Start with prior learning
Share recent reports and the subjects your child has completed. Admissions can help identify gaps before you commit to a course or exam date.
International British curriculum
International GCSEs for students worldwide
Choose International GCSE subjects around the next qualification, the country you live in and where your child will sit exams.
CambriLearn teaches the courses online and helps you plan the examination route. Students take their final papers in person at a registered exam centre, with qualifications awarded by the relevant exam board.
Cognia accredited and an approved Pearson Edexcel centre
- Usually ages 14 to 16Placement depends on subject readiness
- Two exam-board routesCambridge and Pearson Edexcel
- Online teachingLive lessons and recorded explanations
- Exams at a local centreConfirm availability before enrolling
A subject programme before AS and A Levels
International GCSEs develop the subject knowledge students need for more advanced study. At CambriLearn, the programme follows Foundation II or equivalent prior learning. The right starting point depends on what your child has already studied.
Choose with the next stage in mind
Check the subjects and grades needed for the AS or A Level courses your child may take. Mathematics and science choices can affect those options.
Check the local exam route
A subject is only a practical choice if a centre can accept your child for its syllabus and assessment components. Check this alongside the timetable.
New to the qualification? Read the guide to IGCSE
International GCSE subjects
Explore the International British courses below. Each link opens the course details, including what your child will study. Start with the subjects needed for further study, then consider interests, workload and local exam availability.
- International GCSE Accounting
- International GCSE Afrikaans
- International GCSE Biology
- International GCSE Business Studies
- International GCSE Chemistry
- International GCSE Core Mathematics
- International GCSE Economics
- International GCSE English First Language
- International GCSE French
- International GCSE Geography
- International GCSE History
- International GCSE Information and Communication Technology
- International GCSE Mathematics Ext.
- International GCSE Physics
- International GCSE Spanish
The list includes two Mathematics routes. Choose the course that fits prior learning and the requirements of the next qualification. Confirm availability and the relevant syllabus for the intended exam year.
Considering Pearson Edexcel? Explore the separate Pearson Edexcel subject list
Choose the exam board for each subject
The decision depends on the syllabus, the assessment route and the centre available to your child. It does not need to be the same board for every subject.
Cambridge examinations
Cambridge IGCSE sciences can offer a practical test or an Alternative to Practical paper, depending on the syllabus. Confirm the component route with the exam centre. Practical science skills still form part of the course.
Pearson Edexcel examinations
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics assess practical understanding through written papers. These qualifications use grades 9 to 1. Read the subject specification before choosing.
A confirmed subject combination
Check the exact syllabus code, exam year, available series and centre before enrolling. If combining boards, confirm that the next school or institution accepts the proposed combination.
CambriLearn is not a registered Cambridge school. Its International British courses prepare students for examinations taken as private candidates. Read the accreditation details
Official guidance: Cambridge science assessment and Pearson International GCSE comparability
Fit the teaching timetable to your location
Your child follows a weekly subject schedule with online lessons, assignments and teacher feedback. Check lesson times in your local time zone before choosing the subjects.
Lessons and revision
Live lessons are recorded so students can revisit explanations and catch up on a missed session. Ask admissions to confirm the live slots for each subject. View the timetables
Work and feedback
Teachers mark submitted assignments and provide feedback. Parents can follow progress and identify where their child needs help. See the parent experience
Fees and support
Choose the support package for each subject and use the fee calculator for current tuition. Budget separately for textbooks, exam entries and any travel to the centre. Compare fees and packages
Arrange exams where you will be living
Online study and exam entry are separate arrangements. Our Exam Officers guide families, while the registered centre confirms whether it can accept the student, enter the syllabus and provide the required assessment components.
Confirm the centre first
Tell the centre that your child is a private candidate. Check the subject codes, assessment options, access arrangements and any travel requirements before committing.
Choose an available series
Cambridge commonly offers June and November series, depending on the syllabus and location. Pearson International GCSE uses May and June, with a November series for available subjects. Confirm the current timetable for each course.
Register and plan the exam days
Get the centre deadlines, fees and identification requirements in writing. The centre handles the exam entry and explains how results and certificates will be issued.
Moving country during the programme? Check the new centre and available exam series before making plans. A centre place or a transfer is not automatic.
Official guidance: Cambridge private candidates and Pearson International GCSE examination series
Plan what comes after International GCSE
International GCSEs are usually followed by AS and A Levels or another senior secondary qualification. They do not normally meet university entry requirements on their own.
AS and A Levels
Work backwards from the subjects your child may need later. Check required grades and any prior subject knowledge. Explore AS Level courses and A Level courses
A different school or country
Ask the receiving school how it assesses International GCSE results, subject combinations and placement. Recognition does not guarantee admission to a particular programme.
University plans
Check both the institution requirements and any national recognition or exemption rules. For South Africa, consult the Universities South Africa Matriculation Board. Read the university pathways guide
Questions about the international programme
Practical decisions to settle before choosing subjects and an exam date.
Can my child join from another curriculum
Yes, admissions can review previous subjects and reports to discuss a suitable starting point. Completing a particular grade elsewhere does not automatically confirm readiness for every International GCSE subject.
Can we combine Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel subjects
A combination may be possible. Confirm the teaching timetable, exam-centre availability and the entry requirements of the next school or qualification before choosing the subjects.
How many subjects should we choose
Choose enough to meet the requirements of the next stage, with a workload your child can manage. There is no single subject total that suits every country, destination or student. Admissions can help you plan the combination.
Can my child sit the exams online
Final International GCSE examinations are taken in person at an authorised centre. Online teaching does not include an automatic exam booking. Confirm the private-candidate arrangements for each subject.
What happens if we move countries
You can discuss continuing the online courses with CambriLearn, but you must separately check lesson times, local education requirements and exam-centre arrangements in the destination country. Check availability before moving an exam plan.
Does International GCSE guarantee university entry
No. Universities set their own subject and grade requirements and normally require further qualifications such as AS or A Levels. National recognition or exemption requirements may also apply.
Build a subject plan for the next stage
Tell us where you live, what your child has studied and the qualifications they want to take next. A consultant can help you compare subjects, support and examination arrangements.