School acronyms explained: IB, MYP, IGCSE and more
School programmes, qualifications and support labels are different things. Use this glossary to understand the letters before comparing schools.
Age bands describe programmes, not a promise that a particular school offers every stage. Confirm the exact programme, awarding body, language, entry year and support with the school.
What does IB mean in school?
IB — International Baccalaureate
A family of international education programmes. Ask which programme and stage the school offers.
IB is an umbrella name, so “an IB school” does not tell you which age groups follow an IB programme. A school may offer one programme or several. Compare the actual provision for your child’s year rather than the badge alone.
Ask the school: Which IB programme will my child join, and is that specific programme authorised at this campus?
What does PYP stand for, and what age is it for?
PYP — Primary Years Programme
The IB programme for ages 3–12. A primary-years framework, not a secondary-school leaving qualification.
PYP covers primary education through an inquiry-based framework. It is not an exam certificate that a child must obtain before secondary school. Look at the timetable, literacy and numeracy teaching, and how teachers report progress.
Ask the school: How do you teach reading and mathematics, and how will you share evidence of progress?
What does MYP mean in school?
MYP — Middle Years Programme
The IB programme for ages 11–16. It comes before upper-secondary routes such as the IB Diploma.
MYP is the IB Middle Years Programme for ages 11–16. It connects subject learning with wider concepts and real-world contexts. The programme name alone does not tell you which final assessments or qualifications a particular school offers.
Ask the school: Which MYP years do you offer, and what assessment or certificate will my child complete?
What is the IB DP — is it the same as IB?
DP — Diploma Programme
The IB programme for ages 16–19. Check subject choices and entry requirements for the next stage of study.
The Diploma Programme is one specific IB programme, rather than another name for the whole IB system. For a family comparing sixth forms, the subject combinations available matter as much as the programme label.
Ask the school: Which subjects and levels can run together, and what are the entry requirements?
What does IB CP mean?
CP — Career-related Programme
An IB route for ages 16–19 combining academic study with career-related learning. It is distinct from the full Diploma Programme.
The Career-related Programme combines IB learning with career-related study. The career-related component varies, so compare its exact qualification and progression routes. Do not assume that CP and DP have identical requirements.
Ask the school: What career-related qualification is included, who awards it, and where can it lead?
What does GCSE stand for?
GCSE — General Certificate of Secondary Education
A secondary-school subject qualification. It is not an A level or a whole-school curriculum on its own.
GCSE means General Certificate of Secondary Education. These are subject qualifications, not a single whole-school curriculum or a promise of university admission. When moving country, check the subjects and grades needed for the next stage.
Ask the school: Which exam board, subject specifications and grading scales do you use?
What does IGCSE mean?
IGCSE — International General Certificate of Secondary Education
International secondary subject qualifications. Cambridge IGCSE is designed for ages 14–16; check the awarding body and subjects.
IGCSE means International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Cambridge IGCSE is designed for ages 14–16 and aligns its standards with GCSE in England. Assessment can include written, oral, practical and coursework components, depending on the subject.
Ask the school: Which awarding organisation and syllabus code apply, and how is each subject assessed?
What are A levels?
A Levels — Advanced Level
Advanced subject qualifications. International versions exist; the awarding body and subject combination matter.
A levels are subject-based qualifications used for progression beyond school. The choice is more specific than simply “A levels”: subjects, combinations and entry grades shape the route available to a student. Check requirements with the intended university or course.
Ask the school: Can my child take the combination needed for their intended degree, and is it guaranteed to run?
What is an AS Level, and does it count towards an A level?
AS Level — Advanced Subsidiary Level
A qualification distinct from a full A level. How it relates to an A level depends on the awarding route.
The answer depends on the qualification system. In England, reformed AS qualifications are separate from A levels; Cambridge International AS & A Level can offer a staged assessment route. Ask which system the school uses before planning a transfer.
Ask the school: Is this a standalone AS qualification or part of a staged International A Level route?
What does AP mean in an American school?
AP — Advanced Placement
College Board subject courses and exams. AP is not, by itself, a complete school-leaving diploma.
Advanced Placement offers individual college-level courses and exams. AP is not, by itself, the name of a school-leaving diploma. Credit or advanced placement at university depends on the institution, course and exam score.
Ask the school: Which AP courses run, what diploma does the school award, and which exams are included in fees?
What is a BTEC qualification?
BTEC — Business and Technology Education Council
A family of applied, career-focused qualifications. Ask for the exact qualification, level and progression requirements.
BTEC is a family of applied, career-focused qualifications at different levels and sizes. The name alone is not enough to compare it with an A level or a full programme. Assessment and progression depend on the exact qualification.
Ask the school: What is the full BTEC title, level and size, and what are its assessment and progression requirements?
What does EAL mean in school?
EAL — English as an Additional Language
English-language learning or support for pupils who use another language. The label does not promise a fixed support timetable.
EAL describes English as an Additional Language. It does not mean every learner has the same English proficiency or needs the same support. For a relocating family, the practical questions are access to lessons, specialist support and any extra cost.
Ask the school: How is English assessed on entry, how much support is available, and is it included in tuition?
What does SEN mean?
SEN — Special Educational Needs
A term for special educational needs. Ask the school what support it can provide for the individual pupil.
SEN means special educational needs. A school listing SEN support does not establish that it can meet every individual need. Discuss the child’s actual requirements, staff expertise and available provision before accepting a place.
Ask the school: Who will assess the fit, what support can you provide, and what would cost extra?
What is SEND, and how is it different from SEN?
SEND — Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
The England term covering special educational needs and disabilities. Availability and funding differ between schools and countries.
SEND adds disabilities to special educational needs. These terms are used in the English education context; local law and provision differ across countries. A general inclusion statement is not an individual support plan.
Ask the school: Who coordinates support, how is it reviewed, and what adjustments can be agreed for my child?
What does EYFS mean, and what age does it cover?
EYFS — Early Years Foundation Stage
The early-years framework in England, covering learning, development and care up to age five.
EYFS is the Early Years Foundation Stage in England, from birth to age five. It describes standards for early learning, development and care. Outside England, ask how a school uses the framework alongside local requirements.
Ask the school: Which early-years ages do you admit, and how do you help children move into the next stage?
What is the difference between PYP, MYP and DP?
PYP is for ages 3–12, MYP for 11–16 and DP for 16–19. The age ranges describe the programmes, not a guaranteed place or exact local year-group placement. Check the school’s entry rules and actual stages at that campus.
MYP vs IGCSE: are they the same thing?
No. MYP is a programme framework; IGCSE consists of subject qualifications. To compare two schools, ask what pupils study, how they are assessed and what certificate or qualification they leave with. Comparing the acronyms alone misses the actual school offer.
GCSE vs IGCSE: which is better or harder?
There is no useful universal answer from the acronym alone. Compare the awarding organisation, subject syllabus, assessment methods and requirements of the next school or course. Cambridge aligns IGCSE standards with GCSE in England; that does not make every subject specification identical.
Does EAL mean my child has special educational needs?
No: learning English as an additional language and having special educational needs are different matters. A child can need both kinds of support. Ask the school to consider language development and learning needs separately rather than drawing a conclusion from English proficiency alone.
IB Diploma or A levels: how should parents compare?
Start with the subjects your child wants, the combinations the school actually runs and the requirements of the next educational step. Neither label guarantees suitability or admission. Our separate IB Diploma versus A levels guide explores that choice in more detail.
Official explanation: Cambridge IGCSE · Cambridge AS & A Level · EAL / SEND — Bell Foundation
What should I ask the school?
Ask for the full programme name, the subjects and qualifications available in your child’s year, and any entry or support conditions. A curriculum label is not proof of the teaching language, admission eligibility or support capacity.
Choosing between the IB Diploma and A levels
Definitions checked 15 October 2026. SchoolMatch Europe editorial.