Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel both offer some IGCSE exams on computer, but most subjects are still on paper. Here is the subject-by-subject picture and how to prepare.
Quick answer: Most IGCSE exams are still on paper. Cambridge ran its first live digital IGCSE exams in 2026 through an Early Adopter Programme (Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Physics), with a phased rollout from 2027 that starts with First Language English 0500 and English as a Second Language 0510. Pearson Edexcel already offers onscreen International GCSE exams in subjects such as English Language A, English Literature, Business, Economics, History and ICT, as an option alongside paper.
Preparing for an on-screen or paper IGCSE exam? Ask a tutor on WhatsApp or match with a 1-on-1 IGCSE tutor.
For most students, still on paper. Both boards are moving towards on-screen exams, but in phases: a subject only becomes available digitally when the board launches it, and even then the school chooses whether to enter students on paper or on screen. So the honest answer depends on three things: the board, the subject and your school's choice. For the wider picture of the qualification, see what is IGCSE and Cambridge IGCSE vs Edexcel.
Cambridge publishes a digital exam roadmap. Its 2026 exams ran only in schools on the Early Adopter Programme; from 2027 availability expands by region, qualification and exam series.
| Launch | Cambridge IGCSE subjects (code) |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Early Adopter Programme only) | Accounting 0452, Economics 0455 (component 1), Biology 0610, Chemistry 0620, Physics 0625 |
| 2027 | First Language English 0500, English as a Second Language 0510 |
| 2028 | Global Perspectives 0457, English as a Second Language 0511, Spanish 0530 (listening components) |
| 2029 | Computer Science 0265, French 0520, Malay 0546, Spanish 0530 (listening and non-speaking components) |
| 2030 | Business 0264, Economics 0455 (full qualification), Psychology 0266, English Literature 0475 |
At AS Level, the English General Paper (8021) was in the 2026 Early Adopter Programme and further AS and A Level subjects follow from 2027 to 2030. Cambridge's long-term aim is for 85% of IGCSE and AS & A Level subjects to be available in both digital and paper formats by 2033, and it notes the roadmap may change. Notice that Mathematics (0580) and full science papers are not yet on the list, and that the new Computer Science 0265 is the digital route first examined in 2029. Our Cambridge IGCSE subjects and codes page explains the codes.
Pearson Edexcel has offered onscreen exams for some International GCSEs since 2022. Pearson says the onscreen exams are the same as the paper ones: the questions are the same and they are taken at the same time, and schools can choose which format suits each student.
| First onscreen | Pearson Edexcel subjects |
|---|---|
| 2022 | International GCSE English Language A, English Literature |
| 2023 | International A Level English Literature, English Language (not UK) |
| 2024 | International GCSE Business, Economics, History |
| 2025 | International GCSE Geography, Global Citizenship, Islamic Studies, Pakistan Studies |
| 2026 | International GCSE ICT, English as a Second Language; International A Level History (not UK) |
| 2027 | International GCSE Computer Science (to be confirmed); new International A Level Computer Science (not UK) |
For the board itself, see the Edexcel IGCSE guide and our Edexcel IGCSE tutoring page.
On-screen exams are sat on a computer at the school or exam centre, under normal exam supervision, with the same timing as the paper version. Students read the questions on screen and type or select their answers, using whatever on-screen tools the paper provides. The syllabus and the content are the same as for paper, and grading follows the same rules (see how IGCSEs are graded). What changes is the experience: typing instead of handwriting, scrolling instead of flicking pages, and no annotating a printed question paper.
Subject strategy does not change: see how to study effectively for IGCSE, and for the first digital subjects our guides to A* in Economics, A* in Biology, A* in Chemistry and A* in Physics.
| On-screen | Paper |
|---|---|
| Easier to edit and reorganise written answers | Familiar, and easy to annotate the question paper |
| Fast for confident typists | Better for students who write faster than they type |
| No handwriting legibility worries | Diagrams and working are quicker by hand |
| Depends on the centre's computers and setup | No technical dependency |
Not sure which board or subjects your child is sitting? The parent guide to IGCSE, IB and A-Level exams and when are IGCSE exams cover the basics, and our Cambridge IGCSE tutoring page explains how 1-on-1 lessons fit around either format, in subjects from English and Economics to Accounting and Computer Science.
Our 1-on-1 tutors structure preparation around the actual exam format your child is sitting — on-screen or paper. We include essay-writing practice in text-box format with word counters where appropriate. Free diagnostic trial.
💬 Book a Free Trial on WhatsAppOfficial sources: Cambridge digital assessment availability · Pearson Edexcel onscreen assessment.
Velocity Tuition Academy — Online Tutoring
For board-specific IGCSE tutoring see Cambridge IGCSE or Edexcel IGCSE. Subjects: Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English.
All sessions are 1-on-1 and fully online.
