How Cambridge Marks IGCSE Global Perspectives: What Examiners Really Look For

How Cambridge Marks IGCSE Global Perspectives: What Examiners Really Look For

When students first encounter Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives, many assume it’s an “opinion-based” subject — one where strong views and confident writing will naturally earn high marks. Parents often think the same. But year after year, examiners’ reports tell a very different story. Global Perspectives is not about what you think. It’s about how you think — and how well you can explain, evaluate, and justify your reasoning. Understanding this distinction is the single biggest factor separating average results from top-band performance.

IGCSE Global Perspectives Is a Skills Subject, Not a Content Subject

Unlike traditional Cambridge subjects that reward recall, Global Perspectives is designed to assess critical thinking, research, and evaluation. Examiners are not looking for students to memorise facts or repeat sources. They are looking for students who can interrogate information.

High-scoring students show that they can:

• Identify claims
• Assess evidence
• Compare viewpoints
• Recognise bias and limitations
• Reach balanced, reasoned conclusions

This is why Global Perspectives often feels unfamiliar at first, and why it becomes such a powerful subject once students understand how it is marked.

What Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives Is

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives is a skills-based course designed to prepare learners for life in a connected, information-rich world. Rather than focusing on memorising facts, it develops students’ ability to:

✅ research, analyse and evaluate information

✅ consider issues from multiple perspectives

✅ build structured arguments and evidence-based reasoning

✅ reflect on their own and others’ thinking

✅ communicate and collaborate effectively with others

The syllabus emphasises critical thinking and transferable skills that support success in other subjects and future study.

Aims of the Syllabus

The course aims to help learners:

• become confident and independent thinkers
• understand global issues and their causes/consequences
• develop evidence-based suggestions for action
• work both independently and in teams
• explore issues from a variety of cultural, social, and personal perspectives

Importantly, Cambridge treats the subject neutrally — it does not endorse any political view but encourages balanced evaluation.

📊 Assessment: How Students Are Tested

There are three main components, each assessing different skills:

1. Written Exam (35%)

• 1 hour 25 minutes
• Four compulsory questions based on source materials
• Students use sources to analyse arguments, evaluate evidence, and make reasoned judgements
• Students are not tested on prior content knowledge — skills are what matter most

2. Individual Report (30%)

• A 1500–2000-word research report
• Students choose a global issue and explore it from multiple perspectives
• Assessed on research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, and communication skills

3. Team Project (35%)

• Collaborative work with a group
• Students investigate a local global issue and present research + reflections
• Assesses communication, teamwork, and reflection skills

🌍 Topic Scope

Students explore a broad list of global topics, such as:

Arts in society, Climate change, Conflict and peace, Digital world, Health and well-being, Poverty and inequality, Political power and action, Technology and innovation, and many more. These topics give a context for developing real analytical skills rather than memorising fixed content.

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives is unique because it focuses on skills over content. Success in the course hinges on how students think and communicate, not what they already know. These skills are highly valued by universities and employers and provide an excellent foundation for subjects like law, politics, humanities, and social sciences in future study.

🎓 Personalised One-to-One Support

At Global Tutors, we specialise in helping students master the thinking behind the assessment — not just the content.

Our tutors don’t just cover topics, they teach students how examiners mark;

• How to evaluate evidence, not just summarise it
• How to compare perspectives and identify bias
• How to write analytical conclusions, not personal opinions

This insight directly targets the skills examiners reward, helping students perform confidently in both the written exam and the research components. Find your tutor