Which is better igcse or icse

For each subject, there are one to three papers that test the students on different aspects of the subject. This means each student sits for between eight to 11 papers depending on the subjects that they study. It is also recognized and regarded as an equivalent to the GCSE and other international curricula. It was developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations.

For the students in the curriculum, the ages are from year 10, that is Grade 9, and the test is taken at the end of year 11, or Grade Its qualifications are usually based on the individual subjects of study which means that a student receives IGCSE qualifications for each subject that they take.

The students can also choose several extra courses ranging from Creative Arts to Social Sciences. Its equivalents include:. It is a country-level recognized board that offers examinations in a course of general education in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy India. IGCSE merits students based on a three-tier grading system. They are both offered by different boards and for different grades.

Their main differences are based on the content, grading systems, models of teaching, and the type of system. If the student is not well-versed with the subjects, they might find it very difficult to pass the final exam. IB was founded in the year in Switzerland and it is considered to be one of the most expensive as well as the prestigious board of secondary education all over the world.

As per the official website, the IB board of education is spread in over different countries. In terms of acceptability, most universities and schools accept IB education. IB is popular all over the world and it commonly has 3 different sections, the first section is for the students from Kindergarten to 5th, the second section for students from 6th to 10th, and the third section for students from 11th to 12th.

The main difference between other boards of educations and IB is that IB does prescribe a special set of textbooks, it offers maximum freedom in learning. Commonly, IB is more inclined to promoting language studies and humanities. Under IB, the students are given a lot of work, for example, only a few books would be provided to the student and these books might not cover the whole syllabus.

The student has to research and explore to find out more about the subjects and learn them. This type of education is said to offer more skills and knowledge to the student. As already mentioned, IB is applicable for classes beginning from kindergarten to 12th. Both 10th and 12th final exam marks are considered to be important in India and abroad. When it comes to the complexity level, IB is complex. IB is comparatively complex than these two as it includes more problem-solving, assignments, quizzes, etc.

We have listed all the important facts, pros, and cons above. CBSE- The degree of complexity of CBSE is relatively less as compared to the other three boards as it has a fewer number of subjects and is more scoring. The concepts are also taught less in-depth, with more focus on the application of knowledge. IB- The IB curriculum is even more arduous and demanding than the other two Indian boards, as the students are assessed all year round, on a variety of criteria. Quizzes, essays, portfolios and assignments are used to evaluate students, and there is a heavy focus on internal assessment, keeping the students on their feet throughout the year.

Cambridge Advanced- It is also considered a very tough and demanding curriculum, as it has been developed by the University of Cambridge. It emphasizes the development of the knowledge base of students rather than their marks. Cambridge Advanced offers both prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.

CBSE- Students aiming at pursuing a career in Engineering or Medical should prefer this board, as the syllabi and pattern of Indian entrance examinations in these two domains are aligned to the CBSE curriculum. CISCE- This can be a board of choice for students aiming at pursuing careers in the fields of Humanities and Management, as the CISCE syllabus is more oriented toward these streams and helps in the development of excellent language skills.

Students looking for overall grooming and development should also prefer this board over CBSE. IB- This board aids in the development of analytical, logical reasoning, language skills which can offer a slight advantage to students for exams such as the SAT and the GRE. Moreover, it is also advantageous in profile building, as there is a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and social action, thus giving an edge to students for foreign universities.

One can also go for this board if one seeks global skill-development, flexibility and an innovative approach to education. Cambridge Advanced — This board holds wide international recognition, and those graduating with this diploma hold a good footing when applying to international universities.

Thus, students aiming to go abroad for education can consider this board. It is also widely accepted across Indian universities, and aligns with the local dates for entrances and admissions, thus those wanting to study an international curriculum with wide acceptability can opt for it. Each board strives to provide quality education to the learners; however, they differ in philosophy, curriculum design, and execution.

Thus, it is not right to say if one board is better than the others. All the boards keep on revising its syllabus and curriculum design to align their curriculum with contemporary learning requirements. In fact, every board, now focus on critical thinking, application oriented curriculum, communication skills and new age learnings. More often than not, how a school implements the board's objectives and guidelines, is more important than just the board.

And finally, selection of a board is a very subjective decision; every parent has unique preference, depending on learning expectations, location constraints or economic choices.

In India, there are five major examination boards for class 10 and 12 or equivalent, which have presence across the country:. Other than these five, most of the states have their own boards too. Many state boards have similar curriculum to CBSE with additional focus on regional language and information about that state.

Besides, the fee structure is generally very low in comparison to other boards. A guide to examination boards in India. While each one of them have excellent curriculum, they differ in few aspects. Below are the snapshots of key decision criteria for choosing a board.