Honsbridge Information Day Questions & Answers Session
Hello everyone,
Thank you for making the last three series of Information Day on the 22nd Feb, 26th Feb and 28th Feb a success. It was a great pleasure to share with all the useful information on O Level and IGCSE in Malaysia.
Last night, it occurred to me that I should post some of the most frequently asked questions and response here to benefit everyone.
Some of the most frequently questions and responses are as follows:
1) What is IGCSE and what does it stands for?
When I used to work in the United Kingdom for the last 4 years, I have taught my tutees to prepare them for their General Certificate Secondary Education (GCSE)exams. As the GCSE exams are made available to students outside of the United Kingdom, hence the name International GCSE. In short, GCE O Level, GCSE, IGCSE are all equivalent qualifications conferred by the Cambridge Syndicate Board of Examinations.
2) What is the difference between Cambridge GCE O level and IGCSE?
Besides the name, the key difference is really the scope of the curriculum (i.e. the syllabus). In GCE O Level, students are taught the extended curriculum. Following which, the students shall sit for their O Level exams of which the available grades are between A* and G. In IGCSE, students may be taught either the core or the extended curriculum. Should the students follow the IGCSE core curriculum instead of IGCSE extended curriculum, the students shall sit for their IGCSE exams of which the available grades are between C and G.
3) Which exam is easier, the O Level or the IGCSE?
With reference to the discussion in question (2). It will appear that O Level exams are more difficult, this is because O Level students only study towards the extended curriculum. There is however an option for the IGCSE students to choose the core curriculum of which the grades are between C and G.
I hope that my responses to these commonly asked questions of parents in Malaysia have given you a better understanding.
All comments with regards these questions are welcome. Hear from you soon.
Emma for Honsbridge
Thank you for making the last three series of Information Day on the 22nd Feb, 26th Feb and 28th Feb a success. It was a great pleasure to share with all the useful information on O Level and IGCSE in Malaysia.
Last night, it occurred to me that I should post some of the most frequently asked questions and response here to benefit everyone.
Some of the most frequently questions and responses are as follows:
1) What is IGCSE and what does it stands for?
When I used to work in the United Kingdom for the last 4 years, I have taught my tutees to prepare them for their General Certificate Secondary Education (GCSE)exams. As the GCSE exams are made available to students outside of the United Kingdom, hence the name International GCSE. In short, GCE O Level, GCSE, IGCSE are all equivalent qualifications conferred by the Cambridge Syndicate Board of Examinations.
2) What is the difference between Cambridge GCE O level and IGCSE?
Besides the name, the key difference is really the scope of the curriculum (i.e. the syllabus). In GCE O Level, students are taught the extended curriculum. Following which, the students shall sit for their O Level exams of which the available grades are between A* and G. In IGCSE, students may be taught either the core or the extended curriculum. Should the students follow the IGCSE core curriculum instead of IGCSE extended curriculum, the students shall sit for their IGCSE exams of which the available grades are between C and G.
3) Which exam is easier, the O Level or the IGCSE?
With reference to the discussion in question (2). It will appear that O Level exams are more difficult, this is because O Level students only study towards the extended curriculum. There is however an option for the IGCSE students to choose the core curriculum of which the grades are between C and G.
I hope that my responses to these commonly asked questions of parents in Malaysia have given you a better understanding.
All comments with regards these questions are welcome. Hear from you soon.
Emma for Honsbridge
