Cambridge vs CBSE: Which Board is Better?

Selecting the right board is important for a child’s smooth academic and quality education journey. While selecting the right and top education board, one must be aware of its features and exposure.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Cambridge Assessment International Education also known as Cambridge Board (CIE) are two distinct educational boards that offer diverse and unique exposure to the students. Here is an insightful blog on Cambridge vs CBSE which will make you well-versed with the functionalities and other key differences between the two educational boards.

Also Read: CBSE Grading System and Marking Scheme 2024: 10th & 12th

Cambridge vs CBSE: Key Differences

The following table will help you to understand the major difference between Cambridge and CBSE shortly and simply:

Cambridge vs CBSE	Cambridge	CBSE
Full form	Cambridge Assessment International Education	Central Board of Secondary Education
Medium of Instruction	English	English and Hindi both
Number of schools in India	400 (Approx)	24000 (Approx)
Number of schools (Global)	10,000 (Approx)	230 (Approx)
Courses offered in Class 12th	55 subjects	142 subjects
Courses offered in Class 10th	70 subjects	72 subjects
Fee structure	Very high	Moderate to high
Focus	Cambridge is more extensive in its approach and gives equal importance to all the fields like Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics, and Languages. They focus on the holistic growth and development of their students.	CBSE is conventional in its approach and it focuses more on the assimilation of knowledge, especially in the fields of Humanities, Commerce, Language, and Sciences. Its curriculum helps students in preparing for medical and engineering entrance exams. It does not give equal importance to all the streams.

Cambridge vs CBSE: Basic Functionalities

The first point of difference on our list of Cambridge vs CBSE differences is about the basic functionalities of the two boards. The Central Board of Secondary Education also known as CBSE is responsible for designing the syllabus for secondary and senior secondary levels of education in India. CBSE conducts two examinations: The All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE), and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE).

CBSE is also recognized by NCERT (National Council of Education and Research Training) with the motive of establishing a network of central schools that would provide transferable job opportunities to government employees. CBSE syllabus helps students in preparing for national entrance exams as well. 

On the other hand, the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) program is affiliated with the world-renowned University of Cambridge and is recognized by schools all over the world. In comparison to CBSE, Cambridge Board provides a global learning community and is more intellectual and practical. It is apt for those students who aim to settle abroad in the future. Creative thinking and problem-solving are the main prerequisites of the Cambridge board.

Also Read: List of NCERT Books Class 8

Cambridge vs CBSE: Medium of Instruction

Moving ahead with our blog on Cambridge vs CBSE, our next point of difference is about the medium of instruction adopted by the two boards. The medium of instruction in the Cambridge board is particularly English. 

On the other hand, the medium of instruction in the CBSE board is both Hindi and English.

Board Recognition

The next point of difference between Cambridge and CBSE is based on the board recognition. The CBSE board of India is recognized by the government of India. 

Being an international education board, the Cambridge board has widespread international recognition as compared to the CBSE board. Also, students who have studied at Cambridge have an advantage when applying to universities abroad, especially in the UK. The board is also widely recognized by Indian universities and institutes.

Also Read: Geography for UPSC Preparation

Cambridge vs CBSE: Affiliations

The next point of difference for our blog on Cambridge vs CBSE is the different affiliations that these boards have. CBSE is affiliated with a large number of public, government as well as private schools all over the country. CBSE allows both regular and private candidates to pursue education in CBSE schools and allows private candidates from non-CBSE schools to appear in any CBSE examination. 

Just like CBSE, the Cambridge board allows both regular and private candidates to appear in any of its examinations. Also, Cambridge is affiliated with more than 400 international schools and education centres in India including some of the most renowned and oldest schools in India like the Doon School of Dehradun. 

Also Read: ICSE vs CBSE

Cambridge vs CBSE: Syllabus

The next point of difference between Cambridge vs CBSE boards is based on the syllabus and curriculum adopted by these two boards. In the Cambridge board curriculum, the students are allowed to take up a minimum of 5 subjects and a maximum of 14 subjects. Having said that, English, Mathematics, and Science are the main subjects offered by the Cambridge board. A student also has the option to choose from other subjects which range from Social Sciences Arts and Technology.

On the other hand, the syllabus offered by the CBSE education board lays more emphasis on the mathematical aptitude and scientific acumen of the students which further helps them in cracking engineering and medical entrance exams. They also put equal focus and emphasis on Humanities and Commerce subjects. 

Cambridge vs CBSE: Assessment

In the battle of Cambridge vs CBSE boards, the next point of difference is on assessment pattern. As we all know internal assessment tests along with practical examinations are a crucial part of the CBSE curriculum along with the board examinations that are held annually for class 10th and 12th students respectively.  

On the other hand, the Cambridge Assessments promote a hands-on approach to teaching and learning. Students must understand the concepts thoroughly. Rote learning is not at all encouraged by the Cambridge board. The questions require students to apply concepts to real-world scenarios and case studies, which improves their analytical and critical thinking skills.

Also Read: Cambridge Board: A Comprehensive Guide

Cambridge vs CBSE: Fees

Now that we are towards the end of this blog on Cambridge vs CBSE, let’s have a final discussion about the fee structure in general of these two distinct education boards. Being an international education board, Cambridge charges a hefty and handsome amount towards tuition fees and other development charges as compared to the CBSE board. 

Having said that, schools affiliated with CBSE have a low to moderate fee structure. The fees will further depend upon the type of school (government, public, private) that the student will be studying in. 

Summary

To summarize and conclude the differences between CIE or Cambridge vs. CBSE boards, please go through the table given below:

Cambridge Board	CBSE
The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) is a part of a world-renowned University of Cambridge and is accepted by schools across the world.	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is an Indian national curriculum. The board is highly recognized and accepted in India.
CBSE is much easier and focuses on building a strong foundation, especially in Science and Maths.	CBSE is designed to provide a vigorous and holistic form of education to students in order to help them build the future of India. The board also prepares the students for Indian competitive exams such as NEET, UPSC, IIT-JEE, etc.
The Cambridge Board is often considered to focus more on practical approaches which eventually allows students to focus on creative thinking and problem-solving.	CBSE is designed to provide a vigorous and holistic form of education to students to help them build the future of India. The board also prepares the students for Indian competitive exams such as NEET, UPSC, IIT-JEE, etc.
The CIE curriculum focuses on the core subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science for learners up to the age of 14.	CBSE on the other hand offers the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Science, English, and second language up to tenth grade. After the 10th, students can opt-out for their chosen subjects from about 70 available options.

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