IGCSE Subjects: The Complete Cambridge and Edexcel List With Syllabus Codes

Choosing IGCSE subjects is the first big academic decision your child makes. It is harder than it should be, because no single page lists every IGCSE subject properly. Schools hand out a shortlist of what they happen to teach. Exam board sites spread the real picture across hundreds of pages.

This guide fixes that. Below is the full list of IGCSE subjects for both major boards, with the syllabus code for every one. You will also find a step-by-step subject chooser, the rules on how many subjects to take, and the dates and grading facts most guides get wrong. It is written by Educifly's IGCSE specialists, who have walked international school families through these exact choices since 2018.

Everything here was checked against Cambridge International and Pearson's own documents in September 2026.

Quick answer: how many IGCSE subjects are there?

Cambridge International lists just over 100 IGCSE syllabus entries. About 75 of those are distinct subjects, because 29 are second versions of the same subject on a different grading scale. Cambridge sums it up as "over 70 subjects, including 30 languages". Pearson Edexcel offers 37 International GCSE subjects.

No school teaches all of them. A typical international school runs 15 to 25. Most students take 7 to 10, and nearly every school makes English, Maths and at least one science compulsory.

That is the short version. Now the full lists.

First, what IGCSE actually means

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. It is a two-year course for students aged roughly 14 to 16 — Years 10 and 11, or Grades 9 and 10. Two boards dominate:

• Cambridge IGCSE, run by Cambridge Assessment International Education. The original, taken in more than 160 countries.

• Edexcel International GCSE, run by Pearson. Built for international schools, studied in over 80 countries.

Both lead to the same places: A-Levels, the IB Diploma, or other pre-university routes. If you want the full background, we have a separate guide on what IGCSE is and how it works.

How to read a syllabus code (and why two students can both take "Biology")

Here is a question we get every year. Your child's Biology says 0610. Their friend at another school has 0970. Same subject, same board, different number. Has one of them been put in the wrong class?

No. Cambridge runs many subjects twice, on two grading scales. The A*–G version sits in the 04xx–06xx range, so Biology is 0610. The 9–1 version usually sits in the 09xx range, so Biology is 0970. The content is nearly identical — the difference is the scale the grade is reported on, and your school picks, not you.

There are 29 of these pairs. Languages break the pattern and use a 71xx series instead: French is 0520 on A*–G and 7156 on 9–1.

One thing worth knowing before you choose: Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) syllabuses do not count towards the Cambridge ICE group award. If ICE matters to your school, that is a real consideration. More on ICE further down.

Edexcel has no such split. Every Edexcel International GCSE is graded 9–1.

The complete Cambridge IGCSE subject list

Cambridge sorts its subjects into six groups on its own subjects page. (The ICE award uses a slightly different five-group structure — we cover that separately below, because mixing the two up is a common source of confusion.)

Codes below are the A*–G version, with the 9–1 code shown after a slash where one exists.

Languages

The three language tiers matter more than the names. First Language is for students who speak it at home and tests deep reading and writing. Second Language is for fluent non-native speakers and adds listening. Foreign Language is for learners starting fresh.

If your child speaks a home language, check whether Cambridge examines it. An extra strong grade in a language they already speak is the cheapest win on the whole timetable.

English language and literature

The 0510 versus 0511 choice trips people up. Both are English as a Second Language. In 0510 the speaking test is reported separately as an endorsement. In 0511 it counts inside the overall grade. Schools pick one.

Humanities and social sciences

Two notes from our tutors. Economics (0455) is the quiet winner here — new to everyone at 14, so nobody starts behind, and it feeds straight into IB Economics and A-Level Economics. Global Perspectives (0457) is graded on research and teamwork rather than only exams, which suits students who freeze in timed papers.

Sciences

The real decision in this group is separate sciences versus combined. Separate sciences means three full IGCSEs, each with its own grade. Combined Science (0653) covers all three and gives one grade. Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) covers all three and counts as two.

Straight advice: if medicine, engineering or any science degree is even possible, take the separate sciences. IB schools and A-Level providers strongly prefer them, and HL science entry often assumes them. Combined and Co-ordinated are sensible for students who already know science is not their route.

Mathematics

Mathematics (0580) is the standard course. It splits into Core and Extended tiers — see the Core versus Extended section below, because that choice matters more than most parents realise.

Additional Mathematics (0606) is the stretch option, taken alongside 0580 by strong students. It introduces calculus, advanced functions and trigonometry — exactly the content that makes the jump to IB Math AA or A-Level Maths feel manageable instead of brutal. For anyone aiming at engineering, computer science or economics, it is the single most valuable extra subject on this page. It is also genuinely hard, which is why our IGCSE Maths tutors spend more hours on 0606 than on any other syllabus.

International Mathematics (0607) is a graphing-calculator course aimed at IB-bound students. Fewer schools run it.

Creative and professional

Three call-outs. Computer Science (0478) teaches real programming and theory, and is not the same as ICT (0417), which is about using software well — universities treat 0478 as the serious one. Business Studies (0450) pairs naturally with Economics. And Art & Design (0400) is mostly coursework: a gift for genuinely creative students, a grind for anyone taking it as an easy grade. The portfolio hours are real.

New Cambridge subjects worth knowing about

Cambridge has added several syllabuses that almost no other guide mentions. If your school is planning ahead, these are on the menu:

Two of these change the ICE calculation from 2027: Statistics (0479) can count as either a Mathematics or a Creative and Professional subject, and Psychology joins the Humanities group.

The complete Edexcel International GCSE subject list (all 37)

Pearson states plainly that Edexcel International GCSEs are "available in 37 subjects". Here they are, with specification codes.

That third column is the one nobody else publishes, and it matters. Only 23 of the 37 subjects run in the November series. The other 14 are May–June only. If your child is planning a resit, or sitting a subject privately, check that column before building a plan around November.

A few Edexcel quirks worth knowing:

• Mathematics A (4MA1) is the standard course. Mathematics B (4MB1) is an older, more formal syllabus some schools prefer.

• Further Pure Mathematics (4PM1) is Edexcel's answer to Cambridge Additional Maths, and goes deeper into calculus. Excellent A-Level and IB preparation.

• English Language A versus B: Spec A uses an anthology of set texts, Spec B works from unseen passages. Same qualification, different feel.

• Human Biology (4HB1) has no Cambridge equivalent.

• Art and Design is really five separate endorsements — Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography, Textile Design and Three-dimensional Design — each with its own code.

Modular Edexcel: the option most guides miss

Pearson also runs 13 subjects in a modular format, where students sit units across the two years instead of everything at the end. This is not a minor footnote — it changes when your child sits exams and how a bad day is recovered from.

Two rules to remember. Modular International GCSEs are only available to schools outside the UK. And the 4X code is the qualification code — the codes on the exam timetable are unit codes beginning 4W, which is why the number on the entry slip may not match the one in the prospectus.

Same subject, two boards: a code cross-reference

If you are comparing two schools, or moving between them, this is the table you actually need.

Universities do not care which board a grade came from. Some schools deliberately mix — Cambridge sciences with Edexcel maths, say — and that is completely normal.

For a fuller side-by-side of how the two boards differ in exam style and structure, see our guide to Cambridge versus Edexcel IGCSE.

The IGCSE subject chooser: five questions

Most guides tell you to "consider your strengths". That is not a method. Here is the one our tutors actually use with families, in the order the decisions have to be made.

Work through it top to bottom. Each answer narrows the next.

Question 1: What comes after IGCSE?

This single answer drives everything else.

Question 2: Is a science degree possible — even slightly?

If yes, take the three separate sciences and Extended Maths. This is the one decision that is genuinely hard to reverse. A student who takes Combined Science and then decides at 16 that they want medicine has a real problem; a student who takes three sciences and then chooses history has lost nothing.

If it is a firm no, Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) keeps two grades on the certificate without eating three slots.

Question 3: Is maths a strength or a struggle?

The third row is the one families get wrong most often. See the Core versus Extended section for why.

Question 4: Which language?

Check three things in order. Does your child speak a language at home that Cambridge or Edexcel examines as a First Language? Take it. If not, does the school offer a language they have already studied for three or more years? Take that. Only start a brand-new foreign language at 14 if they actually enjoy it — two years is not long to reach exam standard from scratch.

Question 5: Fill the remaining slots

By this point four to six slots are spoken for. For the rest, pick one humanity and one subject your child genuinely likes. If the destination is still unknown, this is the spread that keeps every door open:

• English (First or Second Language)

• Extended Mathematics

• Two or three sciences

• One humanity — History, Geography or Economics

• One language

• One free choice

That is eight subjects, balanced across every group, and it qualifies for the ICE award if your school enters for it.

How many IGCSE subjects should your child take?

Most students take 7 to 10. There is no official minimum or maximum.

That second sentence contradicts a lot of what you will read online. Guides routinely state that Cambridge allows "5 to 14 subjects". We checked the Cambridge Handbook, and no such rule exists. The eligibility section sets no minimum and no maximum, and there are no age restrictions. Cambridge's own wording is that "schools can offer them in any combination". The "seven subjects" figure that floats around comes from the ICE group award, which is a separate certificate — not an entry rule.

What actually constrains the number is your school's timetable and your child's capacity.

That last row is the most common mistake we see. Parents add subjects to look impressive. Admissions read it the other way round: they look at grades first and the count second.

Which IGCSE subjects are compulsory?

None, officially. The qualification itself mandates nothing. In practice nearly every school requires:

1. English — First or Second Language

2. Mathematics

3. At least one science

Many schools add a humanity and a language on top. Everything after that is a real choice.

Be careful with guides that tell you certain subjects are "mandatory". That rule comes from the English school system and the EBacc, and it does not apply to an international qualification taken in Dubai, Singapore or Mumbai. Your school's policy is the thing that binds you, not a national curriculum.

Core versus Extended: the choice inside the choice

Several Cambridge subjects — Maths most famously — split into two tiers. On the A*–G syllabuses the official wording is unambiguous:

Here is the trap. Core caps the grade at C no matter how well your child performs on the day. Schools sometimes place a wobbling Year 10 student on Core to be safe, and the family only discovers the ceiling when a sixth form asks for a grade 6 or a B. Moving up a tier later is not always possible once entries are made.

If your child is borderline, the better move is usually Extended plus targeted support, not Core. This is one of the most common reasons parents book a trial class with us — a tier decision is coming and they want a specialist's read before the school locks it in.

On the 9–1 versions the ranges differ by subject, so check the syllabus rather than assuming. Biology (0970) runs Core 5–1 and Extended 9–1. Maths (0980) runs Core 5–1 and Extended 9–3.

The Cambridge ICE award

Cambridge ICE is a group award layered on top of individual IGCSEs, and it is popular in the USA and South America. To qualify, a student must pass at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects across five subject groups, including two different languages.

The five ICE groups are Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences, Sciences, Mathematics, and Professional and Creative. Two subjects come from Languages, one each from the other four, and the seventh can come from anywhere.

The award has three levels:

Three practical points that catch families out. Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) syllabuses do not count towards ICE — if your school runs 9–1, ICE may not be on the table at all. Some subjects can count in either of two groups but not both at once, including Environmental Management (0680) and Global Perspectives (0457). And Co-ordinated Sciences Double Award (0654) counts as two subjects.

Subjects private candidates cannot take

If your child is sitting exams privately rather than through a school, this list matters, and almost nobody publishes it. Cambridge blocks private entry on syllabuses where coursework or practical work has to be supervised and moderated by a centre.

Based on the current Cambridge syllabus documents as of September 2026, private candidates cannot enter for:

A second group can be entered, but with some components unavailable — First Language English (0500, 0990, 0524), Literature in English 9–1 (0992), Geography (0460, 0976), History (0470, 0977) and Urdu as a Second Language (0539).

A third group is conditional on the centre being able to run and moderate a speaking test: Bahasa Indonesia (0538) and the English as a Second Language syllabuses (0510, 0511, 0993, 0991).

Cambridge revises these per syllabus, so check the current syllabus PDF for any subject before committing.

When IGCSE exams happen

Cambridge runs three exam series; Edexcel runs two.

A correction worth making, because two of the biggest guides on this topic get it wrong: Edexcel has no January series. The last January sitting was January 2023, replaced by a November series from November 2023. And the Cambridge March series is not India-only — it covers Romania too.

Confirmed dates:

• Cambridge June 2026 exams ran 23 April to 9 June 2026. IGCSE results were released 18 August 2026.

• Cambridge November 2026 results are released 14 January 2027.

• Cambridge March 2027 exams run 3 February to 4 March 2027, with results on 13 May 2027.

• Edexcel November 2026 exams run 27 October to 19 November 2026.

• Edexcel Summer 2027 exams run 10 May to 18 June 2027.

Cambridge has not yet published its June 2027 exam window. Edexcel has not yet published November 2027.

Digital exams are arriving

This is the biggest change coming to IGCSE, and most subject guides have not caught up.

Cambridge delivered its first live digital exams in 2026 through an Early Adopter Programme. The subjects were Accounting (0452), Economics (0455, component 1), Biology (0610), Chemistry (0620) and Physics (0625), plus AS Level English General Paper. A phased global rollout begins in 2027, with First Language English (0500) and English as a Second Language (0510) joining. Cambridge's stated ambition is that 85% of its IGCSE and AS/A Level subjects will be available in both digital and paper formats by 2033.

Edexcel has been doing this longer. Onscreen International GCSE exams have been available since 2023, with subjects added by year:

Two things to keep in perspective. Onscreen is a choice, not a replacement — no International GCSE subject has been made digital-only, and the questions and timing are identical to the paper version. And the decision is the school's, not the family's.

How grading works

• Cambridge uses A* down to G on most syllabuses, with 9–1 versions of 29 of them.

• Edexcel uses 9 down to 1 across every subject.

• Rough alignment: 9 and 8 sit around A*, 7 around A, 6 around B, 5 and 4 around C.

Grade boundaries are set after each session, once examiners have seen how hard the papers turned out to be. They move every series. This is why percentage tables claiming "A* = 90%" are misleading — real boundaries are usually well below that, and they differ by paper and by session. No subject is graded more generously for being on one board.

Common mistakes we see every year

• Taking Core to play it safe. The grade ceiling outlasts the reassurance.

• Dropping all sciences at 14. The hardest choice to undo.

• Adding an eleventh subject for the CV. Grades count; the tally does not.

• Starting a brand-new language at 14 without enjoying it. Two years is short.

• Assuming ICT and Computer Science are interchangeable. They are not.

• Choosing Art & Design as a light option. The coursework load is heavy.

• Ignoring the November availability list when planning a resit.

The bottom line

There are just over 100 Cambridge IGCSE syllabus entries and 37 Edexcel International GCSE subjects. Your child's real decision is far smaller: the 15 to 25 subjects their school offers, minus the three or four that are effectively compulsory. That leaves four or five genuine choices.

Make them by working backwards from what comes next. Keep the spread balanced while the destination is unknown. Choose Extended over Core whenever it is close. And check the syllabus code on the entry form, because 0610 and 0970 are not the same certificate.

If one of those choices — Additional Maths, three separate sciences, Economics — looks like a stretch right now, that is usually a solvable problem rather than a reason to back off. Educifly matches each student with a specialist tutor for one subject, the same tutor every week. Nine out of ten families renew. You can see the full range on our IGCSE tutoring page, and a free trial class will get you a specialist's read on the decision before your school locks the entries in.

And if the IB Diploma is the likely next step, your IGCSE choices matter even more. We have mapped how each IGCSE feeds into IB subjects in our guide to moving from IGCSE to IB.

FAQ: IGCSE subjects

How many IGCSE subjects are there in total?

Cambridge International lists just over 100 IGCSE syllabus entries, but 29 of those are 9–1 versions of a subject also offered on the A*–G scale, so the number of distinct subjects is around 75. Cambridge describes it as over 70 subjects including 30 languages. Pearson Edexcel offers 37 International GCSE subjects. No school teaches the whole catalogue — a typical international school runs 15 to 25.

How many IGCSE subjects should my child take?

Seven to ten is the normal range, and seven to eight is the sweet spot for most students. There is no official minimum or maximum set by Cambridge, despite what many guides claim — the Cambridge Handbook sets no limit either way. What limits the number is your school's timetable and your child's capacity. Higher grades in fewer subjects beat lower grades in many, every time.

Which IGCSE subjects are compulsory?

Officially, none. The qualification mandates no subjects. In practice almost every school requires English, Mathematics and at least one science, and many add a humanity and a language. Anything you read about subjects being legally mandatory is describing the English school system, not the international qualification.

What is the difference between Core and Extended IGCSE?

Core covers the simpler part of a syllabus and caps the grade at C on the A*–G scale. Extended covers the full syllabus and allows grades up to A*. Cambridge's own guidance is that Core is for students expected to achieve a grade D or below, and Extended for those expected to achieve C or above. Students heading to A-Levels or the IB should take Extended wherever it is offered, because the Core ceiling can block sixth-form entry requirements later.

Why does my child's syllabus code differ from their friend's?

Because Cambridge runs many subjects on two grading scales. The A*–G version and the 9–1 version have different codes for the same content — Biology is 0610 on A*–G and 0970 on 9–1, Maths is 0580 and 0980. There are 29 such pairs, and languages use a separate 71xx series. The school chooses which version to enter. One important consequence: 9–1 syllabuses do not count towards the Cambridge ICE award.

Are Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE subjects the same?

The popular subjects exist on both boards with very similar content. Cambridge has far more languages and unique options such as Global Perspectives, Marine Science and Latin. Edexcel has unique options including Human Biology, Further Pure Mathematics and Commerce, plus a modular route in 13 subjects. Universities accept both equally and do not favour one board.

Which IGCSE subjects are best for medicine?

Biology, Chemistry and Extended Mathematics are the core three, with Physics strongly recommended. Take the sciences as separate subjects rather than Combined Science, because IB and A-Level providers prefer it and medical pathways effectively assume it. This is the single hardest IGCSE decision to reverse later.

Is Additional Mathematics worth taking?

For students aiming at engineering, computer science, physics, economics or IB Math AA, yes — more than any other optional subject. It pre-teaches the calculus and functions that make post-16 maths feel manageable. Edexcel's equivalent is Further Pure Mathematics (4PM1), which goes deeper still. For students heading to essay-based or creative routes, it is effort with little payoff.

Can a student mix Cambridge and Edexcel subjects?

Yes. Grades from both boards carry equal weight, and some schools deliberately mix — Edexcel Maths with Cambridge sciences, for instance. Universities and IB admissions look at the subject and the grade, not the board. The practical catch is the exam timetable, since the two boards run different sessions.

Which Edexcel subjects can be taken in November?

Twenty-three of the 37. The 14 that run only in May–June are Art and Design, Bangladesh Studies, Computer Science, German, Global Citizenship, Greek (First Language), Islamic Studies, Pakistan Studies, Religious Studies, Science (Single Award), Sinhala, Spanish, Swahili and Tamil. Check this before planning a resit or a private entry around the November series.

When are the IGCSE exams?

Cambridge runs three series: February–March (India and Romania only), May–June, and October–November. Edexcel runs two, May–June and November — the January series ended after January 2023. Cambridge March 2027 exams run 3 February to 4 March 2027 with results on 13 May 2027. Edexcel Summer 2027 exams run 10 May to 18 June 2027.

What does a 9 mean in IGCSE grading?

A 9 is the top grade on the 9–1 scale, set slightly above a traditional A*. The scales align roughly as 9 and 8 near A*, 7 near A, 6 near B, and 5 and 4 near C. Grade boundaries are set after each session based on how difficult the papers proved, so the percentage needed for any grade shifts every series.

Written by Educifly's IGCSE specialists. We tutor Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE one-to-one, one subject per specialist tutor, since 2018. Book a free trial class.