Global Perspectives – From Sept 2026

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives (0457)

Syllabus in detail

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/662457-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf

Syllabus overview

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives encourages learners to think about and explore solutions to significant global issues.

Global Perspectives is a stimulating course that stretches across traditional subject boundaries and develops transferable skills. It is both cross-curricular and skills-based. The emphasis is on developing the ability to think critically about a range of global issues where there is always more than one point of view.

• provides opportunities to reflect on, key global issues from different perspectives: personal, local/national, and global.
• encourages awareness of global problems and offers a range of opportunities to explore solutions through cooperation and collaboration.
• The course is not about getting everybody to think identically; rather it encourages students to see the complexity of the world and encourages students to be aware of the diversity of human experience.

Assessment

Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives is built around core skills; knowledge of content is not assessed. However, each topic encompasses issues of global importance.

Students will complete three components, with topics drawn across the three components from the following list:

• Arts in society
• Change in culture and communities
• Climate change, energy and resources
• Conflict and peace
• Development, trade and aid
• Digital world
• Education for all
• Employment
• Environment, pollution and conservation
• Globalisation
• Health and wellbeing
• Law and criminality
• Media and communication
• Migration and urbanisation
• Political power and action
• Poverty and inequality
• Social identity and inclusion
• Sport and recreation
• Technology, industry and innovation
• Transport, travel and tourism
• Values and beliefs
• Water, food and agriculture

Component 1: Written Examination – 35% weighting

• Candidates will answer four compulsory sections. Questions are based on sources and will require a variety of short and long answers. The sources will present a global issue from different perspectives, drawn from any of the topics above. It is a skills-based exam, so prior knowledge of the issue being investigated is not required.
• This component is externally assessed.

Component 2: Individual Report – 30% weighting

• 1,500 – 2,000 words chosen by the candidate on one topic area from the list above:
• This component is internally set and externally marked.

Component 3: Team Project – 35% weighting

• Candidates devise and develop a collaborative project into an aspect of one topic from the list on the previous page.
• This project must allow for the exploration of different cultural perspectives. The Team Project comprises two elements:
• Team Element 300 – 400 words
• Personal Element 750 – 1,000 words
• This component is internally assessed and externally moderated.