Master CambridgeIGCSE Maths witha plan that works

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between Core and Extended IGCSE Maths?

  Extended covers more of the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics content and reaches the top grades; Core is a narrower syllabus for students who need a secure pass. The route a student is entered for also changes which papers they sit at the end of the course. TutorWick recommends a route in the free trial class, after a short diagnostic, and sends that recommendation to you in writing so you can take it to your child’s school.

• Do I need a calculator for all IGCSE Maths papers?

  A calculator is allowed on some Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics papers and not permitted on others. Cambridge states that Paper 1 and Paper 2 are non-calculator papers, while Paper 3 and Paper 4 require a scientific calculator. Check the papers your child is entered for with their school. Written and mental number work is practised throughout every TutorWick study plan rather than left to the final term.

• Which IGCSE Maths paper is the most difficult?

  No single IGCSE Maths paper is hardest for every student. The Extended papers are the longer ones at two hours and 100 marks each, compared with 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks for the Core papers. Which paper a particular student finds hardest depends on where their marks are actually being lost, and that is what the diagnostic in the free trial class identifies.

• How can I prepare effectively for IGCSE Maths?

  Effective IGCSE Maths preparation is diagnostic rather than linear: find the topics losing marks, fix those, then practise them under timed conditions. Working front to back through a textbook spends most of the available time on material a student already knows. Sit a past paper early, mark it against the official mark scheme, list every question type that lost marks, and work that list until the same errors stop appearing.

• How many past papers should my child do before the IGCSE exam?

  The TutorWick 2-month Intensive and 6-month Complete plans each include 16 Cambridge past papers, and that is a sensible minimum for a student sitting IGCSE Maths. The Intensive Plan adds 4 timed mock exams on top of those and the Complete Plan adds 8, while the 10-month Mastery Plan is built around extensive past-paper practice rather than a fixed number. Volume on its own changes nothing — a paper is only worth sitting if it is marked against the mark scheme and the errors become the next week’s lessons.

• How are IGCSE Maths papers marked?

  IGCSE Maths papers are marked against a published mark scheme rather than an examiner’s personal judgement. Marks are awarded for correct method as well as for the final answer, which is why a student who sets out clear working can still score on a question they do not finish. TutorWick tutors mark practice papers against the same mark schemes and teach students to lay out working so those method marks are visible.

• How does TutorWick help students prepare for IGCSE Maths?

  TutorWick teaches IGCSE Maths one-to-one against the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 syllabus, starting with a diagnostic and a written route recommendation. From there the tutor works through the syllabus units your child is weakest on, sets and marks homework, and builds in Cambridge past papers and timed mock exams. Parents receive written progress updates covering topics taught, assessment scores and the next areas of focus.

• How long is IGCSE Maths Paper 1?

  Cambridge lists IGCSE Maths Paper 1 as 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks. Paper 1 is the Core non-calculator paper; the Extended non-calculator paper, Paper 2, runs for 2 hours and carries 100 marks. Confirm the papers your child is entered for with their school, since exam entries are made by the centre rather than by families.

• How much does an IGCSE Maths tutor cost?

  An IGCSE Maths tutor at TutorWick costs $14 to $35 an hour, depending on the tutor tier you choose. Standard tutors are $14 an hour, Expert tutors $22 and Premium tutors $35 — all one-to-one, all billed by the hour. The first class is a free trial with no card details required.

  See tutor pricing — How much does an IGCSE Maths tutor cost?
• Can my child move from Core to Extended?

  Moving from Core to Extended is possible, and TutorWick reviews the route at every progress update rather than fixing it at enrolment. A student who starts on Core and begins handling harder questions comfortably can be prepared for Extended, provided there is enough time before the exam entry is made. Entries are made by your child’s school, so take the tutor’s written recommendation to them ahead of their entry deadline.

• Is IGCSE Maths harder than GCSE Maths?

  Neither IGCSE Maths nor GCSE Maths is straightforwardly harder — they are different specifications, set by different boards, with different papers. What moves difficulty far more than the board is the route or tier a student is entered for, and how much past-paper practice they have done by exam day. TutorWick teaches each qualification against its own syllabus, past papers and mark schemes rather than treating them as interchangeable.