Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[Snow Crystal]

autolycus:

Just to clarify, Snow Crystal...

Those who want to study IB (the International Baccalaureate Diploma at Years 5-6) still have to survive the Integrated Programme (IP) from Years 1-4 and do well enough to enter Year 5. It's a long road ahead, although very rewarding for those who can manage their time well.

Thanks. I understand it's a challenging program. I just hope to find out more on how the sports DSA boys are coping in the IB program. To go into this IB program with the nagging reminder that you may be dropped at end Year 2 is quite mind unsettling :nailbite:

[bromath]

autolycus:

Hi bromath!


It just means that those who do best in the Sec 2 exams for Sciences and Mathematics are most likely to end up studying A-level stuff in Sec 3 and 4. It will be challenging. It may even be interesting. But it is no guarantee that the student comes out positively changed as a person.

I wouldn't trust any programme with a take-up rate of much more than 5%, maybe 10% Which means that if more than one class is 'accelerated' for each science subject, I would be cautious.

Notice how carefully I am talking about the subject at hand.

So is it possible double degree for accelerated class ? Attend A-level exam in sec 4, and get IB diploma in grade 6 ?

[twilight]

What would be the purpose of continuing to do IB diploma when one would already have A level certificate by sec 4, allowing him to pursue tertiary education? Furthermore, there should be some overlapping between A levels and IB, wouldn’t the student lose interest?

[autolycus]

twilight:

What would be the purpose of continuing to do IB diploma when one would already have A level certificate by sec 4, allowing him to pursue tertiary education? Furthermore, there should be some overlapping between A levels and IB, wouldn't the student lose interest?

No, he won't have an A-level certificate. He'll just have the equivalent of an A-level education in the relatively narrow fields of some sciences.

However, your second concern is much more valid: if he has already mastered the basics (up to A-level) of these subjects, what will he do with his spare time (if any) in the IBDP? I think that it depends on the individual student.

The approach of the A-levels (well, the approach of these undergrad texts which are equivalent but not the same as the A-levels, anyway) is very different from the IB approach, which is more skills/practitioner oriented. Given sufficient willingness to learn, he should not lose interest.

Actually, watching brilliant students 'lose interest' over time, I've come to believe it is more to do with the teacher than the content.

[verizon]

Hello!

What are the chances of getting into ACS(I) IP with a score of 256 this year?
What is the average PSLE score of students in the IB track?
TIA

[autolycus]

Chances are high for 256.


For average PSLE score of students in the IB track (i.e. in Years 5-6), there’s no real way to compute it, since many of them are foreign scholars. It’s pretty irrelevant really, considering people can enter at Year 3 or Year 5 as well.

[verizon]

Thanks autolycus.

I have a few doubts:
-Which school do you think has a higher chance of IP for 256? ACS(I) or Victoria?
-If i am not eligible for IP in ACS(I), will I be automatically posted to o-level at Acs(I) or will they consider my next option?

[autolycus]

Hi verizon,


1. I suspect it will still be Victoria, statistically. But I think 256 is likely to be safe as the COP for ACS(I) has seldom exceeded that.

2. You may not get into the Integrated Programme (IP) at Year 1, and yet be given a place in ACS(I) anyway for the non-IP. If you do well in Years 1 & 2, you may then be allowed to enter the IP at the beginning of Year 3. If you’re not in the IP in Years 3 & 4, but do well for the O-levels, you may be allowed to enter the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) at the beginning of Year 5.

[fcjjchew]

My son has got A-Chinese, Merit - Higher Chinese and DSA to ACSI.

Hearsay that for this IB program, it is of no benefits to do Higher Chinese in year 1. Any comments ?
Is it true if you do HigherChinese, you cannot dropped to Normal Chinese if you find yourself not suitable to cope with Higher Chinese.
Should my son do Higher Chinese?

Thanks!

[autolycus]

Hi, fcjjchew.


There is a curious benefit to doing Higher Chinese. If he successfully completes O-level Higher Chinese (since all IP students still must take MT exams in Year 3/4), he will have met the pre-university MT requirement. This means he can then choose a foreign language as part of his IB course instead of his MT, if he so desires.

It isn’t true that you can’t drop to Chinese. In fact, if you do badly in Higher Chinese, you WILL be asked to drop it.