Upper Secondary Curriculum CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
"IGCSEs are the world’s most popular international qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds. They are your gateway to higher education or professional studies in your home country or overseas."
British Council
What is Cambridge Upper Secondary?
Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16-year-olds. It is recognised by leading universities and employers worldwide and is an international passport to progression and success. Developed over 30 years ago, it is tried, tested and trusted by schools worldwide.
As the only officially accredited British School Overseas in Bulgaria, we know that quality education is vital for success. By offering our pupils the IGCSE option, both to study full time and by which to be examined, they have an internationally accepted qualification that allows for easy transfer around the world.
At BSS, we understand that many of our pupils and their families may be moving on to other countries and we want them to have the peace of mind that they have a solid foundation in their secondary education.
Cambridge Upper Secondary Curriculum
Cambridge IGCSE offers a flexible curriculum, with a choice of over 70 subjects in a Y combination.
Core Elements of IGCSE
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Subjects - 5 subjects are required to receive Qualification |
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Cambridge IPQ - Cambridge International Project Qualification |
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Personal skills - Personal skills are designed for students to develop attitudes, skills, and strategies to be applied to personal and contexts now and in the future. |
Core subjects of IGCSE
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English - English as a Second Language, English First Language, English Literature |
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Science - Co-ordinated Science, Environmental Management, |
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Societies - Business Studies, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) |
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Foreign Language - German, French, Spanish, Others (On request and at the discretion of the school) |
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Arts - Art and Design |
IGCSE Assessment
Cambridge IGCSE assessment takes place at the end of the course and can include written, oral, coursework and practical assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly when their first language is not English. In many subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making Cambridge IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities.
Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, A* to G, which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade.
This is externally done through Cambridge. The exams are sent to the school, the pupils have set dates to sit them and they are sent to England to be marked. The results are then sent to the school.
We encourage our pupils to sit the Native language exams, as this adds to the toolkit of languages they then study.
The Holistic Approach
BSS provides a holistic approach to education. It educates the whole student, developing the capacity for inquiry, research, and problem-solving as well as essential skills for communication and collaboration. Students are taught to apply what they have learned in different contexts and across disciplines.
What is Cambridge International Project Qualification (IPQ)?
Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ) is an exciting new project-based qualification. Students have the opportunity to develop skills by carrying out research into a topic of their choice. Taking Cambridge IPQ allows learners to demonstrate engagement with their chosen topic beyond preparation for an exam, helping them to stand out from the crowd with university and job applications.
How is Cambridge IPQ assessed?
Cambridge IPQ is a single component that is externally assessed (all projects are marked by Cambridge examiners). Students will be eligible for grades A* to E. Although it is a standalone qualification.
