GCSEs and IGCSEs what's the difference?

[Nigglenaggle]

Just that really

IGCSEs are piss easy. My DH is an English teacher and he hates them. My dd is doing them alongside ordinary GCSEs and everyone scores much higher in them.

What do they actually involve? How are they different? And do they count as your 5GCSEs grade A-C for employers?

IGCSE is not easier than GCSE in languages! It is significantly more difficult in what you are required to do. DS1 is also doing IGCSE Chemistry and I wouldn't say that is 'piss easy' either! (According to his tutor there are more calculations to do than in the GCSE). The advantage is that they are exams based and so you don't need to worry about Controlled Assessments. Our sixth form is quite happy to accept them as part of the 5 GCSEs that you need to get in to do A levels.

The question of which is easier is hotly debated on other MN boards so I guess it is not clear-cut. Or maybe it depends on the particular subject. IGCSEs are certainly widely recognised and are what most private schools do, so you shouldn't have any trouble at all with college entry or employers' requirements.

The main reason IGCSEs are so popular with HE kids is that there is no controlled assessment, just exams, so there is less hassle and expense arranging them.

Here's a wiki with a link to a busy email list which you may find useful: www.nwilts-he.org.uk/he_exams_wiki/

IGCSE maths is more advanced than GCSE, introducing topics not normally seen until A-level, such as differentiation.

I was told at a recent parents evening that igcse's were more like old fashioned o- levels and the jump to a- levels was smaller. I was told they were harder.

I had to ask what the 'I' stood for =international

Employers, colleges etc will normally accept them as equivalent to GCSEs.

The major advantage from an HE point of view is the option to do them without needing to have work assessed during the year. The science ones have an additional exam to replace a practical component.

Hello OP

igcse's are certainly widely accepted and whilst some may say certain subjects appear simpler than GCSE's others say some are more rigorous. I think the main advantage for H.ed is the lack of controlled assessment iirc. GCSE's can offer a narrow choice for H.ed from what I gather.
Some private schools offer igcse, not sure if this makes much difference apart from to verify they are widely accepted.
I think it depends on the subjects your child will want to study tbh.

That has answered my question I think thanks. As you say, if private schools use them they must be accepted