India is home to over 60 educational boards. Selecting an educational board among them for your child is indeed a tough decision to make. Be it CBSE, IGCSE, or state board, every educational council features a slew of one-of-a-kind characteristics. Parents always strive to offer the best education to their children. But, how to know which one is the best?
If you are also tired of asking this question, then this article is for you! This article highlights the major differences between CBSE, IGCSE, and State boards to let you decide which educational board is ideal for your child.
Scroll down to get a comprehensive idea of IGCSE vs CBSE vs State board.
Whether you prefer either CBSE or IGCSE or state board, you must gain a brief knowledge about each before making a decision.
Overview of CBSE Board
CBSE is the Central Board of Secondary Education in India, both for public and private schools. It was established in 1929 and reorganised in 1962 to help students and educational institutions throughout the country. Today, various schools follow the CBSE curriculum such as the Narayana CBSE Schools.
Overview of the IGCSE Board
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an exam offered by the Cambridge Upper Secondary programme for students aged 14 to 16. The exam covers various topics and is supervised by Cambridge International Exams (CIE). Students must pass Pearson Edexcel exams to progress to the higher levels, AS (11th grade) and A (12th grade).
Overview of State Board
Each state has a State Board that oversees education. The State Board’s curriculum is based on NCERT guidelines and thus, has some similarities with the CBSE board. The curriculum uses the state’s regional language as the medium of instruction but also offers classes in English language.
Major Differences: CBSE vs IGCSE vs State Board
CBSE, IGCSE, and State Board have unique ways of imparting education to children. The following three boards have been compared thoroughly based on 5 key elements:
1. Curriculum
There is a difference in the curriculum of State Board and CBSE vs IGCSE. Both CBSE and State board schools follow NCERT-patterned curricula that have both regional and national influences.
On the other hand, IGCSE schools pursue a United Kingdom-oriented curriculum.
While CBSE and state board students have competitive advantages in national-level examinations, such as JEE and NEET, the IGCSE board prepares its students for foreign scholarships and global examinations.
2. Primary Language
In the discussion of IGCSE vs CBSE, the language used to impart education plays a vital role.
State boards mostly implement regional languages as the first language and English as the second, making the syllabus relatively easy to comprehend.
The CBSE schools, on the contrary, have a higher orientation towards Hindi.
As the IGSCE board caters to international standards, it has a higher orientation towards English.
3. Grade System
The way students are graded differs across different boards. CBSE uses a CGPA system that eliminates the need to minutely worry about marks. This can help relieve exam stress for some students.
Meanwhile, whether you go for either IGCSE or state board schools, both of them have their grading systems that vary by location.
4. Syllabus
The IGCSE, CBSE, and state syllabuses differ noticeably. CBSE emphasises relatively more on Math and Science, while the state board syllabus covers basic subjects like Math, Science, Social Studies, and languages specific to the state.
The IGCSE syllabus, on the other hand, has a global perspective.
5. Exam Pattern
To excel in CBSE examinations, students need to expand their study resources beyond textbooks. Merely relying on the prescribed textbooks might not be enough since the questions asked in the exams require logical thinking and practical application of knowledge.
On the other hand, state board exams are relatively easier as they primarily rely on textbook content. IGCSE exams also follow a textbook-centric examination pattern.
Hopefully, this complete overview of IGCSE vs CBSE vs state board has answered all your queries. The student’s willingness to learn and their ability to grasp the concepts are the most important things to consider before making a decision. Select smartly for a successful future ahead!
At Narayana, our integrated curriculum draws the best of CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and other state boards and caters to the needs of today’s students. We’re here to ensure the dream of getting the best is fulfilled because Your Dreams Are Our Dreams.
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