Cambridge’s September 2026 guide lists 72 new or revised syllabuses for first exams in 2027–2029: 15 new and 57 revised. For 2027, IGCSE First Language English 0500 is revised (first exam March 2027), and Business 0264, Psychology 0266 and Statistics 0479 are new. IGCSE Computer Science 0478 is revised and a new 0265 arrives in 2029.
How many Cambridge syllabuses change in 2027, 2028 and 2029?
Cambridge’s Syllabus Changes (International), September 2026 version 1 lists 72 syllabuses with significant changes across IGCSE, IGCSE (9–1), O Level and AS & A Level, plus eight withdrawals.
| First exams from | New or revised | Of which new |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 28 | 11 |
| 2028 | 30 | 2 |
| 2029 | 14 | 2 |
| Total | 72 | 15 |
Four revised syllabuses are marked “new syllabus coming soon”, which means the documents are not yet published: IGCSE Physical Education 0413, IGCSE (9–1) Physical Education 0995, O Level English Language 1123 and AS & A Level Sociology 9699.
Which Cambridge syllabuses change for 2027?
The biggest year for IGCSE: eleven syllabuses, four of them new.
| Level | Syllabus | Code | Change | First exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | Accounting | 0452 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Business (replaces Business Studies 0450) | 0264 | New | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Economics | 0455 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Environmental Management | 0680 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | First Language Arabic | 0508 | Revised | June 2027 |
| IGCSE | First Language English | 0500 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Geography | 0460 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Hindi as a Second Language | 0549 | Revised | March 2027 |
| IGCSE | Japanese | 0716 | New | June 2027 |
| IGCSE | Psychology | 0266 | New | June 2027 |
| IGCSE | Statistics | 0479 | New | June 2027 |
| IGCSE (9–1) | Accounting 0985, Economics 0987, First Language English 0990, Geography 0976 | — | Revised | June 2027 |
| IGCSE (9–1) | Business (replaces Business Studies 0986) | 0774 | New | June 2027 |
| O Level | Accounting 7707, Economics 2281, Environmental Management 5014 | — | Revised | June 2027 |
| O Level | Business (replaces Business Studies 7115) | 7081 | New | June 2027 |
| O Level | Geography | 2217 | Revised | November 2027 |
| AS & A Level | Geography 9696, History 9489 | — | Revised | June 2027 |
| AS & A Level | European History 9981, International History 9982, US History to 1877 8101, US History since 1877 8102 | — | New | June 2027 |
| AS & A Level | Urdu Language and Literature (for centres in Pakistan) | 9866 | New | June 2027 |
Three of the “new” codes are renamed successors rather than new subjects. Cambridge has “changed the syllabus code to 0264 for first assessment March 2027” and renamed IGCSE Business Studies 0450 as “Business”. IGCSE (9–1) Business Studies 0986 becomes 0774, and O Level Business Studies 7115 becomes 7081. None of the old codes appears in the withdrawn list. Our guide to Business 0264 vs 0450 explains what changed.
Which Cambridge syllabuses change for 2028?
Mostly languages, arts and humanities, with two new AS & A Level qualifications.
| Level | Syllabuses | Change | First exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | Art & Design 0400, French 0520, Literature in English 0475, Spanish 0530 | Revised | March 2028 |
| IGCSE | Arabic 0544, Commerce 0715, Design & Technology 0445, German 0525, Italian 0535, Malay 0546, Mandarin Chinese 0547, Pakistan Studies 0448, World Literature 0408 | Revised | June 2028 |
| IGCSE (9–1) | Art & Design 0989, Design & Technology 0979, French 7156, German 7159, Italian 7164, Literature in English 0992, Spanish 7160 | Revised | June 2028 |
| O Level | Art & Design 6090, Islamiyat 2058, Literature in English 2010, Pakistan Studies 2059 | Revised | June 2028 |
| AS & A Level | Art & Design 9479, English General Paper 8021 | Revised | March 2028 |
| AS & A Level | Media Studies 9607, Thinking Skills 9694 | Revised | June 2028 |
| AS & A Level | Cambridge International Project Qualification (CIPQ) 9494, US Government & Politics 8293 | New | June 2028 |
Which Cambridge syllabuses change for 2029?
Computer science across every level, plus English and sociology at A Level.
| Level | Syllabuses | Change | First exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | Computer Science 0478 | Revised | March 2029 |
| IGCSE | Computer Science 0265 | New | June 2029 |
| IGCSE | Drama 0411, Physical Education 0413 | Revised | June 2029 |
| IGCSE (9–1) | Computer Science 0984, Drama 0994, Physical Education 0995 | Revised | June 2029 |
| O Level | Computer Science 2210, English Language 1123 | Revised | June 2029 |
| AS & A Level | English Language 9093, Sociology 9699 | Revised | March 2029 |
| AS & A Level | Language and Literature in English 8695, Literature in English 9695 | Revised | June 2029 |
| AS & A Level | Arabic 9865 | New | June 2029 |
0478 and 0265 have the same content: 0265 is the digital-only exam route, with Python written and run in an IDE, while 0478 stays on paper. See IGCSE Computer Science 0265 vs 0478. For the new Psychology and Statistics syllabuses, see IGCSE Psychology 0266 and Statistics 0479.
Which Cambridge syllabuses are withdrawn?
Eight syllabuses have a final exam date. Three have a named replacement.
| Level | Syllabus | Code | Final exam | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | First Language Malay | 0696 | June 2027 | — |
| IGCSE | Sanskrit | 0499 | June 2027 | — |
| IGCSE | American History (US) | 0409 | June 2027 | — (see note) |
| IGCSE | Latin | 0480 | June 2028 | — |
| O Level | Statistics | 4040 | November 2027 | IGCSE Statistics 0479 |
| AS & A Level | Cambridge International Project Qualification | 9980 | November 2027 | 9494 |
| AS & A Level | Arabic | 8680 | November 2028 | 9865 |
| AS & A Level | Arabic | 9680 | November 2028 | 9865 |
Note: the same guide also lists IGCSE American History 0409 as republished for 2028–2030. Schools teaching 0409 should confirm its status with Cambridge before planning.
What does a “March” first exam mean for my school?
A March first exam date matters only to schools that sit the March series, which Cambridge runs for schools in India and Romania. Everywhere else, the revised syllabus applies from the school’s first series in that year, usually June. Cambridge’s advice is the same for all: “read the syllabus for the relevant year of examination before teaching the course.”
The guide also notes that “from 2027, digital exams will be available for a number of IGCSEs and AS & A Level subjects”. Our explainer on Cambridge digital exams covers which ones.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
AI Buddy’s questions are organised by board, syllabus code and topic, so departments practise against the syllabus their students will actually sit. When a revised syllabus takes effect, heads of department can check topic-level coverage and learning gaps for the cohort sitting it. If your school is adopting one of the new syllabuses, such as 0264, 0266 or 0479, ask us what AI Buddy covers today before you plan around it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the new Cambridge IGCSE subjects for 2027?
Japanese 0716, Psychology 0266 and Statistics 0479 (first exams June 2027) are new subjects. Business 0264 (first exam March 2027) is listed as new but replaces Business Studies 0450 under a new code and title.
Which Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses change in 2028?
Thirteen IGCSE syllabuses are revised, including Art & Design 0400, French 0520, Literature in English 0475 and Spanish 0530 (from March 2028) and Arabic 0544, Commerce 0715 and Pakistan Studies 0448 (from June 2028).
Which Cambridge syllabuses are being withdrawn?
IGCSE First Language Malay 0696, Sanskrit 0499 and Latin 0480; O Level Statistics 4040; AS & A Level CIPQ 9980 and Arabic 8680 and 9680. IGCSE American History 0409 is also listed, but the guide is inconsistent on it.
Is IGCSE Computer Science changing?
Yes. The current 0478 is revised for first exams in March 2029, and a new IGCSE Computer Science 0265 starts with first exams in June 2029.
For the wider change calendar, including Pearson Edexcel, see the Exam Board Change Radar.
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Sources
- Cambridge International, Syllabus Changes (International), September 2026 version 1
- Cambridge International, Cambridge Exams Officers’ Guide for the March series