IGCSE / International GCSE
IGCSE tutoring in Tokyo and online,
matched to your school's syllabus.
Cambridge IGCSE, Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and others can differ in board and marking even for the same subject, depending on the school. Before we look for a tutor, Petra checks your school, subject, materials and exam timing, then works out what fits where you are now.
- Online lessons
- In person in Tokyo by arrangement
- Subjects and boards confirmed first
The same "IGCSE" still
needs a few checks.
The name IGCSE alone does not tell you what is studied or how it is examined. A different board or subject changes what preparation is needed. If you do not know the board, that is fine: we can work it out from your school name and materials.
| Board | What to know |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE | A Cambridge International qualification. Each subject has its own syllabus, and some subjects offer Core and Extended. Some subjects are graded A*-G and others 9-1, and schools can differ in which they use. |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE | A Pearson Edexcel qualification graded 9-1. The exam structure differs by subject, and schools choose how assessment is put together. |
| OxfordAQA International GCSE | A qualification from OxfordAQA. Because the board differs by school, we first confirm which board your child's school uses. |
What tends to differ by board or subject
- How it is graded (A*-G or 9-1)
- Whether there is coursework, an oral, or practical work as well as written papers
- Whether there are levels such as Core and Extended
- Which exam sessions the school chooses
The ordinary GCSE is for schools in the UK. IGCSE and International GCSE are designed for schools overseas. The names are similar, but they are not the same qualification.
For the latest details, check your school or the board's official information.
"I don't get it" has
more than one kind.
Even when the problem is "grades are not going up", the first step depends on the cause. We start by working out which one is closest.
| When this happens | What it often looks like | What we look at first |
|---|---|---|
| The content is not clear | Lessons move too fast, the textbook is hard, or things stopped making sense from a particular unit. | Use your school materials to decide which unit to go back to. |
| You understand it but lose marks | Misreading the question, answers not detailed enough, or the same slips in calculation or method. | Look at marked papers and mocks to separate the patterns of lost marks. |
| You do not know what to revise | The scope is wide and you cannot decide where to start. Time before the exam is short. | Set priorities from the time left and the scope. |
| You cannot explain it in English | You follow the content but get stuck on technical terms or written English, or cannot build a long answer. | See whether you get stuck on terms, reading the question or writing the answer. |
If you need support in Japanese, we check each tutor's ability before suggesting candidates. Not every tutor can offer it.
First, we confirm what
you are studying.
Before looking for an "IGCSE Maths tutor", we look at what your child actually uses. If you do not know something, just say so.
Confirm school and subject
Tell us the school, year group and the subjects taken.
Confirm board and syllabus
If the board or code is unknown, we work it out from materials and school information.
Look at materials, papers and difficulties
Textbooks, workbooks, mocks and marked papers: whatever you have.
Set out what the tutor needs
Subject, level, support in Japanese, online or in person, and times.
Find and propose a tutor
If we have a tutor who fits, we send suggestions.
Review after lessons
After each lesson a report is shared, and we adjust the approach as needed.
If we do not currently have a tutor who fits, we will tell you honestly.
From school lessons
to exam preparation.
School study and exam preparation are not separate things. We look at where your child is now and decide how to layer them.
Supporting school lessons
- Current lesson content
- Homework and assignments
- Understanding concepts
- Technical terms
- How to write answers
Linking to exams
- Reviewing unit by unit
- Past papers
- Timing
- Reading the question
- Structuring written answers
- Reviewing mocks
Making a plan
- Timing of the next test or exam
- Units to prioritise
- Order of revision
Assessment and the preparation needed differ by subject. The approach is not the same for every subject.
The right tutor
depends on the subject.
There are many IGCSE subjects, and tutors differ in what they can teach and in their experience. We do not decide by subject name alone: we confirm your school's board, materials and your child's difficulty first, then look for a tutor who can help.
| Area | Subjects people often ask about | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| English and languages | English Language / English Literature | Subjects centred on written English and reading. |
| Maths and sciences | Mathematics / Physics / Chemistry / Biology | We check whether we have a tutor for the subject and board. |
| Social studies and business | Economics / Business / Geography / Computer Science | We check current tutors and let you know. |
These are examples people often ask about. They are not a promise of availability, and we may not be able to take a subject depending on current tutors. We also look into subjects not listed here.
We do not pick a tutor just because
"IGCSE" is on the label.
Which option fits depends on what your family values. The best choice is the one that matches your purpose.
| Option | Best if |
|---|---|
| A large cram school specialising in IGCSE | Best if you value materials, past track record and a wide range of subjects. |
| A marketplace where you find an individual tutor | Best if you want to choose from many tutors yourself. |
| Petra | Best if you want matching to your school's materials and exams handled for you, from finding a tutor through to checking progress. |
If you need a large IGCSE-specialist set-up, a specialist school may suit you better.
An example of
what we check first.
This is one example. How things actually proceed depends on the school, subject and exam.
- Year
- Year 10
- Subject
- Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics
- Situation
- Understands lessons, but mock scores are uneven
- We look at
- Recent mocks, the school textbook, the next exam plan
What we look at first
- Find the pattern in repeated mistakes
- Confirm the weaker units
- Decide the weekly balance between topic review and past papers
This example only illustrates how we work. It is not a real family's case.
Online lessons.
In person in Tokyo by arrangement.
- Online
- One-to-one lessons from home.
- In person in Tokyo
- Possible if the area, day and tutor availability line up. Please ask.
Helpful to have
- School and year
- Subject
- Board and syllabus code (if known)
- Textbooks and workbooks
- Recent papers and mocks
- Timing of the next exam
You do not need everything.
Price guide
International school & study abroad
¥7,000~ / 60 min
IGCSE pricing can vary with the subject, content and tutor. The figure above is the guide for international school support. We confirm the actual category when you get in touch.
No enrolment fee · no material fees in most cases · no-obligation advice
See pricing →IGCSE tutoring:
frequently asked questions
If something is unclear, please just ask.
Can you help with both Cambridge and Edexcel?
You can ask us about a school on either board. Whether we can help depends on the board, the subject and which tutors we have at the moment. We check first, then propose candidates if we can.
Can you work with the materials my school uses?
Yes, we can work through the textbook, workbook and class notes. Please show us what you have. Depending on the material and tutor availability, we may not always be able to meet every request.
Is it fine to get help with just one subject?
Yes. We can support one difficult subject one-to-one. If you have several, we can work through them in priority order.
Can you help with mocks and past papers?
We go through mocks and past papers to understand why marks are lost and to set a revision order. Because marking differs by subject, we suggest an approach to match.
Are there tutors who can explain in Japanese?
It depends on the tutor. If you want support in Japanese, we include that when looking for a tutor. Not every tutor can, so please tell us your preference when you get in touch.
Is IGCSE the same as the ordinary GCSE?
No. GCSE is for schools in the UK, while IGCSE and International GCSE are designed for schools overseas. What is studied and how it is assessed differ by board and subject.
What if I do not know which board we are on?
Tell us the school, year and subject. A textbook cover, workbook, mock paper or a notice from school can often reveal it. Whatever you do not know, that is fine.
Can I choose between online and in person?
Online lessons are available. In-person lessons in Tokyo can be arranged where the area, day and tutor availability line up.
Tell us your school, subject
and what is not working.
If you are not sure of the board or syllabus, tell us what you do know: the school, subject and materials are enough to start.