Courses and boards
O Level, IGCSE, A Level, IB and AP: how the qualifications fit together
A plain-language guide to the main international and UK qualifications, and why the exam board matters when choosing a tutor.
Study guides
Courses and boards
How qualifications and exam boards fit together.
Study guides
Courses and boards
AP courses and exams: what they are and how scores are used
Advanced Placement courses give students a chance to earn college credit. How the 1 to 5 scale works and why each college decides for itself.
Courses and boards
The IB Diploma for parents: subjects, the core and the 45 points
Six subjects, three core components and a maximum of 45 points. What the International Baccalaureate Diploma asks of a student and how it is scored.
Courses and boards
AS and A Level explained: how the two years fit together
AS Level can be the first half of an A Level or a qualification of its own. How the staged and one-sitting routes work for Cambridge International A Levels.
Courses and boards
Cambridge IGCSE or O Level: what is the difference?
Both are taken around ages 14 to 16 and carry the same weight. Here is where they differ, and why your school's choice matters more than the label.