If you’re sitting your Edexcel IGCSE exams outside of the UK in 2025 or beyond, you may have heard about the new modular pathway. Whether you’re a student or a parent/guardian, understanding this new course structure will help you make better decisions and prepare more effectively.
In this post, we’ll walk you through what the modular course is, how it’s assessed, and what it means for your revision strategy.
1. What Does ‘Modular’ Mean?
Traditionally, IGCSE science courses have been linear. You learn everything over one or two years, then sit all your exams at the end.
With Edexcel’s modular pathway, content is broken down into two separate units, and students can take exams at the end of each unit (rather than all at once).
Example: You might sit your Biology Unit 1 exam in November 2025 and Biology Unit 2 in May/June 2026. Marks from both units combine to give your final grade.
2. Key Benefits of the Modular Course
- Spread-out assessments reduce pressure at the end of the final year of your IGCSE course
- Helps students focus on a smaller selection of topics at any one time
- Gives earlier opportunities to test your knowledge
- Encourages steady, consistent revision rather than last-minute cramming
3. How Is It Different from the Linear Course?
The key difference lies in when and how the exams are taken.
In the modular IGCSE, students can sit exams for each unit shortly after completing the content (if they wish), or sit both exams at the end of the course. Different topics, defined in the specification, are examined in each paper, which means revision is more focused on fewer topics and pressure is spread out across the course. It may also offer opportunities to retake individual units if needed. Double Award students still sit two papers per science, but there are fewer topics that can be examined compared to separate sciences (also known as Triple Award)
In contrast, the linear IGCSE requires students to take all exams at the end of the course. Revision needs to cover everything at once, as Paper 2 in each science (sat by students taking separate sciences) examines content from the entire course. This means that linear students must keep revising the entire specification until the very end of their exams. There is no option to resit just one part of the exam in the linear course. If you want to improve your grade, you retake the full set. Double Award students only sit one paper for each science.
In summary:
- Modular = staged exams, consistent revision, potentially lower end-of-year pressure, more exams for Double Award students
- Linear = one big exam period, comprehensive revision, higher pressure at the end, fewer exams for Double Award students
4. Subjects Included
The modular pathway is available for:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Science (Double Award)
Each subject is split into two units, each of which examines a different set of topics as defined in the subject specification.
Final grades are based on the combined marks from both units.
5. What About Practical Work?
There is no coursework in the modular course. Practical skills are still important, but they’re tested through written exam questions about methods, equipment, and data.
To prepare, make sure you understand core practicals and know how to describe and evaluate experiments. Our modular revision guides for Edexcel IGCSE science at SwH Learning cover this in detail.
6. Is the Modular Course Right for Me?
Ideal for students who:
- Prefer breaking content into smaller chunks
- Work well with continuous assessment
- Feel anxious about final exams
Less ideal if you:
- Perform better with one big revision push
- Want to avoid mid-year exam disruptions
Speak to your school or education centre to see if they offer the modular or linear route, and what the timeline will look like.
How We Can Help
Whether you’re taking the Edexcel IGCSE modular or linear science route, we have everything you need:
- Revision guides and workbooks for Biology, Chemistry and Physics (modular and linear versions) available on www.swhlearning.co.uk
- YouTube videos that explain every topic clearly, available for free on our channel Science with Hazel
Final Thoughts
The new modular pathway is a big shift in how students approach their IGCSE science exams. It allows for more flexibility, reduced pressure, and focused revision — but it also requires consistency throughout the course.
Whichever path you follow, make sure you’re supported by high-quality resources and a strong revision routine.
Explore our Edexcel IGCSE resources at www.swhlearning.co.uk
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Science with Hazel