Difference Between GCSE and IB
GCSE vs IB
IB and GCSE are two different educational programs. They have different curriculums, different philosophies, and follow different educational programs.
IB
“IB” stands for “International Baccalaureate.” It was earlier called the IBO, International Baccalaureate Organization. It was founded in 1968, and the headquarters for the foundation are in Geneva, Switzerland. The framework of the IB program was created by Marie-Therese Maurette which was based on the handbook she wrote in 1948 for UNESCO, Is There a Way of Teaching for Peace?
In the 1960s, some of the teachers of the International School of Geneva created the ISES or International Schools Examination Syndicate, which later created the IBO. IB offers three educational programs: the PYP, Primary Years Program, which is for children aged 3-11 years, the MYP, Middle Years Program, which is for students for ages 11-16, and the DP, Diploma Program, which is for children of 11th and 12th grade. “IB” refers to the organization, the three programs offered and/or the certificate or diploma awarded at the end of the program.
The IB has collaborated with the OIF, Organization Internationale de la Francophonie and Council of Europe. It is an NGO, non-governmental organization of UNESCO. The Curriculum and Assessment Centre is located in the city of Cardiff in Wales. It was to be relocated to the Netherlands. It is divided into three different regional centers; IBAEM-IB Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, IBA-IB Americans and IB Asia-Pacific IBAP. The IBA is administered from Geneva and Cardiff. The IBA is administered from New York, and the IBAP is administered from Singapore.
The curriculum includes:
Extended essay
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
GCSE
“GCSE” stands for “General Certificate of Secondary Education.” It started in September, 1986, and its first exam was held in 1988. It replaced both the GCE O level and CSE qualifications. It is an academic qualification which is especially for a particular subject. It can be taken in different subjects for students aged 14 to 16. It is basically a secondary education certificate awarded in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland which is equal to the Level 1 and Level 2 skills.
GCSE level education is required of students who want to appear for the IB or GCE advanced level. In the 1980s, the GCSE was a compulsory school graduate’s exam. IGCSE is the international version of the GCSE. It can be taken all over the world. GCSEs can be combined with other qualifications like the BTEC, Business and Technology Education Council, and the DIDA, Diploma in Digital Application, etc.
Summary:
1.“IB” stands for “International Baccalaureate”; “GCSE” stands for “General Certificate of Secondary Education.”
2.The IB was founded in 1968; the GCSE started in 1986.
3.The IB offers three educational programs: Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program, and the Diploma Program; GCSE offers a secondary education certificate.
4.The IB is divided into three different regional centers; IBAEM-IB Africa, Europe and the Middle East, IBA-IB Americans and the IB Asia-Pacific IBAP. The GCSE is basically a secondary education certificate awarded in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland which is equal to the Level 1 and Level 2 skills.
5.IGCSE is the international version of the GCSE.
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Just from the title, I didn’t bother reading this post because I really think that there’s no basis for comparison. Sure both are centralized exams but they are not equivalent of each other. One can apply for university with IB but GCSE is not a pre-U certification. In the UK, people would take A levels 2 years after their GCSE and it is based on A levels that people would apply to universities. I think it is more worthwhile to compare A levels to the IB, assuming that you want to compare IB to a British equivalence.
You don’t understand the two curriculums Natasha. I have experienced both systems in schools in England for gcse and ib in Kenya Africa. Ib creates too much pressure for children and even though it prepares us for life, we are being expected to do a lot of adult work which isnt good. Even we have to choose our subjects as if we know what jobs we want to take.
7 years later
Very good comment from both of you . I am a parent trying to decide which is best for my daughter who is going to secondary school next year. Food for thought and thank you for your comments.