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What IGCSE homeschooling tuition covers

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education, and is the international equivalent of GCSEs taught in state schools in the UK. There are multiple exam boards, including Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, and OxfordAQA, which offer student-focused formal assessments and also remove barriers for entry for students learning internationally. Typically studied as a two-year course from ages 14 to 16, IGCSEs are broadly aligned with educational standards taught in the UK, and they are designed to be a foundation for further study at A-Level.

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Internationally recognised achievements

For students who are home educated, an IGCSE is one of the best ways to achieve recognised academic success as sessions are planned according to the curriculum and can be formally assessed at our examination centre. Parents and students can choose from dozens of different IGCSEs, which gives a homeschooling setup the opportunity to build a programme around the requirements and interests of the child.

Expert tutors for any stage of learning

When you choose the IGCSE route for homeschooling, as parents, you might feel that you are not able to give your child the level of subject knowledge that they require to achieve their potential at this stage of their education. Lionheart IGCSE tutors can take over at any stage of the learning process and deliver tailored sessions online, whether it’s for a single subject or multiple subjects. 

A flexible route to qualifications

As each IGCSE tutor has years of experience working in the chosen subject in a professional capacity, you can rest assured that they can capably guide your child through specific IGCSE subjects. Programmes are always shaped around the pace of your child, challenging them where needed, and always being there to respond to any queries as they arise. IGCSE tuition for homeschooled children also gives a clear route to qualifications, as well as being flexible, fitting around your family and work life.

Building the right IGCSE tuition programme

With so many options to choose from for IGCSE, it can be difficult to know exactly which subjects to take in combination with each other for the best results. Homeschooled students can take as many or as few IGCSEs as they like, but if they are planning on further education at A-Level, they will need to meet those requirements.

  • Deciding how many IGCSEs to take

     

    Teacher having a relaxed conversation with a teenage student on a garden bench for IGCSE Homeschooling support.

    Each IGCSE takes around 2 years to study for, with a set of examinations in the final year of study. In mainstream schools, students take on average 10 to 12 GCSEs. However, only a minimum of 5 GCSEs is required to enter many A-Level courses and later university. 

    Due to this, homeschooled students usually prefer a tighter program of between 6 and 10 IGCSEs, where they can focus on learning subjects in-depth rather than spreading learning time too thin across multiple subjects. The flexibility and efficiency of IGCSE tuition mean students can capably handle their workload with confidence.

  • Choosing the core subjects

    Teacher helping a teenage student choose study options for IGCSE Homeschooling in a relaxed indoor setting.

    As part of your child’s IGCSE programme, the core subjects should be covered. This includes English Language and Maths. Students can also take an optional English Literature IGCSE to broaden their horizons. 

    You will also need to choose whether your child will be taking the exam at a Foundation or Higher level, as this limits the top grades they can receive. Parents also opt for a singular Science IGCSE, but you can extend the number of qualifications you receive if each of the sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) is studied separately.

  • Additional IGCSEs to support learning

    Teacher explaining math on a whiteboard for IGCSE Homeschooling support in a bright tutoring space

    Once the core subjects are decided, homeschooled children often have the freedom to choose complementary IGCSEs that not only reflect their personal interests but also feed into further education at A-Level and beyond. 

    Lionheart IGCSE tuition provides one-on-one tuition for a wide range of qualifications, including History, Geography, Computer Science, Economics, French, and Spanish. With a private personal tutor, homeschool learning for IGCSEs becomes focused thanks to the specific expertise of each subject tutor.

  • Where exams will be sat

    A consultation between students and an adult supervisor in a bright room

    If students are taking IGCSEs internationally, then parents need to find out in advance exactly where exams will be taken. Lionheart can help you to find registered exam centres in the country you live in, so that tuition is tailored to the student’s unique needs and exam board. 

    If homeschooled students are taking examinations in the UK, Lionheart has a dedicated Examination Centre in West London where children can sit their IGCSEs. 

Tutor helping an older teenage student during an IGCSE Homeschooling study session in a calm home learning space.

Lionheart’s expert IGCE tutors

Rigorous, exam-focused tuition

Whether online or in-person, tutoring for IGCSE needs to be efficient and practical, with a strong focus on academic achievement. Our tutors will make sure that each session is rigorous enough to prepare students in time for their formal assessments. As we’ve been tutoring secondary school children since 1989, we have an excellent understanding of the most effective methods of teaching, and that begins with the student-tutor pairing. 

Tutors selected from less than 1% of applicants

We select fewer than 1% of applicants to ensure our high standards are maintained, and we will only accept tutors onto our books who have demonstrated clear subject knowledge as well as experience with tutoring at the IGCSE level. Online and in-person IGCSE tuition supports students across a variety of exam boards and subjects, with tutors creating personalised plans that reflect the study material in great depth.

Trusted by hundreds of families in the UK and abroad

We help private IGCSE candidates to achieve the qualifications they need, and we’ve already helped hundreds of families both in the UK and internationally. The same tutors who teach in-person sessions to children in London also run our online one-to-one sessions, so you can be sure you’re getting the very best quality of tuition.

A homeschooling student in a warm inviting living room, with plants and green in windows behind him

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Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between GCSE and IGCSE in home education?Do you provide in-home homeschool tutors across London?

    GCSEs are taught in state schools across the UK, but many independent schools and international schools choose IGCSEs instead for several reasons. It is often the easiest route for a private candidate, as there are fewer expectations to deliver coursework and other elements that are difficult to arrange outside a school setting. Many IGCSEs offer an exam-only route where the whole of the grade received is based on exam performance.

  • Can a child study IGCSEs entirely online?

    With Lionheart, we offer both online tuition for IGCSEs as well as in-person teaching for families who live in London. We have been tutoring students online for IGCSEs for many years, and our tutors know exactly how to structure sessions for maximum benefit. Online learning works well for IGCSEs, as many of our families are based internationally but still want their children to have equivalent GCSEs for college, university, and job placements.

  • Can my child combine self-study with IGCSE tutoring?

    Students who work independently on their studies can combine their passion for learning with subject experts who enhance their academic expectations. Tutors will set work for students to learn at their own pace, and if children are progressing quicker than expected, our IGCSE tuition can be adapted to meet the demand and ensure that work is still challenging and engaging.

  • How many tutoring hours are usually needed for IGCSE homeschooling?

    The right amount of tuition will depend on how many subjects are being taken, how involved parents are in the education process, and how willing students are to engage in self-study. For IGCSEs, Lionheart can help to map out and deliver a full IGCSE homeschooling programme following a set timetable each week, or provide subject-specific support on a part-time basis, one or two hours per week.

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  • Can IGCSEs lead on to A Levels?

    As IGCSEs are an international counterpart to GCSEs, students can move to the next stage of their studies at A-Level with their IGCSE grades in the exact same way. Many A-Level courses from top international and UK colleges and sixth forms require certain subjects to be taken at IGCSE level when students are 14-16 to demonstrate their capability in that particular subject before advancing their studies.