OUPP Curriculum  
     
 
 
Overview
   The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) has been designed for 14–16 year olds. Students who obtain an IGCSE qualification from Cambridge are prepared for further academic success, including progression to A and AS Level study, and will be equipped with the skills needed for immediate employment. Cambridge IGCSE is recognised as evidence of ability by academic institutions and employers around the world.
   Cambridge IGCSE provides a broad study programme across a wide range ofsubject areas. Within the curriculum there is a balanced mix of practical experience and theoretical knowledge. With a choice of Core and Extended papers in most subjects, the Cambridge IGCSE is suitable for students with different levels of ability.
   The Cambridge IGCSE is an internally based curriculum, allowing teaching to be placed in a localised context, making it relevant in different regions. It is also suitable for students whose first language may not be English and this is acknowledged throughout the examination process.
Cambridge IGSCE Accreditation Guide   
In order to mark Cambridge IGCSE coursework teachers need to be accredited with CIE first.
Subjects
  The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is the world's most popular international qualification for 14–16 year olds. It develops successful students, giving them excellent preparation for their next steps in education, including progression to A and AS Level study, and equips them with skills for immediate employment. Cambridge IGCSE is recognised by universities and employers worldwide.
Recognition
  The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is taken in over 100 countries worldwide and is internationally recognised as being equivalent to the GCSE in the United Kingdom.
  Grading is on an eight-point scale (A*–G) and grades A to E are equivalent to O Level grades A to E. In some countries, IGCSE qualifications will satisfy the entry requirements for university. In others, they are widely used as a preparation for A Level, AS, International Baccalaureate and US Advanced Placement courses.
  Grade C in IGCSE English (both First Language and Second Language) satisfies the English proficiency requirements of many universities in the UK and other anglophone countries.
IGCSE Recognition
  If you would like specific information on which institutions accept IGCSE, please use our Recognition Search. Recognition
  CIE qualifications are recognised throughout the world. At CIE we are committed to ensuring that university admission offices, colleges, employers and professional bodies around the world understand the value of CIE qualifications.
                                    Cambridgenternational A & AS Level
Overview
    International A Level is recognised worldwide as a requirement for entry into higher education. Study and examination at A Level give students in-depth knowledge and lifelong skills that prepare them for success in higher education and employment.
    International AS Level is typically taken at the mid-point of an A Level programme and is optional. Schools can offer AS Level as a qualification in its own right to increase breadth in the curriculum and allow students to complement other subjects they are studying.
 International Recognition
    International A Level and AS Level have widespread international recognition as educational qualifications. This recognition is because:
1. International A and AS Level qualifications are recognised by universities as equivalent in value to UK A and AS    Levels
2. Good grades at A and AS Level can result in one full year of advanced standing or credit at universities in the    USA and Canada
3. Good A and AS Level grades are vital for admission to all the world’s major English-speaking universities and    many non-English-speaking universities
4. A and AS Level are rigorous programmes that encourage high academic standards
5. A and AS Levels have a high profile amongst English-medium international schools around the world .
Flexibility
    Schools and students find A and AS Levels very flexible. Schools can offer almost any combination of the wide choice of subjects available. Students have the freedom to select the subjects that are right for them – either follow a broad course of study, or specialise in a particular area.
    By studying a broad selection of international A and AS Level subjects, students can benefit from the additional award of the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma.
* The staged assessment route is not possible in all subjects. The outcomes awarded for AS language syllabuses cannot be carried forward to A Level.
International Relevance
    International A and AS Level syllabuses have been created specifically for an international audience. The content of International A and AS Levels is carefully devised to suit the wide variety of Cambridge schools worldwide and avoid any cultural bias. The structure and administration of International A and AS Levels are also designed to meet the needs of our schools and students around the world.
Assessment
 International A and AS Level examination sessions occur twice a year**, in June and November, with results issued in August and February respectively.
    International A and AS Level use a wide range of assessment processes and techniques to supplement formal written examinations – orals, practicals, projects and coursework of differing types are all used in various subjects where they are the most effective and appropriate means of measuring attainment.
    Subjects are graded A through to E. Grade A is awarded for the highest level of achievement, grade E for the lowest, and a U grade (ungraded) is issued for papers that do not meet the requirements of the assessment. In some circumstances, a candidate who has been entered for international A Level but not reached the standard of a grade E will be awarded a compensatory international AS Level in the subject.
** Some subjects are only available in June or November.
Performance Feedback
    International AS Level provides valuable feedback on performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses prior to any final assessment. Taking the international AS Level examination part-way through the international A Level course provides feedback that students can use to set learning goals for the second half of the course. It can also provide students with the motivation and momentum to complete their programme of study.
Subjects
    Cambridge International A Level is the world's most popular international examination for 17–18 year olds.
    As one of the most recognised qualifications around the world, it is accepted as proof of academic ability for entry to universities worldwide.
    Cambridge International A Levels typically take two years to complete and offer a flexible course of study that gives students the freedom to select subjects that are right for them.
Recognition
A Levels
    The General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level), or A Level, is the ‘gold standard’ of CIE qualifications. It has exactly the same value in admitting students to all universities as its UK equivalent. It is also accepted as an entry qualification by universities of the European Union, on a par with the French Baccalaureat, the German Abitur, etc.
    A Level examinations are usually taken after 13 years of education and are based on approximately 360 hours of guided learning, normally over a two-year period. A Levels are highly specialised and a student will normally take three subjects, although occasionally exceptional students take four.
    There are five passing grades (A–E). Minimum matriculation requirements are at least two pass grades. University courses for which there is not strong demand might accept students with these grades, but typical UK university entrance requirements are closer to three passes at grade C for academic courses in established universities. Very popular courses will often require higher grades. For example, medical schools in the UK often require grades of AAB and the highly selective universities of Cambridge and Oxford ask for at least AAB.
    Cambridge International A Levels are taken throughout the world, sometimes as the national examinations of certain Commonwealth countries (such as Singapore and Mauritius), sometimes within international schools and sometimes in bilingual government schools alongside the national exams.
    Good A Level grades can be a key to admission for all the world’s major anglophone universities. University course credit and advanced standing is often available in countries such as the USA and Canada, where entrance to university takes place after 12 years of education. Good grades in carefully chosen A Level subjects can result in up to one full year of credit.