A specialist maths tutor's guide to the Abu Dhabi schools that prepare students best for IGCSE and A-Level Maths, with ADEK ratings, exam boards and honest, board-specific advice.
Choosing a school in Abu Dhabi is a major decision, and for a mathematically able child the strength of the maths department matters more than any prospectus. As a specialist IGCSE and A-Level Maths tutor, I work with students across many of the capital's British curriculum schools, so I see first hand which schools prepare students well for their exams and where the gaps tend to appear.
This guide ranks five of the strongest British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi for IGCSE and A-Level Maths, based on ADEK inspection ratings, curriculum pathways and Sixth Form provision. Abu Dhabi is Cambridge territory: most of these schools enter students for Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580), though a few use Edexcel International GCSE (4MA1). The two boards train slightly different skills, so knowing which your child sits is the first step to focused revision.
Exam board based on published curriculum information; confirm with the school.
British (NCfE) · Ages 3-18 · Al Mushrif
BSAK's selective intake means my students here are typically chasing the very top grades. I focus on the A*-margin: full method-mark discipline at IGCSE, then the algebraic depth that A-Level Maths demands, both UK and International routes.
Exam board based on published curriculum information; confirm with the school.
British (NCfE) · Ages 3-18 · Saadiyat Island
Cranleigh students choose between A-Level and IB after IGCSE, so Year 10-11 Maths carries double weight here. I secure the I/GCSE technique first, then build the foundations for whichever route follows: UK A-Level, International A-Level, or IB Maths AA.
Exam board based on published curriculum information; confirm with the school.
British (NCfE) · Ages 3-18 · Al Reem Island
Repton Abu Dhabi runs Cambridge pathways, and its students typically sit Cambridge IGCSE (0580) before A-Level Maths (9709). My coaching mirrors that exact route: 0580 method marks in Years 10-11, then the Pure, Mechanics and Statistics jump at A-Level.
Exam board based on published curriculum information; confirm with the school.
British (NCfE) · Ages 3-18 · Bloom Gardens
Brighton Abu Dhabi's results put real pressure at the top of the grade distribution. My work here is A and A* conversion: mark-scheme precision at I/GCSE, then the pure-maths rigour that turns strong A-Level students into A* ones, UK or International route.
Exam board based on published curriculum information; confirm with the school.
British (NCfE) · Ages 3-18 · Khalifa City
BISAD students follow Cambridge pathways with three post-16 doors open, so Year 11 Maths results decide a lot. I coach Cambridge IGCSE technique first, then support the A-Level route (UK or IAL) or the foundations for IB Maths.
The two most common IGCSE Maths boards in Abu Dhabi are Cambridge (specification 0580) and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (specification 4MA1), and Cambridge dominates here. Edexcel 4MA1 uses two calculator papers and provides a formula sheet in the exam. Cambridge 0580 includes a non-calculator paper and expects students to memorise more of their formulas, so recall and mental arithmetic carry more weight.
It also helps to read the ratings correctly. ADEK, Abu Dhabi's regulator, inspects the whole school and weighs Arabic-medium and Islamic Studies provision alongside everything else. BSO inspections judge the British curriculum only. That is why a school can be BSO Outstanding but ADEK Very Good, as Brighton College Abu Dhabi is, without any reflection on the quality of its Maths teaching.
Whatever the rating, confirm the exact specification code before you start revising. Ask the Head of Maths, or check the front cover of a recent mock paper, where 0580 or 4MA1 is printed. Past papers, formula lists and mark schemes all differ by board, and a term spent practising the wrong specification is a term wasted.
Which Abu Dhabi schools are ADEK Outstanding for IGCSE?
Several of the capital's leading British schools hold an ADEK Outstanding rating, including The British School Al Khubairat, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Repton Abu Dhabi and the British International School Abu Dhabi. An Outstanding rating reflects the whole school across all phases, not Maths alone, so it is still worth asking the Head of Maths about recent IGCSE results and the exact exam board used.
Do Abu Dhabi schools use Cambridge or Edexcel IGCSE Maths?
Cambridge (specification 0580) is the more common IGCSE Maths board across Abu Dhabi British schools, though some use Edexcel International GCSE (4MA1). The two differ in format: 4MA1 uses two calculator papers with a provided formula sheet, while Cambridge 0580 includes a non-calculator paper and expects more formulas to be memorised. Always confirm the specification code with the school before revising.
Which Abu Dhabi schools offer A-Level Maths?
Most schools on this list offer A-Level Maths in their Sixth Form, and several, such as Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and the British International School Abu Dhabi, also offer the IB Diploma as an alternative post-16 route. Many run both the UK A-Level and the International A-Level (IAL). A strong IGCSE foundation in algebra is the single best predictor of a smooth transition into either.
What is the difference between ADEK and BSO ratings?
ADEK is Abu Dhabi's government regulator, and its inspection weighs Arabic-medium and Islamic Studies provision alongside the rest of the school. BSO (British Schools Overseas) is a UK-benchmarked inspection of the British curriculum only. A school can therefore be BSO Outstanding yet ADEK Very Good, as Brighton College Abu Dhabi is, without any weakness in its Maths teaching. For Maths specifically, ask about recent results and the exam board rather than relying on the headline rating alone.
Preparing for IGCSE Maths at an Abu Dhabi school?
Whichever school and board your child is on, I offer specialist one-to-one IGCSE Maths tutoring built around the exact specification they sit, from Cambridge 0580 to Edexcel 4MA1.
Abu Dhabi