What Is IGCSE Islamic Studies?

If you’re interested in the religion, culture and history of Islam, it’s worth considering IGCSE Islamic Studies.

This guide explains what the course covers, who offers it, how it's assessed, and where it can lead to.

Key Takeaways

• Cambridge International Education (CIE) (opens in a new tab) and Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab) are the two exam boards currently offering IGCSE Islamic Studies

• It’s known as Islamiyat under CIE and Islamic Studies under Pearson Edexcel

• You’ll learn about the religion, culture and history of Islam

• Assessment is two exam papers taken at the end of Year 11

• It’s ideal for A Level Religious Studies or careers in business, education and charity

What is IGCSE Islamic Studies?

IGCSE Islamic Studies is a two-year International GCSE that introduces you to the academic study of the religion, culture and history of Islam. Areas of study include the Qur’an, Hadith and the Prophet Muhammad.

Which exam boards offer IGCSE Islamic Studies?

CIE and Pearson Edexcel are the two exam boards currently offering IGCSE Islamic Studies. The course is known as Islamiyat under CIE and Islamic Studies under Pearson Edexcel.

What do you study in IGCSE Islamic Studies?

The topics vary by exam board. CIE puts more weight on close study of the Qur’an and Hadith, whereas Pearson Edexcel leans slightly more towards modern application and the global Muslim community.

Both exam boards cover the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the history of the early Islamic community.

Check the specifications for CIE (opens in a new tab) and Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab) for more information.

How is IGCSE Islamic Studies assessed?

CIE candidates take two papers: 

1. Paper 1 – a 1.5 hour written paper on the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad and the first Islamic community

2. Paper 2 – a 1.5 hour written paper on the Hadith, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam

Pearson Edexcel candidates only take one exam: a 2.5 hour written paper on the Prophet Muhammad, the early Muslim community, and living the Muslim life today.

How is IGCSE Islamic Studies different from IGCSE Religious Studies?

IGCSE Islamic Studies focuses exclusively on the religion, culture and history of Islam. You don’t need to study any other religions beside Islam.

IGCSE RS, on the other hand, typically requires in-depth study of two different religions (e.g. Christianity and Islam).

Exam boards for both also differ, and there are different papers for IGCSE RS.

Do you need to know Arabic?

CIE sets passages in the exam in both Arabic and English. Though you’ll study passages in an English translation, you also need to demonstrate knowledge of the original Arabic text.

Pearson Edexcel is more accessible. It also provides text in both Arabic and English, but if you’re an English speaker, you don’t need to demonstrate knowledge of texts in Arabic.  

How hard is IGCSE Islamic Studies?

While it’s not listed among the hardest IGCSEs, IGCSE Islamic Studies can be tricky for some students. 

You'll engage closely with passages from the Qur’an and Hadith. You’ll also need to remember a lot of information, including names, dates and events from early Islamic history.

Writing skills are also very important, as you’ll need to assess statements and write longer responses for some questions..

If you’re interested in Islam and enjoy close reading and writing, you'll find the course challenging but ultimately rewarding. Our guide on how to prepare for IGCSEs includes a number of revision strategies that will work for IGCSE Islamic Studies.

What can you do with IGCSE Islamic Studies?

Here are just some of the pathways IGCSE Islamic Studies can open up:

Further Study

• A Level RS

• Degrees in Theology and Religious Studies

Careers

• Business, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

• Education, e.g. RS teacher

• Charity, especially working with charities guided by Islamic values (such as Islamic Relief)

Is IGCSE Islamic Studies right for you?

If you enjoy reading, writing and learning about Islam in depth, IGCSE Islamic Studies is seriously worth considering.

If you’d prefer to learn about different faiths or find extended writing difficult, think twice before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IGCSE Islamic Studies the same as Islamiyat?

Broadly speaking, yes. Islamayat (CIE’s offering) is Islamic religious studies, and Islamic Studies (Pearson Edexcel’s offering) covers similar content but with a slightly different focus.

Do you need to be Muslim to take IGCSE Islamic Studies?

No. While many students who take IGCSE Islamic Studies are Muslim, it isn’t a requirement. The course is open to religious and non-religious students from different backgrounds.

Is there coursework in IGCSE Islamic Studies?

No. Both exam boards assess the qualification through written exams taken at the end of Year 11.

Is IGCSE Islamic Studies recognised by UK universities?

Yes. UK universities, including those in the Russell Group, accept IGCSE Islamic Studies as a qualification equivalent to a GCSE.

It’s especially valued for degrees involving religion or humanities more broadly.

If you want a humanities course with a specific focus on Islam, IGCSE Islamic Studies is a great choice. Consider the best IGCSE subject combinations to help you make an informed decision about your IGCSE options.