Families moving between countries, or choosing between schools, often meet a stack of unfamiliar names. Here is how the main qualifications relate to each other.
Stage one: O Level and IGCSE
Cambridge O Level and Cambridge IGCSE are subject-based qualifications that students usually take around ages 14 to 16, after about two years of study. Pearson Edexcel offers its own International GCSE. In the UK's own school system the equivalent qualification is the GCSE, offered by boards such as AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel. The names are similar, but the specifications are different, so a student studying one should practise with that board's papers.
Stage two: AS and A Level, IB and AP
After this stage students usually move on to a two-year pre-university course.
- AS and A Level. Cambridge International AS and A Level, Pearson Edexcel International A Level and the UK's A Levels are subject-based. Students typically take three or four subjects. An AS Level covers roughly the first half of an A Level and can be taken on its own or as a step towards the full A Level.
- IB Diploma. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a two-year programme built around six subject groups, together with the Theory of Knowledge course, an extended essay and a creativity, activity and service requirement.
- Advanced Placement (AP). AP courses are single-subject, university-level courses from the College Board, assessed by exams that students usually sit in May. They are commonly taken alongside a US or Canadian high school programme.
Why the exam board matters for tutoring
Two students can both be studying "Chemistry" and be preparing for completely different exams. The topics, the order they are taught in, the practical requirements and the way questions are worded all depend on the specification. When you look for a tutor, give the board and the level, not only the subject. A tutor who knows your board's mark schemes will teach you what the examiners reward.
Choosing a route
Which path suits a student depends on the school, the country and the university they hope to attend. Entry requirements differ between universities and between degree courses, so check the requirements of the courses you are interested in rather than relying on general rules. If you are unsure, ask the school, or send us the details and we will help you work out which board and level you are on.