Is IGCSE International Maths Hard? What to Expect

When you’re choosing your IGCSE subjects, you naturally want to feel confident in your decisions. Understandably, most students want a range of subjects that are useful for their future, enjoyable, and offer just the right amount of challenge.

As a core subject, maths is certainly useful, and many students enjoy it. However, since maths anxiety (opens in a new tab) affects many learners – even average to high achievers –  it’s normal to be concerned about how difficult it might be at IGCSE level.

This article explains what you can expect from IGCSE International Maths, offering an honest and realistic insight into how hard it is. We’ve also included practical strategies to make the subject easier, all with the aim of helping you make an informed decision about your future.

Key Takeaways

• Cambridge International Education (CIE) is currently the only exam board offering IGCSE International Maths

• If you’re aiming for grades C–G, you’ll take the core content; if you’re aiming for A*-C, you’ll take the extended content

• IGCSE International Maths is generally considered harder than IGCSE Maths

• Breaking the content into topics, teaching it to other people and completing past papers can increase your chances of success

How Hard Is IGCSE International Maths?

Maths is generally listed among the hardest IGCSEs. 

Below are the grade thresholds for CIE International Maths in June 2025 (opens in a new tab):

• A* (extended only): 216/250 marks

• A (extended only): 183/250 marks

• B (extended only): 141/250 marks

• C: 100/250 marks (extended) or 135/200 marks (core) 

• D: 79/250 marks (extended) or 111/200 marks (core)

• E: 58/250 marks (extended) or 88/200 marks (core)

• F: 65/200 marks (core)

• G: 42/200 marks (core)

What Makes IGCSE International Maths Challenging?

Below are three aspects of IGCSE International Maths that students commonly find difficult:

Difficult Topics

Many students find algebra tricky, as it requires – among other things – using letters to represent numbers, simplifying fractions and solving equations.

Geometry can also be difficult. It requires knowledge of specific systems (such as Cartesian coordinates) and more in-depth knowledge of trigonometry.

Complex Problem-Solving

Since International Maths aims to develop logical reasoning, many of the problems you’ll encounter in the exam have multiple steps. This can be difficult for students, since getting just one step even slightly wrong can lead you to the incorrect answer.

The question below, which comes from Paper 2, is a good example of a question with multiple steps that some students find tricky:

In a bookshop, the price of each sports book is $𝑥 and the price of each recipe book is $𝑦.
Jamal buys 5 sports books and 3 recipe books.
The total Jamal pays is $59.
Katerina buys 10 sports books and 7 recipe books.
The total Katerina pays is $126.
(a) Use this information to write down two equations in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 [2]

Large Workloads

With 10 topics and multiple subtopics, many students find the sheer amount of content in IGCSE International Maths a challenge.

This is especially true of those taking the extended content, since this route requires both core and additional content.

What Makes IGCSE International Maths Easier?

Despite its reputation for being difficult, there are still some aspects of IGCSE International Maths that are more manageable:

Different Entry Routes

The course caters to students of varying abilities by offering different entry routes. The core content is designed for students aiming for grades C–G, whereas the extended content is for students aiming for A*–C.

This means that students covering core content are less likely to feel overwhelmed by the workload, and students taking the extended content should feel like they’re being appropriately challenged.

Technology

Whether you’re taking the core content or the extended content, 60% of your IGCSE consists of calculator papers. Once you’ve got to grips with using a graphic display calculator, this makes certain parts of the course much easier. It also takes some of the pressure off, as you’re not expected to work everything out in your head alone!

Factors That Affect How Hard You'll Find IGCSE International Maths

What’s hard for one student will be easier for another. To help you work out how hard you’ll find IGCSE International Maths, consider the following factors:

• Prior knowledge – refer back to the nine topics above and see how many you’re already familiar with. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about each area yet – it just means you will have a steeper learning curve to begin with.

• Interest in the subject – like most subjects, you do better in IGCSE International Maths if you enjoy maths. Even if your ability isn’t quite where you want it to be, you’re much more likely to put the work in if you like maths.

• Revision habits – IGCSE International Maths requires more ‘doing’ than it does reading or lengthy writing. If you’re not yet in the habit of regularly practising with past papers, you’ll find IGCSE International Maths harder in the first instance.

How to Make IGCSE International Maths Easier

Here are some practical, tried-and-tested strategies you can use to improve your chances of success in IGCSE International Maths:

Break the Content Down by Topic

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by something, I remind myself of the famous proverb: ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time’.

In practice, this method is known as chunking. Revise each of the 10 IGCSE International Maths topics one at a time, checking off each one as you go in a revision checklist.

Use the Feynman Technique

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”. Attributed to Albert Einstein, this quote illustrates the importance of the Feynman Technique.

Put the Feynman Technique into practice by explaining a concept you’ve just learnt – such as calculating square roots – to someone who isn’t familiar with it, like a family member or friend.

Practise with Past Paper Questions

I found Maths really tricky at secondary school. I was in set 6/9 (with 9 being the lowest), but I improved enough to be moved up to set 5 for my GCSEs.

I ended up getting an A in GCSE Maths. I always attribute this to two things: having a brilliant teacher, and completing countless past papers (as suggested by my teacher).

People say that practice makes perfect, but you need to be practising in the right way; if not, you’ll end up being really good at doing the wrong thing! Once I’d learnt the correct approach to take for each GCSE Maths question, it was just a case of practice. You can take the same approach for IGCSE International Maths.

What Does IGCSE International Maths Involve?

CIE is currently the only exam board that offers IGCSE International Maths. While it overlaps with CIE IGCSE Maths (opens in a new tab), it is not the same, and you can’t take both in the same exam series.

Core Areas Assessed

The areas you’ll be assessed on depend on whether you take the core content or the extended content. You’ll take the core content if you’re targeting grades C–G, whereas you’ll take the extended content if you’re targeting A*–C.

The extended content includes everything in the core content, as well as additional content.

Both the core and extended content consist of 10 topics. These are listed below, alongside an example core and extended task for each one:

1. Number

   • e.g. express 72 as a product of its prime factors (core) 

   • e.g. the population of a village increases exponentially at a rate of 6% per year. In 2023 the population was 901. Calculate the population in 2022 (extended)

2. Algebra and graphs

   • interpret the gradient of a straight-line graph as a rate of change (core)

   • 𝑦 is inversely proportional to the cube root of (𝑥 + 5). When 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 = 12. Find 𝑦 when 𝑥 = 22 (extended)

3. Functions

   • identify from different sketch graphs which one is the graph of f(𝑥) = 3𝑥 – 2 (core)

   • solve log equations in the context of a compound interest problem or exponential growth and decay problems (extended)

4. Coordinate geometry

   • find the equation of the line parallel to 𝑦 = 4𝑥 – 1 that passes through (1, –3) (core)

   • find the gradient of a line perpendicular to 2𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 1 (extended)

5. Geometry

   • find the bearing of A from B if the bearing of B from A is 025° (core)

   • calculate and explain opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180° (extended)

6. Mensuration

   • find the volume of half of a sphere (core)

   • find the surface area and volume of a frustum (extended)

7. Trigonometry

   • know and use Pythagoras’ theorem (core)

   • carry out calculations and solve problems in three dimensions using Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry, including calculating the angle between a line and a plane (extended)

8. Transformations and vectors

   • draw the enlargement of a shape from a centre by a scale factor (core)

   • add and subtract vectors (extended)

9. Probability

   • the probability that a counter is blue is 0.8. What is the probability that it is not blue? (core)

   • 𝒫(𝓑) = 0.8, find 𝒫(𝓑′) (extended)

10. Statistics

    • compare averages and ranges between two data sets (core)

    • draw and interpret cumulative frequency tables and diagrams (extended)

Exam Format and Structure

The table below outlines what each core CIE International Maths paper involves:

Knowledge and understanding of mathematical techniques, e.g. using geometrical instruments and performing calculations with and without a calculator

*Analyse, interpret and communicate mathematically, e.g. recognising patterns and drawing conclusions from mathematical data

The table below outlines what each extended CIE International Maths paper involves:

More detailed information can be found on the 2025-2027 (opens in a new tab) syllabus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade is a pass in IGCSE International Maths?

Technically, the lowest pass grade for IGCSE International Maths is a G. In June 2025, the threshold for a G grade was 42/200 marks for the core content.

However, in practice, most colleges and universities consider a C as the minimum IGCSE pass grade. In June 2025, the threshold for a C grade was 100/250 marks (extended) or 135/200 marks (core).

Is IGCSE International Maths harder than IGCSE Maths?

Despite the significant similarities between them, CIE IGCSE International Maths is generally considered to be harder than CIE IGCSE Maths.

IGCSE International Maths has an additional Functions topic. It also requires all candidates to complete three papers, whereas IGCSE Maths candidates only complete two papers.

How much revision do you need for IGCSE International Maths?

IGCSE International Maths requires around the same amount of revision as other IGCSEs.

Remember that your revision methods matter just as much, if not more, than how long you’re revising for. Use a revision checklist broken down by topic, complete past papers and check examiner reports (opens in a new tab) for common mistakes.

Final Thoughts

IGCSE Maths subjects, including IGCSE International Maths, are generally considered to be among the hardest. This is largely due to difficult topics like algebra, complex problem-solving requirements and a heavy workload. 

However, knowing that there are different entry routes (core content and extended content) and that 60% of the qualification consists of calculator papers can make it more manageable.

To decide whether IGCSE International Maths is right for you, consider your prior knowledge levels, interest in the subject and your current approach to revision.

If you’re willing to work hard, practise properly and regularly complete past papers, IGCSE International Maths is worth serious consideration. It is a unique qualification that helps you develop your mathematical ability as a key life skill, and one that is accessible to students of differing abilities.

References

• Cambridge IGCSE International Maths (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Maths (opens in a new tab)

• National Numeracy: What is Maths Anxiety? (opens in a new tab)