IGCSE Guides
Parent guides for IGCSE and IB. Each section below opens the full page.
IGCSE guide
What is IGCSE?
IGCSE is the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, a Class 9–10 curriculum from Cambridge. Schools in India use it alongside CBSE, ICSE and IB, which is why parents often meet it for the first time in middle school.
The guide explains what the certificate covers, how the two exam years work, and how it sits next to the other boards before you choose a school or a tutor.
- Cambridge curriculum for the last two years before Grade 11
- How IGCSE is taught in Indian schools
- A first comparison with CBSE, ICSE and IB
- What to ask before you switch boards
Boards
IGCSE vs ICSE vs CBSE
Choosing a board is no longer only CBSE or ICSE. IGCSE and IB are common in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi, and each one changes the syllabus, the exam style and the fees.
This comparison walks through difficulty, assessment and who each board tends to suit, so the decision follows the child’s goals rather than a school brochure.
- Syllabus and exam style side by side
- Who each board is usually a better fit for
- Fees and day-to-day workload
- What the choice means for later study
Grades 8–10
IGCSE Curriculum
The IGCSE curriculum page explains subjects, Core and Extended levels, and the two grading scales families see on reports: A*–G and 9–1.
It also shows how a student moves from Grade 8 into the exam years, and why command words such as describe, explain and evaluate show up so early.
- Subject groups and how combinations work
- Core versus Extended
- Grading on A*–G and 9–1
- The path from Grade 8 to the Grade 10 exams
Cambridge 0580
IGCSE Maths Syllabus
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) is taught at two levels. Core covers the essentials. Extended adds the harder topics that open A and A* and a smoother step into higher maths later.
The syllabus guide sets out the topics, the paper pattern and how the level you sit changes the grade you can reach.
- Core and Extended topic lists
- Paper pattern and timing
- Which level matches the next course
- How the syllabus is used in class
Exam technique
IGCSE Past Papers
Solving a past paper and glancing at the mark scheme does not move a Maths grade from C to A*. The paper has to be used as a system: timed attempt, mark-scheme check, then a list of the exact skills that failed.
The guide shows that routine for Cambridge 0580, Core and Extended, so practice papers change the next week of study instead of sitting in a folder.
- Timed papers, not random worksheets
- Mark schemes used to find lost marks
- A repeat loop for weak topics
- Core and Extended both covered
Revision
6-Month Study Plan
Six months before IGCSE, students either feel there is plenty of time or that there is too much to start. Both stall. A plan that fits around school and tuition is what keeps the months useful.
The guide builds that timetable in stages, with past papers brought in before the final weeks, and a sample week you can copy and change.
- A six-month split you can follow
- School and tuition kept in the same week
- Past papers scheduled, not left until the end
- A sample timetable to adapt
How to choose
Online vs Offline
Parents ask whether online IGCSE classes or a local centre is better. It depends on the child, the subjects, and how much structure they need in the room with them.
The guide compares live online classes with centre batches, including cost, flexibility and accountability, and when a hybrid of both is the practical choice.
- What online classes and local centres usually mean
- Pros and limits of each
- When a hybrid plan is enough
- A short checklist before you decide
IB in Mumbai
IB Tuition Guide
“Best IB tuition in Mumbai” usually means the right teacher for PYP, MYP or Diploma, the right subjects, and reports parents can actually read. A Maths AA tutor is not automatically the right Economics HL mentor.
The guide is a checklist: programme experience, one-to-one or a small batch, how Internal Assessments, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are supported, and what evidence to ask for.
- Match the tutor to PYP, MYP or DP
- Subject fit before brand names
- IA, TOK and EE support for Diploma
- Online, a centre, or both
