Edexcel IGCSEs accredited by Ofqual

As part of the government’s move to widen choice in education, International GCSEs are now being taught in state maintained schools as well as in the UK independent sector and internationally.  IGCSEs have been included in the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) list of approved qualifications since 2009.

Are IGCSEs like GCSEs?

Similar to GCSEs, IGCSEs are accepted by further educational institutions world-wide, and in the UK.  Unlike GCSEs, however, coursework is not compulsory, and assessment is by written examination at the end of a course of study.  Whereas GCSE examinations must be sat in the UK, IGCSEs can be taken around the world in approved test centres.

Where can I sit my IGCSE exams?

At Oxford Open Learning we have developed a suite of new courses according to Edexcel IGCSE specifications so that our distance learning students are not held back by GCSE controlled assessment requirements, and can opt to sit their exams wherever they may live across the world.

What does accreditation mean?

Edexcel have recently announced that their specifications for Edexcel Certificates in English Language A, English Literature, and Mathematics A have all been accredited by Ofqual, the government’s qualifications regulator.  These now join their existing portfolio of IGCSEs.  This means that these subjects are now eligible for state funding and school results in these subjects now count towards school league table points.  Edexcel are currently awaiting accreditation of their science courses: biology, chemistry, physics and general science.

Which IGCSEs can I study with Oxford Open Learning?

At Oxford Open Learning we currently offer the following IGCSE courses:

• Accounting
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Chemistry
• Economics
• English
• English Literature
• French
• Geography
• History
• Human Biology
• Mathematics
• Spanish

We are currently developing IGCSE courses in Physics and Science and expect these to become available by September 2012.

If you would like to study for IGCSEs by distance learning, please contact us to discuss your needs, and one of our student advisers will be pleased to help you.

If you need to find an exam centre to sit your IGCSE exams, please see our exams pages to find out what procedure you need to follow.

If you want to check out your nearest exam centre outside the UK, Edexcel International will show you where to find it.