Comparison between CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE AND IB

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a union government of India managed board of education in India. More than 19,000 schools in India and 200 schools abroad are affiliated to this board. And they follow the NCERT curriculum. The board conducts examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 every year. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), unlike CBSE, is not one of the boards of education in India. It is an examination conducted by the national level private body- Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The same council, with the affiliation of more than 2,000 schools, conducts Indian School Certificate (ISC) exams for Class 12. International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international education foundation which offers four programmes. The IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 16 to 19. The IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged 3 to 12. Founded in 1968, and formerly known as International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), IB is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based examination developed by the University of Cambridge International Examinations. With 10,000 plus schools being a part of the community, CIE, also known as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), operated in more than 160 countries across the world.

           Opting for the CBSE board has more things going for it than against it. Quality textbooks and reliable faculty work in favour of it. Credible schools across the country and a centralized-management makes transfer from one institution to the other easy. Extensive focus on science and mathematics with a focus on competitive exams is a big plus. The flip side, though, comes in the form of reduced options for literature, arts and other careers. International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international education foundation which offers four programmes. While the 4 programmes vary in content, they are all bound by a common learner’s profile that is at the core of IB. The primary goal is to nurture students to be thinkers, communicators, principled individuals with an ability to introspect, open-minded inquirers and caring for global citizens. Affordability is definitely an issue with IB schools, but the holistic education provided is worth your money. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based examination developed by the University of Cambridge International Examinations. Recognised as an equivalent of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in the UK, the USP of the programme lies in its efforts to reflect the latest educational research and set a benchmark for international education. The subjects include Humanities and Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Mathematics and Creative, Technical and Vocational training. 

                CBSE and ICSE are among the most popular nationalized boards in the country. Both these school boards are considered to be of high merit and are internationally recognized. They vary in terms of teaching methodologies, focus on extracurricular activities, levels of learning, practical knowledge, a structure of lesson plans, delivery of knowledge and so on. ICSE is run by a similar board similar to the NCERT called CISCE (Council for Indian School Certificate Examination). A much older board in comparison to the CBSE, the ICSE is an offshoot of the erstwhile Cambridge IGCSE that was in practice during the British Raj. This board was taken over by the Anglo Indian Board and is now counselled under the governing body of the CISCE. The modern ICSE has adopted various learning and teaching structures from the NCERT and has retained some of the major principles of the early form of education. Thus, parents looking for a blend of modern yet convent forms of education tend to opt for the ICSE board for their children. IGCSE board and IB board offer their unique curriculum that not only keeps student’s interests at its core but also involves parents and community in the process of learning. IGCSE is not a board. CIE is the board under which one category of curriculum framework is IGCSE. IGCSE assessment is conducted by either of the two UK assessment bodies – Edexcel (or London Examinations) or Cambridge International Education (CIE). Thus, IGCSE comes under the CIE board. Cambridge International Education (CIE) is divided into 4 stages. Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP, Age group – 5-11 years), Secondary 1 ( Age group – 11-14 years), Secondary 2 (IGCSE, age group 14-16 years), Cambridge International A levels ( Advanced, age group 16-19 years). IGCSE is just like the CBSE board in grade 10th. After which students can opt for IB (International Baccalaureate) board for their 12th board examination. Cambridge Secondary 1 is for learners who are aiming for Cambridge IGCSE or Cambridge O Level. Cambridge advanced is mainly for students who are aiming for international university or higher education. 

              CBSE encourages both, English as well as Hindi as a medium of instruction. There are numerous schools across the nation that follow the CBSE board of teaching with Hindi as the primary source of instruction. ICSE, on the other hand, does not recommend Hindi as a medium of instruction. There is a general assumption that CBSE is usually more difficult to master in comparison with ICSE. This is perceived so because most entrance exams for medical, engineering, commerce or arts are based on the syllabus set by the government in consultation with the CBSE. ICSE has a more detailed approach when it comes to teaching style. The methodology emphasizes in-depth research on every topic. The CBSE syllabus is very organized with modules and units. In fact, the CBSE board has also given directions on how many periods it should take to complete a particular unit and weight-age of marks each unit carries in the examination. Therefore, making it extremely easy for the student to prioritize their study plan during exams and standardizing teaching and testing methods. On the other hand, the ICSE curriculum is extremely detailed and the students are required to retain a lot of information. Students might have to appear twice or thrice for the same subject. 

           The IB program is more expensive than the CIE program, which sort of makes it an elitist program. Many universities around the world still do not acknowledge the IB Diploma as a relevant local diploma. However, the learning experience a student gets is custom made as teachers are not bound by the curriculum. They can tailor the lesson plan as per the child’s needs. Multiple factors influence the decision of choosing a board, curriculum in tune with the needs of your child. These are unique to each child, though there are overlapping factors that enable easier decision making from the options available.