Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[entei17]

Some interesting data:


https://www.acsindep.moe.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/School-Profile-2019-20_updated-Oct19.pdf

[miaomead]

anyone got any experience on interview of transfer exam? what are the questions which may be asked ? my son joined the transfer exam for admission to S2. the interview is on 11 Nov

[horizons1]

Hello all,


My son is considering admission to ACSI express program. He was interested in ACSI IB but might be missing COP by 1 point. I am hoping he can transfer to IP in Sec 2 if he gets admitted to express program.

I know this question had been asked on this forum in other years but just want to lay my hands on the latest data.

For those who recently transferred their children from express to IP program, could you please enlighten me on the following.
1. On an average how many places are available for transfer? How many are shortlisted for consideration and how many finally selected?
2. What are the min scores needed in Sec1 and Sec2 to be eligible for transfer?
3. In your experience, can interviews make or break the decision? I saw some messages where the student cannot get the transfer despite high scores.
4. If at all my son couldn’t make it for transfer and has to apply for ACSI IB post O levels, will he have any advantage over non ACSI applicants?

Thanks in advance.

[manorway]

If a ACSI IP child takes HMT from year 1 to 4, does he take O levels CL exam at end of Year 3 and then O levels HMT at Year 4?


If so, can he stop taking CL at Year 5 and 6?

If so, is there a minimum grade that he must get at O levels?

[autolycus]

Disclaimer: I’m not a parent of a child in this situation. However, I did design the first draft of the ACS(I) IP, as well as write the recommendation paper for introducing the IB Diploma Programme to ACS(I).


For horizons1:

1. Internal transfers to the IP are limited by the total allowed in Y5. This means the maximum number is roughly 20; places are reserved for the O-level intake and transfers from MGS IP. The shortlist length depends on how many apply for transfer. There are not many candidates annually.

2. Typically, scores are in the 80+ range. A good overall performance across different kinds of subjects, and a demonstrated capacity to manage time well are also notable advantages.

3. As someone who has designed and executed such interviews, it’s rare that the interview ‘makes’ the decision, since all the interviewees are very close to, or exceed, the requirements. However, it’s possible for an interview to break the decision, because the interviewee may demonstrate some ‘veto quality’ in a negative way.

4. There is no procedural advantage. ACS(I) O-level candidates do not get an affiliation bonus for ACS(I) IB, as far as entry is concerned—these candidates are treated like O-level applicants from any other school. There may be hidden advantages in the sense that appeals may find more support from certain areas.

For manorway:

1. Yes, they will take the MT exam at end of Y3 and the HMT exam in Y4.

2. The IB Diploma requires that students do a second language. However, if the MT requirement has been met by passing HMT in Y4, then the student is free to choose any other language for that slot; such a language can be taken at entry level (they call it ‘ab initio’, meaning ‘from the beginning’).

3. Yes, the MT requirement is a pass in HMT in order to drop MT in Y5 and Y6. But remember, IB students must still do a second language. I had students doing French, German and Spanish. Some schools offer Bahasa Indonesia and so on. This expands the student’s effective range and suitability for future career options.

[Tookies]

Hi, my child is eligible to for HMT and foreign language and he is keen to do both. We want to try for ACSI lP with 1 pt away from COP. Wish to find out if it will be too hard to cope esp when the school requires 2 CCA in Yr1-4?

[Estéema]

Tookies\" post_id=\"2004857\" time=\"1606454345\" user_id=\"124548:

Hi, my child is eligible to for HMT and foreign language and he is keen to do both. We want to try for ACSI lP with 1 pt away from COP. Wish to find out if it will be too hard to cope esp when the school requires 2 CCA in Yr1-4?

Congratulations to you & your son, Tookies!
:congrats:

DS took Japanese & HMT. He switched to take German as a private student for time Mgt purposes & still doing Yr 4 HMT.

In Year 3, only students fr the Express stream will sit for CL exams whilst those on the IB track were not expected to do CL as they’ll just complete one HMT exams in Year 4. IB students will in Year 5 & Year 6 expected to be exempted fr Chinese. Some boys dropped HMT, fearing difficulty in managing time for pushing up their core subjects. This is really a choice thing, as DS prefers to be relieved by Year 5/6 fr HMT or any CL, to focus at a later stage to score well for core IB subjects & projects. To me, it’s perspective, individual ability to manage & balance his plate. From my u’stang, MOE designed curriculum to prepare our future leaders to engage a growing China economy, so the curriculum & sch exams might be tougher than the actual national HMT exams. Students are ONLY required to get a pass to earn that HMT. DS is looking fwd to be free of doing chinese language in Yr 5/6 & syllabus B shld be a beeeze for him. He’s hoping to offer German.

Let yr child try them out if he’s keen. Let him make his decision & own it. Just guide him to pros & cons. If u see him struggle with 3rd language by 2nd year, he has the option to drop it. I wld suggest if he picks up HMT, he shld keep up in earning his HMT recognition. But he’ll be the best person to know how far he can get himself pushing the limits. However, with CCAs, it is a compulsory commitment owise he’ll not gain the extra points towards tertiary admission. I’ve previously shared at length my perspective on keeping the young fit with CCAs & they'll feel fresh & energetic to hit the books. All work & no play makes a dull chap. I believe CCAs helps them release emotions, release endorphins fr their brain & keep physically fit to boot. As for parents, I see it as a safe time & place (most CCA time are spent in sch & under supervision) in a constructive manner rather than having extra time on hand, holed up in room at home on screen activities. They won’t fight us coz it’s the school rqmts. 😉

DS had enjoyed balancing studies, 3rd language, HMT, IP/IB project work & 2 CCAs. It’s comforting to see how he grows to keeping discipline. If kids see it as an exciting new life going into Secondary school, then it shld be sth they can manage in stride.

Hope you consider letting him choose & own his time and interests in secondary school life.

[Tookies]

Estéema\" post_id=\"2004917\" time=\"1606463472\" user_id=\"66413:

Tookies\" post_id=\"2004857\" time=\"1606454345\" user_id=\"124548:

Hi, my child is eligible to for HMT and foreign language and he is keen to do both. We want to try for ACSI lP with 1 pt away from COP. Wish to find out if it will be too hard to cope esp when the school requires 2 CCA in Yr1-4?

Congratulations to you & your son, Tookies!
:congrats:

DS took Japanese & HMT. He switched to take German as a private student for time Mgt purposes & still doing Yr 4 HMT.

In Year 3, only students fr the Express stream will sit for CL exams whilst those on the IB track were not expected to do CL as they’ll just complete one HMT exams in Year 4. IB students will in Year 5 & Year 6 expected to be exempted fr Chinese. Some boys dropped HMT, fearing difficulty in managing time for pushing up their core subjects. This is really a choice thing, as DS prefers to be relieved by Year 5/6 fr HMT or any CL, to focus at a later stage to score well for core IB subjects & projects. To me, it’s perspective, individual ability to manage & balance his plate. From my u’stang, MOE designed curriculum to prepare our future leaders to engage a growing China economy, so the curriculum & sch exams might be tougher than the actual national HMT exams. Students are ONLY required to get a pass to earn that HMT. DS is looking fwd to be free of doing chinese language in Yr 5/6 & syllabus B shld be a beeeze for him. He’s hoping to offer German.

Let yr child try them out if he’s keen. Let him make his decision & own it. Just guide him to pros & cons. If u see him struggle with 3rd language by 2nd year, he has the option to drop it. I wld suggest if he picks up HMT, he shld keep up in earning his HMT recognition. But he’ll be the best person to know how far he can get himself pushing the limits. However, with CCAs, it is a compulsory commitment owise he’ll not gain the extra points towards tertiary admission. I’ve previously shared at length my perspective on keeping the young fit with CCAs & they'll feel fresh & energetic to hit the books. All work & no play makes a dull chap. I believe CCAs helps them release emotions, release endorphins fr their brain & keep physically fit to boot. As for parents, I see it as a safe time & place (most CCA time are spent in sch & under supervision) in a constructive manner rather than having extra time on hand, holed up in room at home on screen activities. They won’t fight us coz it’s the school rqmts. 😉

DS had enjoyed balancing studies, 3rd language, HMT, IP/IB project work & 2 CCAs. It’s comforting to see how he grows to keeping discipline. If kids see it as an exciting new life going into Secondary school, then it shld be sth they can manage in stride.

Hope you consider letting him choose & own his time and interests in secondary school life.

Thank you for sharing!! Yes he is heavily involved in his school selection. It’s good to hear from personal experiences!

[zeemimi]

Regarding the 2 CCA policy, of which one is a uniformed group: the load on the students is equivalent to those taking 1 CCA from other schools. So that is not an issue.

[Tookies]

zeemimi\" post_id=\"2004950\" time=\"1606468457\" user_id=\"15896:

Regarding the 2 CCA policy, of which one is a uniformed group: the load on the students is equivalent to those taking 1 CCA from other schools. So that is not an issue.

👍👍 Thank you!