With a growing number of young people seeking employment opportunities overseas, the IGCSE syllabus has piqued the curiosity of school-going students and their parents recently. On one hand, the parents want to facilitate more career options for their children. On the other hand, they’re concerned that admitting their children to IGCSE board schools in Bangalore may hamper their chances of clearing national-level examinations or seeking government jobs. There is a cloud of smoke around IGCSE courses in India.
If you intend to enrol your child in one of the best IGCSE schools in Bangalore, read on to find answers to most of your questions.
Common Concerns Around The IGCSE Courses
- What is IGCSE and how will it benefit my child?
The IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a globally accepted certification course offered by the UCIE (University of Cambridge International Examinations). Students who complete their education at an IGCSE school are eligible to apply for A-level qualifications at prestigious universities in the United Kingdom and the United States. The IGCSE curriculum is a two-level curriculum divided into ‘core’ and ‘extended’ sections. It allows students to choose 5-14 subjects from a list of 70, including first (or native) language, second language, science, social science, mathematics, arts & design, performing arts, and business studies. The board follows an eight-point (A*–G) grading system for students’ assessments.
Children taking the IGCSE course always have an edge over their contemporaries because it covers a large number of areas and provides uniformity in education worldwide. Some experts have observed that IGCSE board students tend to have a solid understanding of foundational concepts taught in the IBDP.
- In which grade should my child switch to the IGCSE curriculum?
There’s no such thing as the “right time to switch” to an IGCSE curriculum. Even if the student doesn’t plan to study overseas now, enrolling in an international curriculum will empower them with global perspectives and experiences. Generally, it takes students at least two years to understand and settle into the IGCSE programme. Accordingly, students and parents can choose when to switch.
- How is IGCSE different from CBSE or ICSE boards?
While ICSE and CBSE syllabuses are regionally-tailored to explore more topics related to India, IGCSE, on the other hand, is more standardised and promotes a global standard for education. It is in alignment with the government’s NEP (New Education Policy) 2020, especially in terms of skill training, vocational courses, project-based learning, formative assessments, etc.
- Can my child switch back to the ICSE or CBSE board?
Yes.
- Can my child take national-level entrance exams after completing their education at IGCSE board schools?
Yes. The IGCSE course content is in line with the prescribed syllabus followed by various universities and bodies that conduct all-india competitive examinations for medicine, engineering, design, or business studies. Moreover, all institutions and employing bodies in India recognise the A/As level curriculum.
Since the curriculum follows a practical approach and tests students through application-based questions or real-life projects, students get opportunities to practise and develop critical skills. E.g., quick thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, reasoning & analysis, scientific temper, observation, etc. These skills are tested in all kinds of competitive and professional exams, irrespective of whether they’re conducted in or outside India.
- How is the curriculum implemented differently at top IGCSE syllabus schools in Bangalore like the Ekya Schools?
Ekya schools, as one of the top IGCSE schools in Bangalore, have an in-house, personalised curriculum, tailored by the experts as per the international curriculum. By steering away from mugging or rote learning, it creates opportunities for students to indulge in experiential, hands-on learning beyond the classrooms. It allows young minds to:
- Develop an understanding of subject matter and its applications
- Apply what they’ve learned inside the class to new and unfamiliar situations
- Pursue their curiosity through discovery, exploration, trial, and experimentation
- Clear their doubts with discussions and intellectual enquiries
- Adopt a more flexible & problem-solving approach in the face of challenges
- Use a design-thinking, open, and collaborative approach to find solutions
- Build socio-emotional, cultural, and global awareness
Educators at Ekya are well-trained (through expert workshops and training sessions) to build a culture of communication, reasoning, and inquiry that is necessary to develop 21st-century skills in students. They create the right atmosphere for settling into the novel curriculum by setting clear expectations in terms of learning, culture, and behaviour. They break their lessons into smaller milestones and goals, allow students the flexibility to choose their assignments, and give them enough time and space for settlement before they decide to take the final examination.
The school provides additional support to students who face any challenges, both within and outside of regular school hours.
Did that spark your curiosity about the IGCSE course? Click here to learn more about IGCSE learning at Ekya Schools.
