IGCSE | Greengates School Mexico

OUR IGCSE CURRICULUM

In Years 10 and 11 of Upper Secondary School, Greengates students follow a variety of demanding two-year courses leading to earning the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) from our location in greater Mexico City. Students can choose from several areas that are of great interest to them or may be their areas of strength, and they can explore new subjects as well. The IGCSE programme encourages balance – with English, mathematics, Spanish, and at least one science required – but still gives students significant freedom to their emphasis of study based on their interests.

INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (IGCSE)

In Years 10 and 11, Greengates students follow a variety of balanced and demanding two-year courses leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). IGCSE examinations are administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education, which is based on the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) that examines students across a broad range of subjects at the age of sixteen.

The structure of the programme gives students time to build a solid foundation in each subject they choose, so they can discover their passions for future study. The IGCSE framework of options encourages balance – with English, mathematics, Spanish, and at least one science required – but allows students to shape the emphasis of their studies based on their interests. IGCSEs prepare our students to continue and succeed through the prestigious two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

IGCSE SUBJECTS

IGCSE examinations are tests of academic attainment in individual subjects. At Greengates, we currently offer around 20 subjects. Greengates requires students to be successful in at least five IGCSEs before continuing to Year 12.

The IGCSE subjects we offer include:

English Literature and as a First or Second Language
Spanish Literature and as a First or Second Language
French as a Foreign Language
Mathematics
Additional Mathematics
Computer Science
Economics
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
History
Geography
Art and Design
Music
Drama

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YEARS 10 AND 11

A TYPICAL DAY AT GREENGATES SCHOOL

Throughout our IGCSE programme at Greengates, we embrace challenges and get ready to excel at our finest performance. We learn how to showcase our talents while also exploring different areas of interest – becoming prepared for the final stage of Secondary.

IGCSE | Greengates School Mexico | Nord Anglia - Visual Time Line Tabs

CHECKING IN

After we arrive and complete morning registration with our Form Tutors, we attend assemblies with our IGCSE coordinator. We’ll practice for the IGCSE exam series, which will happen at the end of the academic year in June.

GETTING READY

MATHS, ENGLISH, AND SPANISH

Our mornings are filled with lessons in the IGCSE’s required areas of Maths, English, and Spanish. They give us a strong foundation to build upon our favourite areas of study and to succeed as global citizens.

RIGOROUS LEARNING

LUNCHTIME RESET

At midday, we pause to eat our lunches together and to relax on the field, taking time to get rejuvenated before afternoon lessons. We love catching up with friends and playing small games with our classmates.

REFUELLING AND RESTING

STEAM AFTERNOONS

Our STEAM subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science teach us how to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the natural world, where we can create solutions – whether we’re in a lab or field.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Our lessons in drama, music, and art activate all the different kinds of creativity we can express, while also helping us to understand different people and cultures. No matter our medium, we connect with others in our artistry.

CREATIVE THINKING

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Our afternoon activities challenge us, as we compete with our Greengates team against other local schools through sports and academic competitions. We always come together in our school spirit and give our best performance.

PURSUING OUR PASSIONS

SELECTING SUBJECTS

At the end of Year 9, students select their IGCSE options. Their subject and year group teachers, the Head of the Intermediate School, and the IGCSE Coordinator help them make choices based on the subjects that best fit their needs and interests. We work collaboratively with your child to help them decide for their future success, both in school and beyond.

English Language, Spanish Language, Mathematics, and Physical Education are required for all students. Students can then select five subjects from areas of the curriculum like the sciences, social sciences, and creative arts. The aim is to take a broad range that will intellectually test and develop them as fully as possible.

PREPARING FOR IGCSES

Students follow a two-year course of study in Years 10 and 11 based on the IGCSE determined by the University of Cambridge Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). At the end of the two-year period, students begin the exams, prepared and marked by UCLES, who issue the grades.

The international version of the GCSE originated with UCLES and is ideal for a culturally diverse school such as Greengates. UCLES has a high reputation for academic excellence and has unrivalled experience in administering examinations in over 100 countries.

Some Greengates students do take some subjects early. At Greengates, we have especially enjoyed great success in Mathematics and Spanish as a Foreign Language, achieving 100% pass rates with students in Year 9 and even Year 8.

SMALL GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALISED LEARNING

In our IGCSE programme, teachers provide one-on-one attention in small groups, as an effective way to support our students in achieving their academic goals. The small groups have no more than 15 to 18 students. Additionally, our teachers will make interventions to identify areas of challenge or difficulty and provide targeted support to help our students overcome these challenges.

This high level of personalised interactions helps them to develop a deeper understanding of the IGCSE curriculum and build the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to achieve higher grades on their exams. This support helps them arrive at their full potential and succeed in a demanding academic environment.

Interested in learning more? Discover the difference between our international and national programmes.