Do you know that the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is taken by students across 140 countries and 4500 education institutions every single year?
These figures certainly speak volumes and imply one important fact.
The IGCSE is a globally recognized secondary education qualification.
Apart from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the IGCSE is undoubtedly the most popular examination taken by upper secondary students in Malaysia.
In this article, we'll discover why it is increasingly becoming a hit among Malaysians and learn more about the overview of IGCSE in terms of its subject selection, grading scale and education pathway.
Why Are More Students Taking The IGCSE Exams In Malaysia?
While it may be the norm for almost everyone to enrol in a public primary school and public secondary school 10 to 20 years ago, it's no longer the case these days.
We've listed three reasons why more students are sitting for the IGCSE in recent years.
a) More parents prefer the holistic education syllabus of international schools
It's no secret that the number of international schools in Malaysia has bloomed over the years, where more parents are willing to allocate a huge amount of money for private secondary education for their children.
As compared to public schools, international schools are favoured because they are less academic-focused and provide students with a well-rounded learning experience.
For instance, students get to pursue music education as an official subject with a structured curriculum at their international schools instead of learning it during curricular activities at public schools. They can even sit for the Cambridge IGCSE Music (0410) paper and receive direct guidance from their music teachers during regular schooling hours.
b) Homeschooling is gaining more popularity
Also, due to certain working nature or personal preferences of different parents, some parents decide to either send their children to a homeschooling centre or homeschool them personally using the IGCSE syllabus. For example, the parents may be travelling all the time and it's best for their children to learn at their own pace and place.
Students that are homeschooled will then need to register as a private IGCSE candidate and sit for the subjects at an examination centre near them.
c) Preference for English as the dominant medium of instruction
Given that some parents may have plans to send their children overseas in the future, they might prefer to let them master English comprehensively and be well versed with the culture, history, and international study experience (since most international schools have expats) beforehand.
Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash
Learn more about the other secondary education exams that are offered in Malaysia.
How To Choose The Right Subject Combination Under IGCSE?
We're not kidding when we mentioned earlier that the IGCSE syllabus is holistic.
There are 94 subject options that you can choose from these few subject categories:
- .Languages
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Creative and Professional
Most candidates will usually register for 7 subjects so it's crucial to come out with the most suitable subject selection.
Here are some tips to help you decide if you're not sure how to pick them.
Tip 1: Choose subjects that reflect your interest and ability
The core subjects of IGCSE include English, Malay Language (for Malaysian students), Mathematics and Science. Apart from these four subjects, you are free to select another three subjects (if you plan to take 7 subjects).
For instance, if you are interested in history and you are good at memorizing facts, you can register for the Cambridge IGCSE History (0470) subject. You will be tested on major historical happenings and events of certain regions of the world that took place during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
If Mathematics is you forte, you can also register for the another Mathematics subject: Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics - Additional (0606). You can easily get the details of the subjects syllabus from the Cambridge Assesment International Education official website.
Photo:Xframe
Tip 2: Match them with your intended career path
Another tip to consider is to ask yourself what field are you inclined to pursue after completing your secondary education. Are you planning to do life sciences, engineering, accounting, law or even music?
Taking the relevant subjects at this level will not only enable you to get into the pre-university programme of your desire (universities may specify you to have a credit in a certain subject), but also help you to build a strong foundation while you're doing your degree at university level.
For example, if you intend to be an engineer, it's best to take the Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) subject now so that you will be equipped with the essential scientific knowledge as you progress to a career related to Physics in the future.
Important tip: While it's a personal choice to decide how many subjects you plan to register, there's no need to overcommit (the maximum subjects you can take is 14 subjects ) if you have already selected the essential subjects.
After all, the entry requirement of all pre-university programmes will only look at your 5 best subjects. Remember, your ultimate focus should be on quality instead of quantity.
If you're interested to learn more about vocational studies in Malaysia, you can read this guide on SVM.
How To Register As A Private IGCSE Candidate In Malaysia?
In Malaysia, the IGCSE exams is held twice a year: May and October. The IGCSE registration will be open before these two months to students who are studying at international schools and private candidates.
If you're planning to register as a private IGCSE candidate, we got you covered in this step by step guide to have a smooth and successful registration.
- Step 1: Look up IGCSE exam centres near you that accept private candidates
By searching the Cambridge Aseessment International Education directory website, you will be locate many exam centres that accept private candidates by selecting your location (country: Malaysia) and city (Kuala Lumpur/Sibu, for instance).
- Step 2: Contact them to inquire about the registration, subjects offered and payment details
Narrow down your list and directly contact the examination centre through phone or email to confirm their availability to assist you as a private candidate and proceed to ask them about the examination registration details. You can refer to this example to look at how this examination centre (British Council) process their registration for private candidates.
- Step 3: Submit relevant documents and payment to finalise registration
You're almost done. Remember to check for your full name, IC number and registered subjects multiple times before you submit your payment. Do prepare some clear passport photos for identification purpose too. Once the payment is cleared, you will receive an email of your registration status from the examination centre.
Learn more about the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) exams here.
What Is The Grading System For IGCSE?
Next, we'll look at how you are graded for your IGCSE subjects.
| Grade |
|---|
| A* |
| A |
| B |
| C |
| D |
| E |
| F |
| G |
| U |
Do take note that a credit in IGCSE exams is a "C" grade.
This is as opposed to the UEC exams where grade B and A are counted as a credit, while a C grade is only viewed as a pass.
Acing Your IGCSE Exams With The Help Of A Superprof Tutor
We can't talk about IGCSE without talking about the BTS.
In case you're wondering, we're referring to the seemingly dull and stressful behind the scenes of studying, revising and preparing for your exams.
Well, you don't have to worry if you hire a private tutor from Superprof for the best exam support!
At Superprof, you can have a flexible, dynamic and affordable tutoring experience.
Here's four reasons why:
- Reason 1: You can opt for online/face to face lessons.
- Reason 2: You can learn up to 1001 subjects through this global learning platform.
- Reason 3: You can screen through the tutors' profiles based on their teaching experience and teaching methodology.
- Reason 4: You get to set your maximum budget, you decide the ultimate final hourly rate!
Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash
Just head to the Superprof Malaysia and start browsing. You can also find many reliable tutors who teach examination subjects for lower secondary level in Malaysia too.
What's The Next Step To Take After Completing Your IGCSE Exams?
Now, let's move to the next stage.
Where will you be heading after your IGCSE results is released?
Some IGCSE candidates may even complete their secondary level education at the age of 16 and proceed to do a pre-univeristy programme before they reach 18.
So let's breakdown the education pathways that IGCSE graduates can embark on.
Local Pre-University Programmes at Private Colleges/Universities
IGCSE graduates can only study at private colleges and universities in Malaysia for their pre-university programme and undergraduate studies.
- Foundation
Students need 5 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes.
- Diploma
Students need 3 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes.
- A-Level
Students need 5 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes.
- South Australian Matriculation (SAM) or Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT)
Students need 5 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes.
- American Degree Transfer Programme
Students need 5 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes.
Overseas Pre-University Programmes
- Foundation leading to degree programme
Students need 5 credits in their IGCSE to enrol. Subjects may differ according to Science/non-Science related programmes. Student may need to sit for a English/foreign language proficiency test.
Discover more about this foreign language examination guide, UPBA.
Now you know why the IGCSE is such a popular secondary education examination in Malaysia. If you're planning to sit for this exam, you'll certainly have a versatile and dynamic learning experience!
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