Choosing your IGCSE science option can be tricky. Here is a brief comparison to help inform your choice!

The key difference between the Combined and Co-ordinated Science is that the Combined course is a single award – meaning you get one IGCSE from studying it (like you would one subject) – and the Co-ordinated course is a double award (you receive 2 IGCSEs – each with the same grade). Within each course you study Chemistry, Biology and Physics like you would as if you studied them as separate subjects but to differing extents in terms of the amount of content covered. In each course you will gain an understanding of the basic principles of each subject through both lab-based and classroom-based work, developing an understanding of the scientific process and concepts needed for further study. You cannot take either of these subjects alongside any of the individual IGCSE science subjects or alongside the other (e.g. you can’t take combined and co-ordinated sciences together).

In both courses, you can either follow the Core or the Extended syllabus, if you are aiming for above a C you should take the extended course.

The co-ordinated science course has a more comprehensive overview of the three sciences and is generally recommended for all students, including those who are looking to further their scientific studies. The combined course has less content and is designed for students who feel that their strengths do not lie in either maths or sciences and doing this course would place less weighting on these subjects at GCSE. This course is less demanding on students and is generally not recommended for those who are looking to carry on a scientific study to a higher level.