Cambridge IGCSE
Cambridge Assessment
Complete guide to passing the Cambridge IGCSE exam on your first attempt.
$50-$150 per subject
~90% A*-G grades
Lifetime
Global (160 countries)
Cambridge Assessment
Foundation for A-Levels/IB
Are you ready for Cambridge IGCSE?
Loading quiz...
Complete Overview
Cambridge IGCSE is a single-subject school qualification for learners aged roughly 14 to 16, awarded by Cambridge International Education, part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment. Students enter subject by subject rather than as one block, and Cambridge does not publish its entry fees publicly: fee lists go to registered schools through Cambridge International Direct, so what a family pays depends on the centre. As a public reference point, Exam Centre London charges private candidates 280 pounds for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580, 240 pounds for Economics 0455 and 380 pounds for Co-ordinated Sciences Double Award 0654 in its November 2026 series, and centre prices include the centre's own administration on top of the Cambridge entry fee.
The Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026 to 2028 records the scale of the qualification: over 70 subjects, taught by more than 5,000 schools in 150 countries. Thirty of those subjects are languages. Cambridge designs each IGCSE syllabus to need about 130 guided learning hours, which is roughly two school years at two to three lessons a week. Most students enter between five and ten subjects.
Grades run A* down to G, with A* the highest. Below G a candidate is reported as Ungraded, which appears on the statement of results but not on the certificate. Many subjects are tiered. In Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580, Core candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 3 and are eligible for grades C to G, while Extended candidates take Paper 2 and Paper 4 and are eligible for grades A* to E. Cambridge also runs a parallel 9 to 1 scale in its most popular subjects for schools in administrative zone 3, where grade 7 sits at the old A standard, grade 4 at C and grade 1 at G, with grade 9 above A*.
There is no fixed pass mark. Cambridge sets grade thresholds after every series using a mixture of statistical evidence and professional judgement, first at component level and then for the syllabus as a whole, so the marks needed move between series and between paper variants. In June 2025, Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 Extended option BX needed 156 of 200 for an A* and 81 of 200 for a C, while option BZ in the same series needed 178 of 200 for an A*. Statements of results in many countries also carry a percentage uniform mark, a common 20 to 100 scale where 90 is the bottom of A*, 60 the bottom of C and 20 the bottom of G.
Exams run in June and November worldwide, with an extra March series for schools in India. Private candidates can enter. Results for the June 2026 series were released on 18 August 2026 at 06:00 BST, and November results come out in mid-January. Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want, though not individual papers.
Why Get Cambridge IGCSE Certified?
Cambridge IGCSE covers more than 70 subjects, including 30 languages, and schools can combine them freely, so a student can enter five subjects or fourteen.
Over 5,000 schools in 150 countries teach Cambridge IGCSE, according to the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026 to 2028.
Cambridge designs each syllabus around about 130 guided learning hours, which lets schools run five to ten IGCSEs inside a standard two-year timetable.
Tiering means a weaker student can still certificate. Core entry in Mathematics 0580 gives grades C to G, and Extended entry gives A* to E, so no candidate is forced onto a paper that will produce an Ungraded result.
Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to, and there are two or three chances a year: June and November everywhere, plus March for schools in India.
Cambridge publishes the grade threshold table for every syllabus and every variant after each series, so you can see exactly how many marks a grade cost. Mathematics 0580 Extended option BX needed 81 of 200 for a C in June 2025.
Seven passes across five subject groups earn the Cambridge ICE group award, with Distinction for grade A or better in five subjects and grade C or better in two more.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
Varies by syllabus and tier. The worked example used throughout this guide is Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Extended, which runs across three papers: Paper 2 at 45 minutes, Paper 4 at 1 hour 15 minutes, and then either Paper 5 at 1 hour 15 minutes or Paper 6 at 1 hour. That totals 195 minutes on the Paper 5 route and 180 minutes on the Paper 6 route, which is the route worked through below. Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 Extended runs 240 minutes across two 2-hour papers.
Questions
Varies by syllabus. Biology 0610 Extended carries 160 marks: 40 four-option multiple-choice questions in Paper 2, 80 marks of short-answer and structured questions in Paper 4, and 40 marks in Paper 5 or Paper 6. Mathematics 0580 Extended carries 200 marks across Paper 2 and Paper 4 at 100 each.
Passing Score
There is no pass mark. Grades run A* to G with Ungraded below G, and Cambridge sets the thresholds after each series. In June 2025, Mathematics 0580 Extended option BX required 156 of 200 for A*, 131 for A, 106 for B, 81 for C, 68 for D and 55 for E. Core option AX required 86 of 160 for C, 72 for D, 59 for E, 46 for F and 33 for G.
Question Types
- Four-option multiple choice, used in the science multiple choice papers such as Biology 0610 Papers 1 and 2
- Short-answer and structured questions, the dominant format in theory papers across the sciences and humanities
- Structured and unstructured questions, the format Cambridge names for Mathematics 0580 Papers 1 to 4
- Practical tests taken in a laboratory, offered as Paper 5 in the sciences
- Alternative to practical written papers on experimental skills, offered as Paper 6 where a school cannot run a practical test
- Extended writing and essay responses in Literature in English, History and First Language English
- Speaking and listening components in language syllabuses, either endorsed separately or counted into the grade
Delivery Method
Paper-based written exams sat in school or at an authorised centre under supervision, plus laboratory practicals and live speaking tests where the syllabus requires them. Every Cambridge school is allocated to one of six administrative zones, and each zone has its own timetable and paper variants. Cambridge began offering digital exams to early adopter schools in 2026.
How scoring works
Score scale
A* to G, with A* highest and Ungraded below G. Some subjects are also offered on a 9 to 1 scale for schools in administrative zone 3. Statements of results in many countries add a percentage uniform mark on a common 20 to 100 scale.
Score needed to pass
No fixed pass mark exists. Thresholds are reset every series. For Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 in June 2025, Extended option BX required 156 of 200 for A*, 131 for A, 106 for B, 81 for C, 68 for D and 55 for E, and Core option AX required 86 of 160 for C down to 33 for G. Employers and sixth forms commonly treat grade C, or grade 4 on the 9 to 1 scale, as the working benchmark.
Roughly what that means raw
In June 2025, an A* in Mathematics 0580 Extended option BX meant 156 of 200 raw marks, or 78 per cent, and a C meant 81 of 200, or about 41 per cent. In option BZ of the same series an A* meant 178 of 200, or 89 per cent, which shows how far thresholds move between variants of the same syllabus.
When results arrive
There is no unofficial or same-day score. June series results for Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and ICE were released on 18 August 2026 at 06:00 BST, one week after AS and A Level results on 11 August. November series results are released in mid-January and March series results, for schools in India, in May. Certificates follow the statement of results by several weeks.
How the scale is built
Cambridge sets grade thresholds using a mixture of statistical evidence and professional judgement, first for each component and then for the syllabus. A candidate's marks across components are combined, with weighting factors applied where components carry unequal percentages, and the total is compared with the syllabus threshold. The stated objective is to hold standards steady year to year so identical performance earns the same grade. Grade A* is not awarded at individual component level and there is no deduction for wrong answers.
Pacing and time budget
160 questions in 180 minutes gives you Worked on Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Extended: 180 minutes for 160 marks, or 1 minute 7 seconds per mark. Within that, Paper 2 gives 45 minutes for 40 multiple-choice items at 67 seconds each, Paper 4 gives 75 minutes for 80 marks at 56 seconds per mark, and Paper 6 gives 60 minutes for 40 marks at 90 seconds per mark. per question.
Paper 2, minute 22 of 45
20 of the 40 multiple-choice items, with any item you have flagged already shaded with a provisional answer
Paper 2, minute 40 of 45
All 40 items shaded, leaving 5 minutes to revisit flagged items rather than to start transferring
Paper 4, minute 38 of 75
40 of the 80 marks secured, which usually means about half the printed questions
Paper 4, minute 68 of 75
All 80 marks attempted, leaving 7 minutes to add units, significant figures and any missing working
Paper 6, minute 30 of 60
20 of the 40 marks, with the results table completed and the graph axes drawn before you run short
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| Paper 2, minute 22 of 45 | 20 of the 40 multiple-choice items, with any item you have flagged already shaded with a provisional answer |
| Paper 2, minute 40 of 45 | All 40 items shaded, leaving 5 minutes to revisit flagged items rather than to start transferring |
| Paper 4, minute 38 of 75 | 40 of the 80 marks secured, which usually means about half the printed questions |
| Paper 4, minute 68 of 75 | All 80 marks attempted, leaving 7 minutes to add units, significant figures and any missing working |
| Paper 6, minute 30 of 60 | 20 of the 40 marks, with the results table completed and the graph axes drawn before you run short |
- Read the mark allocation printed beside each question and spend time in proportion. A one-mark question that takes four minutes has cost you a four-mark question elsewhere.
- On multiple-choice science papers, shade as you go. Nothing in the 45 minutes is reserved for transferring answers, and Cambridge does not deduct marks for a wrong guess.
- In the practical or alternative-to-practical paper, draw the graph axes and plot points before writing the evaluation, because graph marks are mechanical and the evaluation marks are not.
- In Mathematics 0580 Extended, 2 hours for 100 marks is 1.2 minutes per mark. Track against 50 marks at the 60-minute point in each of Paper 2 and Paper 4.
- Leave the last 7 to 10 per cent of each paper's time for units, significant figures and missing working, which examiner reports name as the most common avoidable losses.
Where the marks are
Science AO1: knowledge with understanding
50 per cent of the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 qualification
Half the grade in each science comes from recalling and explaining defined syllabus content, then applying it to unfamiliar contexts and transferring knowledge between syllabus areas.
Science AO2: handling information and problem solving
30 per cent of Biology 0610
Translating data between graphs, tables and prose, identifying patterns, making predictions and giving reasoned explanations, usually on information candidates have never seen before.
Science AO3: experimental skills and investigations
20 per cent of Biology 0610, assessed entirely in Paper 5 or Paper 6
Selecting and using apparatus safely, planning experiments, recording measurements, interpreting data and suggesting improvements. It is the whole of one paper, so neglecting it caps the grade.
Mathematics Extended AO2: analyse, interpret and communicate
50 to 60 per cent of the Extended qualification in Mathematics 0580
Extended weights problem strategy above recall. Questions ask candidates to pick a route through a multi-step problem, connect topics and justify generalisations rather than execute a taught procedure.
Mathematics Core AO1: knowledge and understanding of techniques
60 to 70 per cent of the Core qualification in Mathematics 0580
At Core the balance reverses: routine procedures, notation, measurement, estimation and calculation with and without a calculator carry most of the marks.
Command word compliance
not published as a separate weight; applies to every structured question
Cambridge defines each command word in the syllabus and marks to that definition. Answering explain when the paper asked describe, or omitting working on a calculate question, loses marks the candidate had the knowledge to earn.
Units, significant figures and presentation of data
not published as a separate weight; recurring across science and mathematics papers
Examiner reports repeatedly identify missing units, wrong significant figures and unlabelled graph axes as avoidable losses on questions where the method was correct.
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| Science AO1: knowledge with understanding | 50 per cent of the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 qualification | Half the grade in each science comes from recalling and explaining defined syllabus content, then applying it to unfamiliar contexts and transferring knowledge between syllabus areas. |
| Science AO2: handling information and problem solving | 30 per cent of Biology 0610 | Translating data between graphs, tables and prose, identifying patterns, making predictions and giving reasoned explanations, usually on information candidates have never seen before. |
| Science AO3: experimental skills and investigations | 20 per cent of Biology 0610, assessed entirely in Paper 5 or Paper 6 | Selecting and using apparatus safely, planning experiments, recording measurements, interpreting data and suggesting improvements. It is the whole of one paper, so neglecting it caps the grade. |
| Mathematics Extended AO2: analyse, interpret and communicate | 50 to 60 per cent of the Extended qualification in Mathematics 0580 | Extended weights problem strategy above recall. Questions ask candidates to pick a route through a multi-step problem, connect topics and justify generalisations rather than execute a taught procedure. |
| Mathematics Core AO1: knowledge and understanding of techniques | 60 to 70 per cent of the Core qualification in Mathematics 0580 | At Core the balance reverses: routine procedures, notation, measurement, estimation and calculation with and without a calculator carry most of the marks. |
| Command word compliance | not published as a separate weight; applies to every structured question | Cambridge defines each command word in the syllabus and marks to that definition. Answering explain when the paper asked describe, or omitting working on a calculate question, loses marks the candidate had the knowledge to earn. |
| Units, significant figures and presentation of data | not published as a separate weight; recurring across science and mathematics papers | Examiner reports repeatedly identify missing units, wrong significant figures and unlabelled graph axes as avoidable losses on questions where the method was correct. |
The numbers
Over 70, including 30 languages
Subjects available at Cambridge IGCSE
Source: Cambridge International Education, Cambridge IGCSE curriculum page
Over 5,000 schools in 150 countries
Schools and countries teaching Cambridge IGCSE
Source: Cambridge International Education, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028
About 130 hours
Guided learning hours designed into each IGCSE subject
Source: Cambridge International Education, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 and Mathematics 0580 syllabuses
156 of 200 on option BX, 176 on option BY and 178 on option BZ
Raw mark for A* in Mathematics 0580 Extended, June 2025
Source: Cambridge International Education, Grade thresholds June 2025, Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (without Coursework) 0580
60 to 69 on the common 20 to 100 scale
Percentage uniform mark range for grade C
Source: Cambridge International Education, A guide to percentage uniform marks
18 August 2026 at 06:00 BST for IGCSE, O Level and ICE; 11 August 2026 for AS and A Level
Results release for the June 2026 series
Source: Cambridge International Education, Cambridge Exams Officers' Guide, preparing for results day
If you fail
Wait before retaking
The next available exam series. June and November run worldwide, and schools in India can also enter the March series, so the shortest realistic gap between attempts is about five months and the longest about seven.
Attempt limit
None. Cambridge states in every IGCSE syllabus that candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to.
Retake fee
The full entry fee again, since retakes are whole-qualification entries rather than single papers. Cambridge does not publish its entry fees publicly; schools download fee lists from Cambridge International Direct. As a public reference, Exam Centre London charges private candidates 280 pounds for Mathematics 0580 for November 2026 by the first deadline, rising to 380 pounds after it and 480 pounds after the high late deadline.
Retakes cover every component of the syllabus, so a resit candidate sits the practical or alternative-to-practical paper again as well as the theory papers. You can change tier on a retake, for example moving from Core to Extended in Mathematics 0580, which is often a better move than resitting the same capped tier. A previous grade is not replaced or erased; each series produces its own statement of results and certificate. Before booking a retake, consider an enquiry about results instead: Service 2 is a review of marking, and Service 2S adds a copy of the script so you can see where the marks went.
Exam Domains & Topics
Cambridge groups IGCSE subjects into five curriculum areas for the ICE award but publishes no percentage weighting across those groups, because each candidate builds their own subject combination. ICE candidates must take two different languages from this group. Language syllabuses often add a speaking component that is either endorsed separately or counted into the grade, which changes the entry code and the fee.
Key Topics to Master:
- First Language English 0500 and its 9 to 1 equivalent 0990, including the oral endorsement option 0500 and the count-in speaking option
- English as a Second Language 0510 with speaking endorsement and 0511 with speaking counted in
- Literature in English 0475 and the 9 to 1 version 0992
- First language syllabuses in Arabic 0508, Chinese 0509, French 0501, Korean 0521 and Spanish 0502
- Foreign language syllabuses including French, German 0525, Spanish 0530 and Italian 0535
- Thirty language subjects in total across first language, second language and foreign language routes
One subject from this group is required for the Cambridge ICE award. Environmental Management 0680 can count as either a Group II or a Group III subject, and Global Perspectives 0457 can count as either Group II or Group V, but neither can satisfy both groups at once.
Key Topics to Master:
- History 0470 and the 9 to 1 version 0977, assessed through source analysis and extended writing
- Geography 0460 and the 9 to 1 version 0976, including fieldwork-based question papers
- Economics 0455 and the 9 to 1 version 0987
- Sociology 0495 and Religious Studies 0490
- Global Perspectives 0457, which is team-project and research based rather than exam only
- Environmental Management 0680, counted in either the humanities or the science group
One science is required for the ICE award. Cambridge publishes real assessment objective weights inside each science syllabus: for Biology 0610 the qualification is 50 per cent AO1 knowledge with understanding, 30 per cent AO2 handling information and problem solving, and 20 per cent AO3 experimental skills and investigations, summing to 100. Co-ordinated Sciences Double Award 0654 counts as two subjects for ICE.
Key Topics to Master:
- Biology 0610, Chemistry 0620 and Physics 0625, each with Core and Extended tiers
- Combined Science 0653 as a single award and Co-ordinated Sciences 0654 as a double award
- Paper 5 Practical Test or Paper 6 Alternative to Practical, worth 20 per cent of the science grade either way
- Multiple choice papers of 40 four-option items in 45 minutes, worth 30 per cent
- Theory papers of 80 marks in 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 50 per cent
- The 9 to 1 science versions 0970 Biology, 0971 Chemistry, 0972 Physics and 0973 Co-ordinated Sciences
One mathematics subject is required for ICE. Cambridge publishes assessment objective weights for Mathematics 0580: at Core, AO1 knowledge and understanding of mathematical techniques takes 60 to 70 per cent and AO2 analyse, interpret and communicate takes 30 to 40 per cent. At Extended the balance flips to AO1 40 to 50 per cent and AO2 50 to 60 per cent, which is why Extended rewards problem solving over recall.
Key Topics to Master:
- Mathematics 0580 and its 9 to 1 version 0980, with Core papers 1 and 3 and Extended papers 2 and 4
- A dedicated non-calculator paper at each tier (Paper 1 Core, Paper 2 Extended) and a calculator paper (Paper 3 Core, Paper 4 Extended)
- Additional Mathematics 0606, intended for candidates on course for grade A*, A or B in Mathematics
- International Mathematics 0607, which cannot be combined with 0580 in the same series
- Number, algebra, coordinate geometry, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, transformations, probability and statistics
- From 2027, Statistics 0479 can count as either a Group IV or a Group V subject
One subject from this group completes the five-group ICE requirement, with the seventh subject free to come from any group. These syllabuses are the most likely to carry coursework or portfolio components, which changes the entry option code and the internal deadlines your school has to meet months before the written papers.
Key Topics to Master:
- Business Studies 0450 and the 9 to 1 version 0986
- Accounting 0452 and the 9 to 1 version 0985
- Computer Science 0478 and the 9 to 1 version 0984, and Information and Communication Technology 0983
- Art and Design, Music and Drama, which carry substantial internally assessed components
- Travel and Tourism 0471 and Design and Technology
- Global Perspectives 0457 when taken as a Group V rather than Group II subject
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Ask your exams officer for your statement of entry and check the syllabus code and entry option code for every subject, since 0580 and 0980 and 0607 are different qualifications.
- 2Confirm your tier in every tiered subject. Core entry in Mathematics 0580 caps you at grade C; Extended entry opens A* but examines Supplement content you may not have been taught.
- 3Find your administrative zone, because zone determines which paper variant you sit and therefore which past papers match your exam.
- 4Download the correct syllabus year from cambridgeinternational.org for each subject, not last year's version.
- 5Write out the paper structure for every subject on one page: paper number, duration, marks and percentage weighting.
- 1Copy the subject content headings from each syllabus into a checklist and rate yourself red, amber or green on each line.
- 2In Extended science and maths subjects, mark which lines are Supplement content, since those carry the grades above C.
- 3Read the command words section at the back of each syllabus and write your own one-line definition of state, describe, explain, calculate, suggest and evaluate.
- 4Read the assessment objective weights: Biology 0610 is 50 per cent AO1, 30 per cent AO2 and 20 per cent AO3, so a fifth of the grade is experimental skill.
- 5Count how many red lines you have per subject and use that number to allocate revision time, not how much you enjoy the subject.
- 1Sit one full past paper under exam timing in each of your two weakest subjects, using the variant that matches your administrative zone.
- 2Mark it yourself against the published mark scheme, awarding marks only where your wording matches the accepted answers.
- 3Read the examiner report for that paper and list every error the report says candidates commonly made that you also made.
- 4Look up the grade threshold table for that series and convert your raw mark into a grade so you know where you actually stand.
- 5Record your mark per question, not per paper, so you can see which topics are bleeding marks.
- 1Take 20 past paper questions across subjects and answer only the command word, writing nothing extra.
- 2Practise the difference between describe and explain in the sciences: describe reports what happens, explain gives the mechanism or the reason.
- 3In Mathematics 0580, practise writing full method lines, because method marks are available even where the final answer is wrong.
- 4In History 0470, practise the source questions separately from the essay questions, since they use different mark schemes.
- 5Rewrite five of your weakest answers from the week 3 paper to full marks using the mark scheme wording.
- 1Confirm whether you are entered for Paper 5 Practical Test or Paper 6 Alternative to Practical in each science, because they need different preparation and both are worth 20 per cent.
- 2For Paper 6, drill the recurring tasks: reading a measuring cylinder or thermometer, tabulating results with correct units and significant figures, plotting a graph and drawing a line of best fit.
- 3Practise identifying the independent variable, the dependent variable and the variables to control in five unfamiliar experiments.
- 4Practise writing improvements and sources of error in the specific wording examiners accept, taken from mark schemes.
- 5For Paper 5, rehearse the apparatus listed in the syllabus so no piece of equipment is new on the day.
- 1Mathematics 0580 Paper 1 at Core and Paper 2 at Extended are non-calculator papers, so drill fractions, surds, standard form and long multiplication by hand.
- 2Work 30 questions per session against a clock, since Extended Paper 2 gives 2 hours for 100 marks, roughly 1.2 minutes per mark.
- 3On the calculator papers, practise entering multi-step expressions in one go rather than rounding at each stage.
- 4Learn which formulas are given on the Core list and which on the Extended list, and memorise the ones that are not.
- 5In the sciences, practise unit conversion and significant figures, which examiner reports repeatedly flag as avoidable losses.
- 1In Literature in English 0475, write one timed essay per set text and check it against the assessment criteria for the paper.
- 2In First Language English 0500, practise the directed writing task to the exact word count, since going long costs time not marks.
- 3In History 0470, build a one-page timeline per depth study and write three timed source-based answers.
- 4Practise planning for 4 minutes before writing on every extended response, and keep the plan on the paper.
- 5Ask a teacher to mark one essay per subject against the published criteria rather than giving general comments.
- 1Sit a complete past paper in every subject across the week, in the correct order and to the correct timings.
- 2Use the same variant series for all subjects so the threshold tables give you a coherent grade profile.
- 3Convert every raw mark to a grade using that series' threshold table and to a percentage uniform mark band using the 20 to 100 scale.
- 4Identify the two subjects sitting closest to a grade boundary, because a few marks there move a grade.
- 5Rebuild your red-amber-green checklist from week 2 with the mock evidence rather than your impressions.
- 1Take the two subjects nearest a grade boundary and do three more past papers each, spaced across the week.
- 2For every mark lost, write the syllabus line it came from and revise that line specifically.
- 3Redo, from memory, the questions you got wrong in the mock rather than reading the answers.
- 4Check whether a tier change is still possible with your exams officer if a Core entry is clearly capping you below your ability, since entry deadlines close months before the exams.
- 5Drill the highest-frequency topics from the examiner reports for those two subjects.
- 1Work through every remaining red line on every subject checklist, one subject per day.
- 2Convert each red line into three practice questions pulled from the past paper archive rather than reading notes about it.
- 3Build a single page of formulas, definitions and required practicals per subject.
- 4Test yourself on those pages from blank paper twice, on different days.
- 5Stop making new notes after this week and switch entirely to questions.
- 1Sit one more full paper per subject, this time recording the clock time at which you finished each section.
- 2In Biology 0610 Extended, check you completed the 40 multiple-choice items of Paper 2 inside 45 minutes, which is 67 seconds per item.
- 3In Mathematics 0580 Extended, check you had reached 50 of 100 marks by the 60-minute point of each 2-hour paper.
- 4Leave nothing blank in any paper, since Cambridge does not deduct marks for wrong answers on these papers.
- 5Note every question where you ran out of time rather than out of knowledge, and practise that question type specifically.
- 1Check your personal exam timetable against your administrative zone's timetable, including the date, start time and room for every paper.
- 2Pack a clear pencil case with black pens, pencils, ruler, protractor, compasses and a scientific calculator with fresh batteries for the calculator papers only.
- 3Confirm any access arrangement your school agreed with Cambridge is in place, since these have to be approved before the exams, not on the day.
- 4Reread only your one-page summaries and your error logs, and stop full papers 48 hours before your first exam.
- 5Sleep on a fixed schedule for the final week and plan travel so you arrive well before each start time.
Ready to pass Cambridge IGCSE?
Get 500+ practice questions, video walkthroughs, and a pass guarantee.
Best Study Resources
Cambridge International syllabus PDFs
Official specificationEvery IGCSE syllabus is published on cambridgeinternational.org with the exact paper structure, durations, marks, assessment objective weights, command words and subject content. Download the version for the year you sit, since content changes between cycles.
Free
Cambridge International past papers and mark schemes
Official past papersPast question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and specimen papers by syllabus code on cambridgeinternational.org. Match the variant number to your administrative zone or the timing and content will not reflect your exam.
Free
Cambridge IGCSE grade threshold tables
Official dataPublished after every March, June and November series for each syllabus and each option combination. They give the exact raw mark needed for each grade, which turns a mark out of 200 into a grade rather than a guess.
Free
A guide to percentage uniform marks
Official factsheetCambridge factsheet explaining the 20 to 100 uniform scale printed on statements of results in many countries: 90 to 100 is A*, 60 to 69 is C, 20 to 29 is G. It tells you whether you sat at the top or the bottom of your grade.
Free
Cambridge examiner reports
Official feedbackPublished alongside each past paper. They name the specific errors candidates made question by question, which is the closest thing to being told what the mark scheme will not accept.
Free
Save My Exams
Revision platformTopic-sorted IGCSE questions, model answers and revision notes mapped to Cambridge syllabus codes. Useful for drilling a single weak syllabus line rather than a whole paper.
Free tier with paid subscription
Physics and Maths Tutor
Free resourceTopic-split IGCSE questions with mark schemes for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, plus separate practical skills material. No account needed.
Free
ZNotes
Free notesCommunity-written condensed notes covering Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses by code. Best used as a revision checklist against the official syllabus, not as a substitute for it.
Free
Cambridge endorsed coursebooks
TextbooksCambridge lists endorsed titles for each syllabus on the subject page, including publishers such as Cambridge University Press and Marshall Cavendish Education. Endorsement means the book was checked against the syllabus content.
Around 30 to 50 pounds per subject
Cambridge ICE award page
Official guidanceExplains the five subject groups, the seven-subject requirement and the Distinction, Merit and Pass criteria. Worth reading before subject choices are locked in, because the group rules constrain which combinations qualify.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Revising the wrong syllabus version or the wrong variant
Cambridge publishes syllabuses in multi-year cycles and produces different paper variants for each of its six administrative zones. Check the syllabus year printed on the PDF and the variant number on the past paper against your own statement of entry. A Mathematics 0580 variant 2 paper is not your paper if your zone sits variant 3.
Accepting a Core entry without checking the grade cap
In Mathematics 0580 a Core entry makes you eligible for grades C to G only. If you are capable of a B, the Core paper cannot award it no matter how well you do. Ask your exams officer which tier you are entered for and challenge it early, because entry deadlines fall months before the exams.
Confusing 0580, 0980, 0607 and 0606
These are four separate qualifications. Mathematics 0580 and its 9 to 1 twin 0980 cannot be combined with each other, with International Mathematics 0607 or with O Level Mathematics 4024 in the same series. Additional Mathematics 0606 is designed for candidates already on course for A*, A or B in 0580.
Treating the practical paper as a small add-on
In Biology 0610 the practical paper, whether Paper 5 or Paper 6, carries 20 per cent of the grade and covers AO3 experimental skills, which no other paper assesses. Twenty per cent is roughly the gap between a C and an A. Drill tables, graphs, variables and sources of error the same way you drill content.
Ignoring the command words section at the back of the syllabus
Cambridge defines every command word in each syllabus and marks to those definitions. Describe asks what happens, explain asks why, suggest asks you to apply knowledge to an unfamiliar case, and calculate requires working. Answering the wrong verb loses marks even when the science is right.
Using the calculator on the non-calculator paper in practice
Since the current Mathematics 0580 syllabus, Paper 1 at Core and Paper 2 at Extended are dedicated non-calculator papers and Paper 3 and Paper 4 require a scientific calculator. Practising every topic with a calculator leaves you unable to do surds, standard form and long division under exam conditions.
Reading mark schemes instead of writing to them
Marks are awarded for specific accepted wording. Reading a mark scheme and thinking you would have written that is not the same as producing it. Rewrite your own wrong answers to full marks using the mark scheme, then attempt the same question again a week later from blank paper.
Leaving answers blank
Cambridge IGCSE papers do not deduct marks for wrong answers. A blank multiple-choice item on Biology 0610 Paper 2 is a guaranteed zero where a guess is worth one in four. On structured questions, partial method can still earn marks even when the final answer is wrong.
Planning ICE subject choices after entries close
The Cambridge ICE group award needs passes in at least seven subjects covering all five groups, including two different languages from Group I. Environmental Management 0680 and Global Perspectives 0457 can each count in either of two groups but not both. Working this out in the final term is too late to change entries.
Assuming a percentage uniform mark is your exam percentage
The percentage uniform mark is a common scale across syllabuses, not your raw score. A candidate on the minimum mark for A* gets 90, and a candidate halfway between the D and C thresholds gets 55. It shows your position inside a grade and appears on the statement of results but never on the certificate.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Check your personal timetable against your administrative zone's timetable. Zones sit different papers on different days, so a date copied from a friend in another country can be wrong.
- 2
Bring a scientific calculator with fresh batteries for the calculator papers, and leave it in the bag for Mathematics 0580 Paper 1 and Paper 2, where calculators are not allowed.
- 3
Bring your own geometry set: ruler, protractor and compasses. Graph and construction questions in Mathematics 0580 need them and centres do not always supply them.
- 4
Write your centre number and candidate number on every answer booklet and every insert before you start, since papers are scanned and matched by those numbers.
- 5
Check the mark allocation printed next to each question and match your answer length to it. A two-mark question needs two distinct points, not a paragraph.
- 6
For science multiple choice, mark answers as you go rather than transferring at the end. Biology 0610 Paper 2 gives 45 minutes for 40 items, which is 67 seconds each with no spare transfer time.
- 7
Show every step in calculations. Method marks are awarded on structured questions even when the final figure is wrong, and a bare wrong answer scores nothing.
- 8
Give units and an appropriate number of significant figures in science and mathematics answers, which examiner reports flag repeatedly as an avoidable loss.
- 9
Never leave a blank. There is no negative marking on Cambridge IGCSE papers, so an attempt costs nothing.
- 10
If you are ill or something goes wrong during the exam, tell the invigilator and your exams officer the same day so the centre can apply for special consideration, which Cambridge cannot process retrospectively without evidence.
- 11
Expect no result at the centre. June series results reach schools in mid-August, and November series results in mid-January.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Cambridge International AS and A Level student
The most common next step. A Level subject choices are usually gated on IGCSE grades in the same or a related subject, so a B in IGCSE Mathematics can close the door on A Level Further Mathematics.
No wage; a further two years of full-time study, with private candidate A Level entry at a UK centre running 375 to 450 pounds per subject at Exam Centre London
UK apprentice under 19, or in the first year of any apprenticeship
The apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage. Most apprenticeship providers ask for passes in English and Mathematics, which is why those two subjects carry disproportionate weight in IGCSE entry decisions.
8.00 pounds per hour from April 2026, about 16,640 pounds a year at 40 hours a week
Employed school leaver aged 18 to 20 in the UK
The 18 to 20 National Minimum Wage band. An apprentice aged 19 or over who has completed the first year moves onto their age-appropriate rate rather than staying on the apprentice rate.
10.85 pounds per hour from April 2026, about 22,568 pounds a year at 40 hours a week
Employed worker aged 21 and over in the UK
The National Living Wage, which applies from age 21. This is the floor a UK school leaver route reaches without further qualifications, and it is the comparison point for whether continued study pays.
12.71 pounds per hour from April 2026, about 26,436 pounds a year at 40 hours a week
Foundation doctor, after A Levels and a medical degree
The far end of a science-heavy IGCSE route. Medical schools require chemistry and usually biology at A Level, and those A Levels are normally gated on strong Extended tier IGCSE science grades.
41,226 to 47,610 pounds basic pay in NHS England from 1 April 2026
Prerequisites & Requirements
- There are no formal entry requirements. Cambridge sets no minimum age, prior qualification or nationality condition for entering Cambridge IGCSE.
- Cambridge recommends that learners have studied a lower secondary curriculum such as Cambridge Lower Secondary or an equivalent national framework before starting.
- The qualification is designed for learners aged about 14 to 16, but Cambridge states plainly that it can be taken by students of other ages.
- You must be entered through a school or authorised centre. Exams officers submit entries, choose the entry option code and pay Cambridge.
- Private candidates can enter Cambridge IGCSE, subject to the rules in the Cambridge Guide to Making Entries, and some syllabuses with internally assessed components are harder to take privately.
- Each subject needs about 130 guided learning hours of teaching, which is Cambridge's design figure rather than a rule.
- Some syllabuses cannot be combined in the same series, for example Mathematics 0580 with 0980, with International Mathematics 0607 or with O Level Mathematics 4024.
- Access arrangements, including modified question papers, must be agreed with Cambridge before the exam and must reflect the candidate's normal way of working at school.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades can you get at Cambridge IGCSE?
Grades run A*, A, B, C, D, E, F and G, with A* the highest. Below G a candidate is Ungraded, which appears on the statement of results but not on the certificate. Two other letters can appear on a statement: Q for pending and X for no result. Cambridge also runs a parallel 9 to 1 scale in its most popular subjects for schools in administrative zone 3.
Is there a pass mark?
No. Cambridge sets grade thresholds after each series using statistical evidence and professional judgement, first for each component and then for the syllabus, so the marks required move between series and between paper variants. In June 2025, Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 Extended option BX needed 156 of 200 for A* while option BZ in the same series needed 178 of 200.
What is the difference between Core and Extended?
Tiering determines both the content examined and the grades available. In Mathematics 0580, Core candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 3 and are eligible for grades C to G, while Extended candidates take Paper 2 and Paper 4, are examined on the Supplement content as well, and are eligible for A* to E. Cambridge advises Core entry for candidates expected to achieve grade D or below.
Can you retake Cambridge IGCSE, and how long do you wait?
Yes, and there is no limit. Cambridge states in its syllabuses that candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to. The wait is simply the next exam series: June and November are available worldwide, and schools in India can also enter the March series, so the shortest gap is about five months.
Can you retake a single paper rather than the whole subject?
No. Cambridge IGCSE retakes are for the whole qualification, meaning you resit every component of that syllabus in a later series. This is different from a modular qualification where individual units bank. It also means you can switch tier on a retake, for example moving from Core to Extended in Mathematics 0580.
What does Cambridge IGCSE cost?
Cambridge does not publish its entry fees publicly. Fee lists are released to registered schools through the My Messages section of Cambridge International Direct, and centres add their own charges on top, so the price varies sharply by country and centre. As a public reference, Exam Centre London charges private candidates 280 pounds for Mathematics 0580, 240 pounds for Economics 0455 and 380 pounds for Co-ordinated Sciences Double Award 0654 for its November 2026 series, with higher late fees after the first deadline.
What happens if you fail?
There is no fail, only a grade you did not want or an Ungraded result. Ungraded means performance did not meet the grade G standard, and it is reported on the statement of results but never printed on the certificate. You can enter the same syllabus again in any later series, as many times as you like, and the new grade sits on a separate certificate rather than replacing the old one.
When do results come out?
June series results were released on 18 August 2026 at 06:00 BST for Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and ICE, one week after AS and A Level results on 11 August. November series results come out in mid-January. March series results, which apply to schools in India, are released in May. Schools download results from Cambridge International Direct and decide when to release them to students.
What is a percentage uniform mark?
It is a common 20 to 100 scale printed on statements of results in some countries to show where inside a grade a candidate sat. A candidate on the exact minimum mark for A* gets 90. Grade A runs 80 to 89, B 70 to 79, C 60 to 69, D 50 to 59, E 40 to 49, F 30 to 39 and G 20 to 29. It is not your raw percentage and it does not appear on the certificate.
Can you get a paper remarked?
Yes, through the enquiries about results process, which the centre submits rather than the candidate. The services are a clerical re-check (Service 1), a clerical re-check with a copy of the script (Service 1S), a review of marking (Service 2) and a review of marking with a copy of the script (Service 2S). Cambridge charges an administrative fee published in its fee list to schools, and a two-stage appeals process exists if you disagree with the outcome.
Are calculators allowed?
It depends on the paper, not the subject. In Mathematics 0580, candidates need a scientific calculator for Paper 3 and Paper 4 and are not allowed one for Paper 1 or Paper 2, which are dedicated non-calculator papers. Check the assessment overview in your syllabus, because the rule is printed there per component, and the Cambridge Handbook sets the rules on which calculator models are permitted.
Are adjustments available for disability or additional needs?
Yes. Cambridge calls these access arrangements and they include modified question papers. They must be based on evidence of the candidate's barrier to assessment and reflect their normal way of working at school, and Cambridge must agree that the arrangement is reasonable in cost and timeframe and does not compromise the security of the assessment. Centres should check availability at the start of the course, not near the exam.
What if you are ill on exam day?
Tell the invigilator and your exams officer immediately so the centre can apply for special consideration with evidence. Cambridge can, in defined circumstances, award an assessed mark for a missed component based on the candidate's marks in the other components of the same syllabus, and then award a syllabus grade in the usual way. A candidate who cannot access parts of the assessment at all may still receive an award based on the parts completed.
How many IGCSEs should you take?
There is no Cambridge minimum, and schools typically enter students for five to ten subjects. The one structural target worth knowing is the Cambridge ICE group award, which requires passes in at least seven subjects covering all five curriculum groups, including two different languages from Group I. Co-ordinated Sciences Double Award 0654 counts as two subjects towards that total.
How does the Cambridge ICE award work?
Cambridge ICE is a group award for candidates who pass exams in at least seven subjects drawn from all five curriculum groups. Distinction requires grade A or better in five subjects and grade C or better in two others. Merit requires grade C or better in five subjects and grade F or better in two others. Pass requires grade G or better in all seven subjects.
Is IGCSE the same as GCSE?
They sit at the same level and UK universities treat them as comparable, but they are separate qualifications from different awarding structures. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE (9 to 1) and Cambridge O Level are all at the same level as each other, which is why syllabuses with the same title at that level cannot be combined in one series. IGCSE is designed for an international cohort and avoids content that assumes a single national context.
What is the difference between Cambridge IGCSE and the 9 to 1 version?
The 9 to 1 syllabuses cover the same content and are graded differently. Grade 7 sits at the old A standard, grade 4 at C and grade 1 at G, with grade 9 above A* and the intermediate grades spaced by arithmetic rule. Cambridge offers 9 to 1 grading in its most popular subjects and only to schools in administrative zone 3. Universities have committed to treating both scales equally.
How does Cambridge IGCSE compare with Cambridge O Level?
They are at the same level and lead to the same next steps, but O Level syllabuses generally have fewer coursework and practical options, which suits centres that cannot run laboratory practicals or speaking tests. Because they sit at the same level, you cannot enter both an IGCSE and an O Level with the same title in the same series.
Does Cambridge publish a pass rate for IGCSE?
Cambridge International does not publish an overall pass rate or global grade distribution for Cambridge IGCSE. What it does publish, after every series and for every syllabus and paper option, is the grade threshold table showing the exact raw mark required for each grade, plus the percentage uniform mark ranges that map grades onto a common scale.
How many subjects and countries does Cambridge IGCSE cover?
More than 70 subjects, including 30 languages, taught by over 5,000 schools in 150 countries, according to the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026 to 2028. Across all of its programmes from early years to advanced, Cambridge describes a community of over 10,000 schools in more than 160 countries.
Success Stories
“Past papers, past papers, past papers. I did every available paper at least twice. Mark schemes taught me exactly what examiners want.”
Emma T.
IGCSE Student
“Started revision in February. Wish I'd started earlier. Use the holidays to get ahead.”
James K.
IGCSE Student
“Save My Exams organized questions by topic. I did hundreds of topical questions before attempting full papers.”
Aisha M.
IGCSE Student
Pass Cambridge IGCSE, Guaranteed
94% pass rate on first attempt
One-time • Lifetime access