every ELT teacher is a native English speaker and a professional holding an international teaching qualification such as CELTA or DELTA. Former Heads of Year at international schools are among them. At IGCSE and GCSE, answers are separated not only by knowledge but by whether they are written in the form the command word demands — Explain, Evaluate, Compare and the rest. Our teachers teach that craft of writing for the examiner.
English, Maths, Sciences and Humanities in one place, with time allocated across them
Arranging a separate tutor for each subject fragments the teaching and leaves nobody holding the overall priorities. Because ELT teaches Maths, Sciences and Humanities in English as well as English itself, a limited number of lessons can be moved flexibly: heavier on one subject now, maintenance on another. Across eight to ten subjects, that breadth is not a convenience. It is the ability to design the grade portfolio as a whole.
Mock results used as diagnosis, and converted into a plan for the real papers
Mock results are not something to lament; they are the best diagnostic data available. ELT reads the scripts against the mark scheme to separate marks lost to gaps in knowledge, to how answers are written, and to timing, then rebuilds the plan in order of what can realistically be recovered in the time that remains.
Option choices and the next step supported by PREMIUM Academic, which includes progression guidance
ELT's IGCSE and GCSE support sits in the PREMIUM Academic service tier. PREMIUM Academic is ELT's upper tier for academic tuition: alongside subject teaching, it includes progression guidance, meaning ongoing monitoring of a student's study and advice on choosing schools and pathways. Year 9 options, and the question of A-Level or IB Diploma, are discussed within the same structure as the teaching itself. Precisely because the IGCSE and GCSE are a staging post, it matters that someone is also looking at what comes after.
Fully online and one-to-one in 50 minutes, so it continues even at a UK boarding school
All lessons are online, one-to-one and 50 minutes. Students at British-curriculum international schools in Japan and students at boarding schools in the UK alike receive the same quality of teaching, on a schedule that accounts for the time difference. Teaching continues uninterrupted through visits home in the holidays and through a change of school.
TIMELINE
Years 9 to 11 — what to do, and when
From Year 9 options to the final papers, the IGCSE and GCSE are effectively a two to three year project. Below is the usual shape of it for a May–June examination series.
| Stage | What happens at school | What ELT does at this stage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 9 | Options are chosen (subjects for Years 10 and 11) | Advice on option choices, working backwards from the next stage. Groundwork for subjects studied in English |
| Year 10, first half | The IGCSE or GCSE course begins. Eight to ten subjects get under way | Building study habits and a working method for each subject. Catching difficulties early |
| Year 10, second half | Internal assessment and unit tests begin in earnest in some subjects | Turning around weaker subjects. First design of the priority order |
| Year 11, first half | Mocks. Results feed into predicted grades and progression advice | Analysis of where marks were lost and a recovery plan. Reallocating between subjects to hold and subjects to push |
| Year 11, second half | Past-paper work, then the examinations in May and June | Past papers for the specific board. Command words and final work on timing |
Note: timings vary by school and examination board. For an October–November series, the whole schedule is brought forward accordingly.
For parents of a Year 9 student
The most valuable investment right now is making the option choices with proper information. A conversation that takes in the whole chain — IGCSE to A-Level or IB, and on to a university subject — can only happen at this stage.
For parents of a Year 11 student
Limited time before the papers does not mean there is nothing to be done. There may be no time to lift every subject uniformly, but separating out where the marks are being lost, and setting priorities between subjects, changes how the remaining time is used. Bring the current grades and the mock results, and let us talk it through in a free consultation.
FLOW
How to get started
Free consultation, online
We ask about the school, year group, subjects, recent grades, mock results and what your child is aiming for next, and tell you frankly whether ELT can help.
English assessment, first time only, chargeable
A native-speaker teacher assesses your child's English and their position in each subject directly. The fee is $149 including tax.
A study plan for your child
We design and propose the priority order across subjects and how lessons should be allocated.
Lessons begin
Online, one-to-one, 50 minutes. Progress is monitored continuously, and the allocation is revisited as mock and school examination results come in.
The consultation carries no obligation to enrol. Families who only want to talk through option choices are equally welcome.
Fees for IGCSE and GCSE support
PRICING
ELT's IGCSE and GCSE support is delivered as PREMIUM Academic tier lessons, which include progression guidance. All lessons are online, one-to-one and 50 minutes.
How many subjects, in how many lessons
There is no need to cover all eight to ten subjects in lessons every week. ELT's default design concentrates lessons on the subjects being strengthened while the rest are held steady through the study plan and monitoring. On a twice-weekly plan, for instance, the allocation can shift over time from two maths lessons to one maths and one science. The right frequency depends on where the subjects stand and how much time is left, so we propose it individually at the consultation.
For the full picture, including how the tiers differ, see our lesson fees page.
See lesson feesCAMPUS TUTORS
Day-to-day work across eight to ten subjects can be supported alongside, by a Campus Tutor
While eight to ten subjects run in parallel, the daily workload that lessons cannot cover becomes the obstacle. Campus Tutors — current students and postgraduates at leading universities — support understanding of lessons, progress through assignments and revision planning one-to-one, and can be used alongside your lessons.
How the roles differ
- PREMIUM Academic (professional teachers)
- Examination preparation, building the method for written answers, and progression guidance. The strengths are structure and strategic design.
- Campus Tutors
- Ongoing companionship through daily lessons, assignments and revision planning, from people who passed the same examinations recently.
The roles differ, so either on its own or both together works. Fees are charged separately. We will help you work out which is right at the free consultation.
TARGET
Who this is for
This page is primarily for students in Years 9 to 11 (ages 13 to 16) at British-curriculum schools who are taking, or about to take, the IGCSE or the GCSE. Because lessons are online, students at British-curriculum international schools in Japan and at boarding schools in the UK and elsewhere are equally able to take them.
Examples of schools offering IGCSE and GCSE
- The British School in Tokyo (BST)
- Harrow International School Appi
- Rugby School Japan
- International schools following the British curriculum
- Public and independent schools in the UK
If you are looking for something else
- Applying to or transferring into a British-curriculum international or boarding schoolInternational school admissions
- Considering a boarding school overseasBoarding school entry
- Preparing for the stage after IGCSEA-Level support
- Preparing for the stage after IGCSEIB support
- Considering the American curriculumAP support
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Fees are set by the number of lessons per month, not by the number of subjects. IGCSE and GCSE support sits in the PREMIUM Academic tier, delivered online, one-to-one, in 50-minute lessons, with plans of 4 lessons a month at $708, 8 at $1,208 and 12 at $1,658 (tax included). Which subjects are covered in a given lesson can be arranged flexibly. There is also a one-off enrolment fee of $199 and an initial English assessment at $149. The consultation is free.
There is no need to cover every subject in lessons each week. Our default design concentrates lessons on the subjects being strengthened, while the rest are held steady through the study plan and monitoring. Shifting the allocation as the year progresses lets a limited number of lessons lift the grade profile as a whole. We propose the right frequency and allocation individually at the free consultation.
Alongside English (English Language and English Literature), we teach Mathematics, the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and Humanities subjects in English. Whether we can cover a specific subject or syllabus is best confirmed at the free consultation, once we know what your child is sitting.
Yes. We work with both Cambridge International (CAIE) and Pearson Edexcel. We confirm the board and syllabus your child is sitting, and teach to that paper format and grading scale. A single school can use different boards for different subjects, so please let us know the plan subject by subject at the consultation.
Lessons are conducted entirely in English by native-speaker teachers. That means learning in the same language environment as the school lessons and the examinations, which feeds directly into mastering how answers are written. Our teachers hold international teaching qualifications such as CELTA and DELTA and adjust how they explain things to your child's level of English. The initial English assessment establishes a comfortable starting point.
It depends on the time remaining and on how the marks were lost. ELT first reads the scripts against the mark scheme to separate marks lost to gaps in knowledge, to how answers are written in English, and to timing, then rebuilds the plan in order of what can realistically be recovered. We will not irresponsibly promise that there is time, but optimising how the remaining time is used is possible from any point.
No. ELT does not guarantee grades or admission. Assessment is carried out by the examination boards, and we do not believe it is honest to promise otherwise. What ELT can promise is high-quality teaching grounded in the mark schemes, a priority design that spans the subjects, and continuous monitoring of progress.
Yes. Options are a significant decision: they shape not only the IGCSE subject line-up but which subjects are available at A-Level and in the IB Diploma, and ultimately which university courses are open. PREMIUM Academic includes progression guidance, meaning ongoing monitoring of study and advice on choosing schools, and we are glad to advise on option choices worked backwards from the next stage. Please start with a free consultation.
Day-to-day support with lessons, assignments and school examinations is provided through our student support service, and ongoing companionship in daily study by current students and postgraduates at leading universities is provided through Campus Tutors. The support on this page is a programme focused specifically on IGCSE and GCSE grades and on subject planning. We will help you work out which is right for your child at the free consultation. See student support
Which suits your child depends on their learning style, the field they are drawn to, and the programmes their school offers. Many schools set minimum IGCSE or GCSE grades as entry requirements for A-Level and IB Diploma subjects, so the clearer the direction, the clearer it becomes which subjects to prioritise now. The progression guidance within PREMIUM Academic covers this decision in light of how the IGCSE grades are shaping up. See A-Level support
See the full picture of our international and boarding school supportInternational & Boarding School Support
Start by mapping out the subjects as a whole
With so many subjects in play, where you begin largely determines the result. In the free consultation we ask about your child's subjects, grades, mock results and what they are aiming for next, then set out which subjects should take priority and how the time should be used. There is no obligation to enrol.
No pushy sales / We do not guarantee grades or admission