Are all exam boards equal?

[pombal]

My 2 children are at international school following the UK curriculum.

Their school has recently changed from Cambridge to Edexcel.

I have heard anecdotally that Edexcel is easier and makes the transition to A Level or on to university from A Level much harder as the jump between levels is greater.

My question to those in the know - is this true or are all exam boards much of a muchness??

This might help you ....oa.grecbd.com/cambridge-edexcel-difference/

Thanks will take a look.

It's the other way round isn't it? The gap between Edexcel igcses and A levels is smaller.

On Mumsnet the board that your DC’s school is using is always the most challenging.
Similarly if your DC are sitting IGCSE they are harder than GCSE.
If your DC are doing GCSE they are harder than IGCSE.
Pre U are harder than A level (even when your DC have been given the questions and answers before the exam)

Cutting

Edexcel IGCSEs are more similar to GCSEs.
I have experience with both and generally I’d say they are much of a muchness. CIE English 0500 is easier than the new GCSEs or Edexcel IGCSE.
Also Edexcel IGCSE is changing over to the new 9-1 grading system whereas CIE is sticking with A-G. Could your school be thinking that their students’ university applications should be with 9-1 grades, in line with their UK based counterparts?

Thanks for all the info so far.

I’m asking as if DC go back to the UK for A Levels or go to university there, I don’t want them to be at a disadvantage because they sat ‘easier’ exams.

Friends DC who went back for A Levels are really struggling despite being an A/A* student, having done Edexcel iGCSE at international school.

It would make sense for international schools to opt for a softer option due to the number of EAL children they have.

Many students struggle at A level despite getting an A or A* at 16. A levels are much harder than any GCSE/IGCSE. You can get a high grade at 16 by memorising a lot - at A level you have to understand it.
Lots of Independent schools use IGCSE. I very much doubt they would want to risk progression for their students. Under old GCSEs many IGCSEs were harder than GCSE. With the new specs they are similar. There are lots of papers available for you to look at online. You can see for yourself the level they are set at.
CIE international exams are staying with letter grades. (Some of their suite of exams offered in UK only are going 9-1). As an international school they are probably looking at having to continue with letter grades if they don’t switch.

I think those students are struggling back in the UK with A'levels because: class sizes are bigger, they are expected to work independently, more distractions at Sixth form college/Sixth form, and just the higher requirement for analysis and deep thinking, and the issues over moving and adapting to a new culture/school/friends etc. Not Edexcel v CIE.
Most students in the UK sit GCSE not iGCSE and progress to A'levels with only the normal difficulties. Foundation level of iGCSE has often seemed a bit easier, but the higher level used to be considered harder (although without Shakespeare for English). The new GCSEs are harder than they used to be and considered comparable.

It might well be that as the Edexcel iGCSE is closer to the GCSE they will be better preparation for the new A Levels.

I think for a level there is no real difference, however, I do believe there is a difference at igcse. My son took CIE, but the school later switched some subjects to edexcel. Geography under CIE consisted of 3 papers, under edexcel it's one paper - this could be seen as harder as there is much more pressure on one exam, but one exam cannot cover the same content as three. Physics edexcel gives you the formulae, CIE does not. The school also switched maths from CIE to edexcel as they felt cie was too 'traditional' in its approach and edexcel was better for students whose first language was not English.
Clearly, just my experience, and I think the jump from igcse /GCSE to a level is considerable, regardless of board.

ShanghaiDiva yes this is the kind of thing I hear.

Georgraphy iGCSE for Edexcel consists of two 1 and 3/4 hour papers. CIE was and will be for overseas candidates 2 papers (1 3/4 hours and 1 1/2 hours) and either coursework or an alternative to coursework paper, they are also introducing a new iGCSE with 1-9 grades for UK only candidates.