An international secondary-school qualification.
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an internationally recognised qualification. Students usually study it between the ages of 14 and 16, commonly during Years 10 and 11.
Rather than receiving one overall qualification grade, students receive a separate grade for each subject. This allows them to select subjects that suit their interests, strengths and future education plans.
What subjects can students take?
IGCSE offers a broad range of subjects. The exact choices available depend on the examination board and the student’s school or examination centre.
| Subject area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Languages | English, Malay and Mandarin Chinese |
| Mathematics | Mathematics and Additional Mathematics |
| Sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Combined Science |
| Humanities | History and Geography |
| Business | Business Studies, Economics and Accounting |
| Technology | ICT and Computer Science |
| Creative subjects | Art and Design and Music |
When are the examinations?
In Malaysia, the main examination periods depend on whether students take Cambridge IGCSE or Pearson Edexcel International GCSE.
| Examination board | Main examination periods |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE | May–June and October–November, officially known as the June and November examination series |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE | May–June and November |
The series name does not mean every paper takes place in that month. Dates vary by subject, paper, examination year and, where applicable, administrative zone. Practical or speaking assessments may also take place earlier.
Students should obtain their final timetable from their school or examination centre and confirm subject availability and registration deadlines before choosing an examination session.
How are students assessed?
Written and practical assessment
Many IGCSE subjects are assessed through written examinations. Depending on the subject and syllabus, assessment may also include coursework, speaking tests, listening tests or practical assessments.
For science subjects, students may take a practical test or an alternative-to-practical paper, depending on the syllabus and the options offered by their examination centre.
Core and Extended options
Some Cambridge IGCSE subjects offer Core and Extended options. Core covers essential subject content, while Extended includes additional, more demanding material and provides access to higher grades.
These options are not available in every subject. Students should check the relevant syllabus and discuss the appropriate option with their teacher.
How is IGCSE graded?
Cambridge IGCSE commonly uses grades from A* to G, although Cambridge also offers 9–1 versions of selected qualifications. Pearson Edexcel International GCSE uses the 9–1 grading scale, with 9 being the highest grade.
Students should confirm the grading system for their exact qualification, as university and college entry requirements may specify particular subject grades.
IGCSE and SPM
IGCSE is an international qualification, while SPM is Malaysia’s national secondary-school qualification. Both can support progression to further study, subject to the admission requirements of the chosen institution and programme.
Students commonly complete IGCSE around age 16 and SPM around age 17. However, the age at which an individual student sits IGCSE can vary.
How are Cambridge IGCSE exam marks calculated?
Cambridge combines paper marks using the subject’s component weightings, then compares the weighted total with the grade thresholds for that examination series. It is not always a fixed rule such as “90% = A*”.
Every syllabus and examination series can use different components, weightings and thresholds. The worked figures below explain the process; they are not official thresholds for a particular subject.
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Each paper receives a raw mark
A raw mark is the number of marks earned according to the marking scheme—for example, 32 out of 40.
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The paper weightings are applied
Different papers can contribute different proportions of the final result. In this hypothetical example, the three components produce an overall weighted percentage of 74%.
Component Your marks Paper percentage Weighting Contribution Multiple-choice paper 32/40 80% 30% 24 Theory paper 56/80 70% 50% 35 Practical paper 30/40 75% 20% 15 Total 100% 74% Contribution=(marks earned ÷ maximum marks) × weighting
Cambridge may express the equivalent total as weighted marks—for example, 148 out of 200. Actual weightings depend on the syllabus and examination year.
Calculate your weighted marks
Enter the marks and official weighting for each component. The weightings must total 100% for a complete result.
ContributionContributionContributionTotal weighting100%Weighted result74.00%Your component weightings total 100%. The weighted result is ready.
This calculator estimates the weighted percentage only. Compare the result with the official threshold table for the correct syllabus, option and examination series.
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The total is compared with grade thresholds
A grade threshold is the minimum total mark needed for a particular grade. Suppose the thresholds in a hypothetical examination were:
Grade Hypothetical minimum mark out of 200 A* 160 A 140 B 120 C 100 In this example, 148/200 would earn an A because it reaches the A threshold but falls below A*.
These figures are examples—not official thresholds.Cambridge sets thresholds after papers have been sat and marked. Thresholds can vary by subject, examination series and paper combination to account for differences in difficulty. Check the official Cambridge grade threshold tables for the correct series.
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The number on a result may be a PUM
A Percentage Uniform Mark (PUM) is not the student’s actual examination percentage. It shows where the result sits within the awarded grade range.
Grade PUM range A* 90–100 A 80–89 B 70–79 C 60–69 D 50–59 E 40–49 F 30–39 G 20–29 For example, A (85) means the result sits within the A grade range. It does not necessarily mean the student answered 85% of the examination correctly.
What is needed to check an actual result?
Use the subject code, examination session and year, paper numbers, marks for each paper, and the syllabus option or component combination. Then check the syllabus weighting information and the matching row in the official threshold table for that exact series.
What comes after IGCSE?
Students may progress to A Levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, an Australian pre-university programme, foundation studies or a diploma. Eligibility depends on their results and the institution’s entry requirements.
Choosing suitable subjects
Students should consider their strengths and future study plans. Those interested in engineering may benefit from Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Students interested in business may consider Business Studies, Economics or Accounting.
Before finalising their choices, students should check the requirements of their intended college course. Choosing suitable subjects early can help keep future education options open.
Official examination information
Use the examination boards’ own websites for current syllabuses, timetables and administrative details.
- Cambridge IGCSE qualification information
- Cambridge examination timetables
- Cambridge guide to understanding results
- Cambridge component-mark conversion guidance
- Cambridge grade threshold tables
- Cambridge guide to Percentage Uniform Marks
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE information
- Pearson Edexcel examination timetables