[googolplexity]

So I recently found out I'm in top set and subsequently I received a letter saying how students in top set English will take the iGCSE for English Literature. It attempted to explain what it was, but it generally just used a lot of waffle vocabulary and therefore the only difference I understand between the iGCSE and the GCSE is people doing the latter have to take two exams instead of the one exam that iGCSE students take. It mentions a difference in curriculum but I don't really understand what that is, can anybody with knowledge of this give me some information, thank you:-)

[milienhaus]

It's a different qualification, supposed to be at the same level as normal GCSE. Differences in the curriculum mean you'll be covering different material, reading different books etc to the normal GCSE lot. I believe the IGCSE is supposed to be more difficult and so better respected, but I didn't do it do I'm not sure how true that is!

[googolplexity]

Okay thank you:-), will the curriculum be more interesting material such as 1984 opposed to the mind numbingly boring material I'm usually taught?

[smile:D]

I've just done my IGCSE English exam, it depends on which board you're doing (I did Edexcel), it's basically considered harder than normal GCSE, to give you an idea, for English Lit I did Pride and Prejudice and then A View from the Bridge, although they have different options.You answer 2 essay questions, one on each, during the one exam. Doing edexcel IGCSE involves learning lots of quotes, and pride and prejudice is quite a difficult book (especially language-wise), don't worry about it I'm sure you'll do fine, I didn't find it a massive step up. There's also less coursework with the IGCSE

[cesca42]

It's the GCSE that students studying the British curriculum abroad use, but students in the UK still take it, usually because it's considered to be harder than standard GCSE. I didn't take IGCSE English, but I did take it for maths and geog, and the general rule is there's a smaller coursework element (or none at all) and it's not modular, meaning that you can't retake certain modules to boost up your overall grade (although since there are only two papers in English anyway, this doesn't make much difference).

[A7d8i6l]

International general certificate for secondary education (IGCSE) this is an internationally recognised qualification!!


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[googolplexity]

(Original post by smile:D)
I've just done my IGCSE English exam, it depends on which board you're doing (I did Edexcel), it's basically considered harder than normal GCSE, to give you an idea, for English Lit I did Pride and Prejudice and then A View from the Bridge, although they have different options.You answer 2 essay questions, one on each, during the one exam. Doing edexcel IGCSE involves learning lots of quotes, and pride and prejudice is quite a difficult book (especially language-wise), don't worry about it I'm sure you'll do fine, I didn't find it a massive step up. There's also less coursework with the IGCSE

I believe it's the AQA board, but thank you for the information:-)

[KythingToWrite]

Well, AQA doesn't do IGCSE, only Edexcel and CIE do it (Last I checked, at least). I do CIE IGCSEs. The set texts differ according to the year of examination, but the general rule is that the coursework option isn't compulsory, making it perfect for Private Candidates, it's more of an understanding approach, which is great for students (Like me) who've come from a completely different syllabus, and it's got a wider range of texts.
I had a choice between British, American, Indian and Nigerian authors for my prose set text! The variety is, I think, the best thing about it. The questions are very similar to GCSE lit, but the marking is said to be different—not too sure about that.
Anyways, you won't be harmed by doing it. It's the same level as a GCSE; it's gaining a lot more recognition thanks to the recent GCSE/O Levels debate, and it's easily accepted internationally—US, India, South Africa, etc.
And around here, just the header Cambridge International Examinations makes people surprised! I'd say it's a wonderful qualification, and it can only advantage you.
When will you take the IGCSEs? I'm doing them in May/June 2014.

[GreenLantern1]

What really is the 'iGSCE'

The iGSCE is really the iGCSE in disguise!