Top 10 Easiest IGCSEs To Study In 2025

If you’re about to pick your IGCSE options, you may be wondering how difficult different subjects are.

While it’s important that you don’t make your IGCSE options based on difficulty alone, it’s wise to get an idea of the workload involved in each subject.  

It’s also a good idea to find out how you’ll be assessed and determine whether this is suited to your strengths and personal preferences. 

In this article, you’ll find a breakdown of the easiest IGCSEs to study in 2025 based on pass rate data. 

What IGCSEs Have The Highest Pass Rates?

To determine some of the easiest IGCSEs to study in 2025, we analysed Cambridge International’s 2024 IGCSE results data. This shows which subjects had the highest pass rates last year – which is the percentage of students achieving a grade C (or a grade 4) or above.

Check out the table below for the results, which we’ve ranked in order of pass rate percentage:

What Are The Easiest IGCSEs?

Although the subjects listed above have the highest pass rates, both students and teachers may have varying opinions on which IGCSE subjects are the 'easiest.'

Here are 10 IGCSEs often seen as 'easy,' based on pass rates, course complexity and exam format:

1. Drama 

2. Environmental Management 

3. Music

4. ICT

5. Business Studies

6. English as a Second Language 

7. Art & Design  

8. PE

9. Geography

10. Travel & Tourism

Good to know: You will be expected to take several compulsory IGCSEs. These vary depending on your school and country, however they typically involve core subjects such as English (or English as a Second Language), Maths, Sciences, a second language, a humanities subject (e.g. History or Geography) and in some schools, Religious Studies. 

1. Drama 

Pass Rate: 89%

With one of the highest IGCSE pass rates in 2024 and an engaging course format, IGCSE Drama may be a less challenging option for some students. 

Those who are comfortable in front of an audience and enjoy acting are likely to find this an engaging IGCSE option, and therefore easier.  

You may want to study IGCSE Drama if: 

• You prefer practical assessments over written exams – solo and group performances will make up 60% of your overall grade 

• You love collaborative work 

• You want to pursue either further study or a career in performing arts 

• You’re a talented performer and very creative 

2. Environmental Management 

Pass Rate: 70.7%

IGCSE Environmental Management explores the interaction between humans and the environment, with a focus on sustainability and the management of natural resources. 

This IGCSE may be considered easier than others due to the course content being practical and relatable, meaning it’s easy to apply to real-world situations. 

You may want to study IGCSE Environmental Management if: 

• You enjoy taking part in practical activities such as fieldwork 

• You have great critical thinking and problem-solving skills 

• You’re interested in environmental issues such as climate change, pollution and conservation

If you choose to study IGCSE Environmental Management, our past papers can help you to prepare for exams and familiarise yourself with the types of questions you may encounter.

3. Music

Pass Rate: 92% 

With one of the highest IGCSE pass rates in 2024, IGCSE Music may be regarded as one of the easier IGCSE subjects.

A big part of the IGCSE Music course is based on practical elements, such as performances and compositions. This makes it a great option for students with musical experience. 

You can choose your instrument, making the practical assessment easier for those who are confident in their choice.  

You may want to study IGCSE Music if: 

• You have a passion for music and are talented in singing, playing an instrument and/or composing 

• You’re highly creative

• You enjoy a mix of practical exams and coursework, including listening exams, composing and performing

• You’re interested in music theory 

4. ICT

Pass Rate: 75%

Generally speaking, many students find ICT IGCSE ‘easy’ because the course has lots of practical elements. 

Many students are also already familiar with digital technology and have basic computer skills, so this can make it a relatively easy subject. 

You may want to study IGCSE ICT if: 

• You want to develop your ICT skills - these are required in almost every job, from business to engineering 

• You have strong problem-solving and logical thinking skills 

• You want to learn how to analyse and solve problems using ICT tools

• You prefer practical exams but you’re also interested in theory 

Our IGCSE ICT revision notes and past papers are great for helping students to feel more confident and prepared, no matter how easy or difficult you find the subject. 

5. Business Studies

Pass Rate: 70.1% 

IGCSE Business covers basic principles of business operations, marketing, finance and management that are relatively easy for students to grasp, especially if you already have an interest in the business world. 

You may want to study IGCSE Business if: 

• You want to study a subject that gives you practical, real-world knowledge about how businesses operate 

• You want to improve your understanding of money management - you’ll learn about costs, revenues, profit margins and financial documents

• You want to develop your leadership and communication skills

If you choose to study IGCSE Business, our helpful revision notes and exam-style questions can make revision even easier. 

Factors Influencing How ‘Easy’ An IGCSE Is

It’s important to remember that what one student finds easy, another may find difficult. Each IGCSE will present different challenges depending on the student. 

Pass rates can only go so far in indicating how ‘easy’ an IGCSE may be. It’s all about your own strengths and weaknesses, your learning style, and how you prefer to be assessed. 

Let’s delve deeper into the other factors that can influence how easy or difficult you may find an IGCSE. 

Personal Interests and Strengths

Choosing your IGCSE options is an important decision, and one that should be based on your own individual interests and strengths. You’ll find yourself far more motivated to study and revise subjects that you genuinely enjoy. 

For example, if you love learning about historical events that have shaped the world and enjoy writing essays, you’ll likely find IGCSE History easier than a subject you’re less interested in.

You should also think about choosing subjects that would support your future goals.

Learning Style 

Your learning style is another indicator of how easy or difficult you may find certain subjects. You may be a visual, auditory, kinaesthetic or reading/writing learner. These different styles can impact how easily you retain information. 

Which IGCSEs Are The Easiest For Visual Learners?

If you learn best through diagrams, maps, charts, and images, subjects that use these visuals may be easier for you to study.

Generally speaking, the IGCSE subjects that visual learners may find the easiest include:

• Geography

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Art & Design

• Business Studies

Which IGCSEs Are The Easiest For Kinaesthetic Learners?

A kinaesthetic learner is someone who learns best by doing things rather than just reading or listening. This means you’ll likely find subjects that incorporate practical activities easier to study. 

The IGCSE subjects that kinaesthetic learners may find the easiest include: 

• Drama

• Dance

• PE

• Biology/Physics/Chemistry (lab work)

• Music

• Art & Design

• Design & Technology 

Which IGCSEs Are The Easiest For Reading/Writing Learners?

If you’re a reading/writing learner, you probably find that note-taking, essay writing and reading textbooks is the best way for you to learn. 

The IGCSE subjects that reading/writing learners may find the easiest include:

• English (or English as a Second Language)

• First Language subjects (German, Italian, Spanish, French, Mandarin)

• History

• Religious Studies

• Geography

Exam Format

Another factor influencing how easy you may find an IGCSE subject is the way you’ll be assessed. If you prefer written exams over practicals, you’ll likely find IGCSEs with a higher percentage of exam-based assessment easier. This includes subjects such as Maths, Sciences, History, Geography and Sociology.  

On the other hand, if you struggle with the time constraints of exams and prefer coursework-led subjects, you may find IGCSEs such as Art & Design, Design & Technology, Travel & Tourism, Drama and Music easier. 

Workload

All IGCSEs will require hard work, but some subjects may be considered to have a higher workload than others. This might be due to the amount of content to be covered, the depth of understanding required or the amount of coursework involved. 

Some IGCSEs considered to have a high workload include: 

• English Literature

• Additional Mathematics

• Triple Science

• History

• Computer Science

• Art & Design

Top tip: When it comes to managing your workload, our handy IGCSE revision resources can help to reduce the time you spend revising unnecessary material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which IGCSE Subjects Had The Most Top Grades in 2024?

Analysing Cambridge International’s IGCSE results, the IGCSEs with the highest percentage of top grades in 2024 were: 

Which IGCSE Exam Board Is The Easiest?

The main IGCSE exam boards are Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), Edexcel and Oxford International AQA Examinations. No specific exam board is officially ‘easier’ than another. However, teachers and students may have their own opinions on which exam board is easier or harder for certain subjects. 

Will Choosing Easier IGCSEs Impact My Further Study?

Choosing easier IGCSE subjects can impact your further studies, but this depends on your academic and career goals. Here’s what you should consider:

• Subject-specific entry requirements:
  Some A Level or IB courses will require specific IGCSEs to study certain subjects. For example, if you want to study A Level Physics, you’ll typically need to have taken IGCSE Physics or Coordinated Science.
  

• University applications:
  If you’re planning on going to university, you may want to consider choosing a mix of challenging and accessible subjects. Universities value good grades more than just difficult subjects, so a balanced selection is ideal.

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Explore Our IGCSE Revision Resources. 

References

Cambridge International IGCSE Results June 2024