The debate over the merits of the IB or the IGCSE has been ongoing. With a wide variety of options available to parents, here is a comparison between the two systems.
#1. A) The International Baccalaureate was founded in 1968 and is focused on preparing children for global careers. Unlike other schools, it does not have a formal examination program. Instead, it issues certificates for students who meet their standards.
B) The Cambridge International Examinations is an international program that prepares students for further studies. It is the equivalent of the British GCSE qualification.
#2. A) The Programs offered by IB are:
Primary Year Program (PYP) for 3-12 years old
Middle Year Program (MYP) for 11-16 years old
IB Diploma for 16-19 years old
Career-related for 16-19 years old
B) The Programs offered by the CIE are:
- Primary for 5-11 years old
- Secondary for 11-14 years old
- Secondary 2 for 14-16 years old
#3. Although the MYP of IB is a framework, the curriculum statements of the IGCSE are usually made in accordance with the standards of the International Board.
#4. The IB is an education framework that prepares students for specific subjects. The IGCSE is a preparation for a specific course.
#5. The IB curriculum can be moulded according to the needs of the school. Also, in IGCSE, certificates are also externally assessed.
#6. In order to be successful, an IB teacher must come up with a curriculum that fits to the teaching style and the students’ needs. This is very beneficial for teachers since they can customize their curriculum.
#7. In India, there are about 132 schools offering IB curriculum and 310 schools following the curriculum of the Cambridge Advanced.
#8. The IB offers a variety of subjects and can choose from 6 different groups. Some of these include Theory of Knowledge, Creative Action Service, and Extended Essay. IGCSE has over 70 subjects to choose from.
#9. The boards emphasize on the application of knowledge and understanding, instead of the memorization of all the concepts. This ensures that the students are better prepared for exams.
#10. The comprehensive curriculums of the International Board of Education and the IGCSE are very demanding and challenging. They assign the grades on the basis of the annual assessments.
#11. Both the IB and the IGCSE provide flexibility to the students by allowing them to select the recommended readings.
#12. The IB helps in the development of logical reasoning and language skills. It gives the students an edge in entrance examinations like the GRE and SAT. CIE has a good reputation when it comes to attracting international students. However, they do not compete with each other in terms of curriculum.
See Also: Which Board is best CBSE or ICSE?
To conclude,
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is a 2-year program that was developed by the University of Manchester. It is equivalent to the UK’s Board exams for Secondary Education.
The exams are conducted by Cambridge University and are marked by the University of Cambridge. After securing a place in the IGCSE, many students go on to study in various other boards such as O-level, A-levels, and IB curriculums.
Cambridge IGCSE exams are held in February and March. Students who study this subject prepare for the exams that they may take later on.
Fun Fact- In the US, many home-school teachers prefer the IGCSE curriculum over the typical secondary school course. According to them, the program is far advanced compared to the typical North American curriculum.
The International Board is an educational foundation founded in 1968. It offers various educational programmes in various countries.
The International Baccalaureate is an educational program that prepares children for university admissions. It is a global educational system that provides comprehensive and internationally acceptable academic qualifications. The lack of external examinations in MYP level makes the students lethargic and do not take things seriously, especially for those with low drive and focus.
For students who are in the 10th grade, IGCSE is the best choice. Also, if they are planning on pursuing a career in the STEM fields, IB is a better option.
For more information, you can check their official websites:
IB – https://ibo.org/
CIE – http://cie.org.uk
Also Read:
5 Best GCSE Maths Books for Students
10 Trustworthy Books to Develop Growth Mindset in Kids
