1. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Programme – an evolving, globally relevant educational opportunity:

The IGCSE Programme is administered by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Over 9000 schools in 161 countries around the world offer the Cambridge qualifications. The IGCSE Programme is firmly established and recognized world-wide and is taken in 144 countries and in more than 2500 schools around the world.

The IGCSE has always emphasized adding value within a national context whilst also contributing to internationalism. The development focus is to safeguard distinctive cultural identity through specific language and literature syllabi, for example, or to include study of regional geography or history, whilst also encouraging an international outlook. Thus, the importance of an appropriate mix of global and local contexts is well recognized as an essential dimension of IGCSE.

2. The IGCSE Curriculum and its Assessment – beyond knowledge recall, emphasizes a strong skill development orientation:

The IGCSE curriculum emphasizes the development of habits of critical enquiry and individual research and encourages a problem-solving approach – applying what one has learnt. The assessment process goes beyond just knowledge recall and emphasizes other skills like a student's ability to use and apply knowledge appropriately, to handle information and use it to solve problems, and to acquire experimental and investigative skills. This encouragement to go beyond rote learning or memorization is the key in all IGCSE syllabi. This approach recognizes that 'recall' becomes a relatively less useful skill for individuals in today's world of rapid change. Instead, the development of skills of application, analysis, evaluation and creation become important in encouraging students who are able to take their learning beyond the confines of the classroom and the examination hall.

The IGCSE approach is rooted in active learning and its assessment models have been designed to reflect this orientation. They include not only terminal examinations but also the assessment of fieldwork skills or practical investigations in the lab, oral and listening skills in foreign and second languages, and project or coursework completed during the course of study. Throughout, the key criterion is 'fitness for purpose' and skills are assessed in the most appropriate way possible.

IGCSE assessments are also designed to be accessible to candidates of widely differing abilities. For most subjects, the IGCSE reflects the approach of using tiered or differentiated papers but within the simpler structure of a core and extended curriculum. The design of the IGCSE curriculum and assessment recognizes the individual needs of students and provides encouragement of the highest possible achievement.

3. The IGCSE Programme – key features:

4. The Curriculum for the IGCSE Programme at Dhirubhai Ambani International School:

The IGCSE is a two-year course of study available to students at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in classes IX and X. The IGCSE Class VIII serves as a preparatory year designed to meaningfully progress to the courses of study in IGCSE classes IX and X.

In addition, students must also choose from a range of sporting and non-sporting activities. Such co-curricular experiences help them to develop a well-rounded personality.

Students in classes IX and X will normally select a total of 9 subjects. They will all study First Language English, English Literature, and either French or Hindi from Group 1; and Mathematics from Group 4. If they choose split Sciences from Group 3 they will choose a subject each from Group 2 and 5. If they choose Co-ordinated Sciences (which is treated as two subjects) from Group 3 they will choose three subjects from Group 2 and 5. Normally, students will take 9 subjects in the IGCSE and only in exceptional circumstances they will take 8 subjects. Additional Mathematics taught outside the school hours may be allowed as a 10th subject.

Students in classes IX and X will normally select a total of 9 subjects. They will all study First Language English, English Literature, and either French or Hindi from Group 1; and Mathematics from Group 4. If they choose split Sciences from Group 3 they will choose a subject each from Group 2 and 5. If they choose Co-ordinated Sciences (which is treated as two subjects) from Group 3 they will choose three subjects from Group 2 and 5. Normally, students will take 9 subjects in the IGCSE and only in exceptional circumstances they will take 8 subjects. Additional Mathematics taught outside the school hours may be allowed as a 10th subject.

5. IGCSE Results:

	57% of all grades earned are A*'s; the India average is 17.1% and the world average is 19.2% 30.4% of all grades achieved are A's; the India average is 21.5% and the world average is 19.7% 10.3% of all grades achieved are B's 87.4% of all grades achieved are A*'s and A's; the India average is 38.6% and the world average is 38.9% 7 students earned 9A*'s or above; 19 students achieved 8 A*s or above 43% of the students achieved 7A*'s or above, which is the highest ever for the school over the past six years This year the school's average score of the class is 93.26% 30% of the class achieved an overall aggregate of 98% and above A record number of 33 students, which account for 51% of our students, have achieved the perfect score of 100% in 12 of the 18 subjects they entered Our students are way above the world average in all the 18 subjects they entered The topper scored an average of 100% on the basis of best of 5 subjects

Of the 65 students, 94% achieved 'Distinction' and the remaining 6% earned 'Merit'. None of the students have performed below the 'Merit' category.

During 2006 to 2010, our IGCSE students topped the world in English Literature, First Language English, Biology, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Hindi as a Second Language and Physical Education examinations. They also topped India in First Language English, Geography, Foreign Language French, Chemistry, History, Business Studies, Co-ordinated Science, Additional Mathematics, Physics and Art & Design. In 2006 and 2007, a DAIS student was adjudged the 'Best IGCSE Student in South Asia'. With the growing number of students from India enrolling into the IGCSE programme (there are over 300 IGCSE schools in India), the University of Cambridge International Examinations has since introduced the award of the 'Best IGCSE Student in India' and, consequent to it, one of our students was adjudged the 'Best IGCSE Student in India' in 2008, 2009 and 2010, which is a fitting tribute to our students' continued splendid performance.

In 2011, our IGCSE students have topped the world in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Physical Education. Out of the 12 World Toppers, 7 students are from DAIS. 3 DAIS students have also topped in India in Coordinated Sciences, Geography and Physics.