How to Study for IGCSE

IGCSE – which stands for ‘International General Certificate of Secondary Education’ - is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14-16-year-old students looking to progress towards further academic study, such as A Levels, before entering university. Many undergraduate programs offered by universities globally specify that applicants meet certain criteria at IGCSE level in order to be considered for admission. Currently, there are two exam boards which offer IGCSE exams; Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel.

In this article, we will highlight the best ways to study for your IGCSEs and how to prepare for success.

IGCSE Curriculum

The IGCSE curriculum offers study in a range of different subjects, including Mathematics, English, Science, Geography and Humanities. It also gives students the chance to learn more about their chosen academic field through a variety of different electives, such as Business Studies, Accounting, Chemistry, Physics and Biology.

In Pakistan, Cambridge International is the primary exam board for IGCSEs. Cambridge IGCSEs offer up to 70 subjects, each with a syllabus that has an international outlook along with a local relevance. Results are graded from A* to G with A* being the highest and G being the lowest. These are determined by the total number of marks you have received in your exam paper.

Preparing for Your IGCSE

Almost every student prepares for their IGCSE exams with the intention of getting an A* in all of them. However, what matters is the manner of study adopted. The following tips should be of some help to you as you navigate your study schedule.

Study for the Long Term

Rather than going from test to test and midterm to midterm, barely being able to retain important details and information, studying for the long-term helps you not only focus on significant topics but also get more time to practice and memorize relevant concepts of a given subject.

Study from Multiple Sources

Students are normally given one textbook to study from. However, there are a variety of different resources students can choose to study from. This is because multiple publishers carry a different approach or outlook towards the same syllabus; their textbooks may contain certain perspectives of a particular subject that may otherwise not be available elsewhere. By learning more about these differing viewpoints, students will be able to cover greater course material, not to mention gain a wider perspective on the subject.

Some of the alternative ways through which students can expand their level of understanding include the following:

Other textbooks by different publishers
Online notes and classes (Here at Out-Class, we offer a range of interactive online classes on all IGCSE & O-Level subjects; each class is taught by highly dedicated instructors with decades of experience)
YouTube Videos

Study from Past Papers

Once you have memorized key concepts of a particular subject, it is time to put that knowledge to the test. Solving past papers is beneficial because:

They help familiarize you with the format
They prepare you for questions most likely to be asked during the exam

While most teachers do stress on paying attention to the course material, many questions found in the exam are designed to test students on their understanding of important concepts using hypothetical situations or case studies. This holds true for both IGCSE Chemistry past papers as well as IGCSE Physics past papers. Practicing solving past papers helps students anticipate such questions and devise answers accordingly.

A Month Before Your IGCSE Exam

The following tips should help you prepare for your IGCSE exam in the best possible way:

Prioritize exams that make up a significant amount of your grade. It isn’t practical to prepare for every single exam of a certain subject. Instead, try to concentrate most of your efforts on the exam that constitutes a majority of your grade, be it the subjective part of the paper or the MCQs.
Take regular breaks to refresh your mind. It is important to give yourself regular breaks in order to stay fresh and alert as you prepare for your exam.
Highlight important points in your study notes. It would be better if you tried to focus on the most salient features of the topic that you are studying for. This way, you will have a much better chance of doing well in your exam without the added pressure.
Ask friends and family to quiz you on the subject. Test your knowledge by asking your friends and family to give you an impromptu quiz on the subject you’re studying for. This will help you retain important details in a much better manner.

On Exam Day

You will save yourself a lot of worry and stress if you keep in mind the following tips:

Arrive 30 minutes before the start of the exam so that you have enough time to settle in
Be sure to bring the following items with you:

ID Card
Statement of Entry (A document that confirms your exam registration that includes a list of your chosen subjects and the exam dates for each module)
Pens and pencils in a CLEAR bag
Basic calculator

Conclusion

With the help of the above tips along with some dedication, perseverance and hard work, you should be well on your way towards successfully passing your IGCSE exams. If you are a student currently preparing for their IGCSE exams, then visit our website, www.out-class.org and enroll in our highly comprehensive IGCSE online courses. At Out-Class, you can gain access to a whole range of IGCSE & O-Level courses that are interactive, easy to understand and are taught by highly qualified and experienced teachers. Visit our website today!