The Ultimate Guide to Acing IGCSE Exams

📥 Get the Ultimate IGCSE Cheat-Sheet

Exams suck. We all know it. But getting all A*s in IGCSE? Totally doable, if you know the insider hacks. I spoke to a Stanford student who did it. Here’s exactly what he did. No fluff, just results.

1. Know the syllabu

2. s inside out

Understanding the syllabus is step one. Don’t just skim it.

• Memorize the structure of each subject’s syllabus.

• Focus on high-weight topics and frequently tested areas.

• Knowing exactly what the board tests saves time and stress.

2. Start a month before exams

Don't grind the night before an exam. And no need to overdo it months ahead. Start light revision about a month before your exams.

• Focus on understanding concepts, not endless memorization.

• Prioritize weak areas first, then review strong topics. DON'T focus on what you already know

• Keeps your brain fresh and ready for the final push.

3. The HACK to acing science practicals

Practical papers are hard. But you can easily ace them with some brain.

• Use confidential instructions in past papers to anticipate experiments.

• Mentally rehearse how experiments run and what the examiner expects.

• Draw clear diagrams and label every step on a whiteboard for better understanding

• Practice calculations and measurements

4. Speak the mark scheme

Mark schemes are the language you should be speaking.

• Mark schemes show exactly what examiners want.

• Copy the phrasing and steps—small wording differences can cost marks.

• Focus on keywords, especially in science.

🧠 Pro Tip: I’ve made a full cheat-sheet with exact mark-scheme phrases and common examiner keywords.

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5. Read Examiner Reports

No one cares about examiner reports. But they're basically gold.

• Learn from what students often get wrong.

• Avoid losing easy marks by understanding typical student mistakes.

• Combine with past papers + mark schemes for maximum efficiency.

6. Subject-Specific Hacks

English:

• Learn key literary quotes and essay structures.

• Practice essays and compare them with mark schemes.

• Use AI to correct your past papers in IGCSE style

Math:

• Time yourself on past papers.

• Focus on recurring question types.

Science:

• Memorize formulas, units, and definitions.

• Use mark schemes to learn exact phrasing for short answers, especially for chemistry.

• Use the Cambridge syllabus sheet to learn exact definitions

7. Exam Day Strategy 🏆

Plan your day so you maximize marks and don't panic.

• Scan the paper first and plan your time.

• Attempt easier questions first, then tricky ones.

• Show all working steps - examiners reward method, not just answers.

• Stay calm

TL;DR: How to Ace IGCSE

• Know the syllabus inside out.

• Start light one month before exams.

• Prep practicals with past papers.

• Follow the mark scheme exactly.

• Read examiner reports to avoid common mistakes.

• Apply subject-specific hacks.

• Sleep well & eat smart.

• Plan your exam day strategy.

Want the full Ultimate IGCSE Cheat-Sheet? 🎓

Fill out this quick form and get it instantly: https://forms.gle/Z1ky8KwVdxXt2q6y6

👉 If you want to stack EVEN more hacks, I wrote about

Study Hacks School Doesn’t Want You to Know