Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[AnneY]

joy2:

Thanks Anne for your reply. How many subjects to be graded? How about third language ie. MSP?

All the academic subjects (except Music, Art, PE) are graded and \"counted\". You can see the subjects from the booklist.
For IB students, its Language Art, Mother Tongue, Geography, History, Physical Sc, Life Sc, Maths.
(+ third language).

[phtthp]

For Year 5 and Year 6 -

are these 3 ( Maths, Physics, Chemistry ) subjects much easier, in scope covered and tested (exam), compared to major GCE "A" level syllabus exam ?

[autolycus]

phtthp:

For Year 5 and Year 6 -

are these 3 ( Maths, Physics, Chemistry ) subjects much easier, in scope covered and tested (exam), compared to major GCE \"A\" level syllabus exam ?

At Higher Level, the subjects are comparable. There is a bit less content, but the point of every IB subject is to make it broader and more interconnected with other subjects and with ways of thinking. All IB disciplines require some form of coursework as well as examination, so it is not a case of comparing one pure content syllabus with another pure content syllabus. The entire approach is different.

Perhaps there is a clue in the way UCAS measures the grades: an IB HL grade 7 is equivalent to an A*; an IB HL grade 6 spans the range from B to A. Therefore, if you get a 7, we know you have the equivalent of a good A-level A grade.

From a student's perspective, you can indeed prepare for A-levels in about 3 months of unsparing grind. But for the IB, since deadlines for coursework (about 20+% of the overall grade) come earlier, you need a year to get everything done.

From an examination perspective, the A-level exams are very much content-based with theoretical application of content. The IB science exams have a paper in which fundamental approach to 'unseen' data is tested—they give you a strange data set or practical experiment and ask you to evaluate it. It's normally something never seen before, like a graph of nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels against time, or description/records of someone doing an experiment which results in unusual errors.

When we prepared the white paper for MOE, they did their own analysis and asked us to do our own. The initial conclusion in 2001-2002, based on content only, was that the IB was a 'weaker' paper. However, over time it has been recognised as overall not weaker. In fact, our local A-levels have slowly been transformed towards a more IB-type model since the 2002-2003 JC/Upper Sec Education Review chaired by then-Education Minister Tharman.

[newkeynesian]

Got to give you a *like* for this!

[Soscate]

sharing from Y2019 Y1 slides...

Assessment Weightings (Year 1, Y2019)
Express
English Lang & Literature/Physical & Life Sciences/Mathematics/Higher Music
Term 1 -
Term 2 15%
Term 3 15%
Term 4 70%

Mother Tongue/History & Geography
Term 1 10%
Term 2 10%
Term 3 10%
Term 4 70%

Promotion Criteria (Year 1 Express A pass (50% or more) in English Language and an overall percentage of at least 50% for English Language and 7 other subjects.
The six relevant subjects for Year 1 are:
1. English Language
2. Mother Tongue
3. Literature
4. History/Geography
5. Mathematics
6. Physical Science/Life Sciences
7. Any other subject

Year1 EXP Booklist for Y2019
Subjects: English, Literature, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Mother Tongue

[Estéema]

autolycus:

phtthp:

For Year 5 and Year 6 -

are these 3 ( Maths, Physics, Chemistry ) subjects much easier, in scope covered and tested (exam), compared to major GCE \"A\" level syllabus exam ?

At Higher Level, the subjects are comparable. There is a bit less content, but the point of every IB subject is to make it broader and more interconnected with other subjects and with ways of thinking. All IB disciplines require some form of coursework as well as examination, so it is not a case of comparing one pure content syllabus with another pure content syllabus. The entire approach is different.

Perhaps there is a clue in the way UCAS measures the grades: an IB HL grade 7 is equivalent to an A*; an IB HL grade 6 spans the range from B to A. Therefore, if you get a 7, we know you have the equivalent of a good A-level A grade.

From a student's perspective, you can indeed prepare for A-levels in about 3 months of unsparing grind. But for the IB, since deadlines for coursework (about 20+% of the overall grade) come earlier, you need a year to get everything done.

From an examination perspective, the A-level exams are very much content-based with theoretical application of content. The IB science exams have a paper in which fundamental approach to 'unseen' data is tested—they give you a strange data set or practical experiment and ask you to evaluate it. It's normally something never seen before, like a graph of nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels against time, or description/records of someone doing an experiment which results in unusual errors.

When we prepared the white paper for MOE, they did their own analysis and asked us to do our own. The initial conclusion in 2001-2002, based on content only, was that the IB was a 'weaker' paper. However, over time it has been recognised as overall not weaker. In fact, our local A-levels have slowly been transformed towards a more IB-type model since the 2002-2003 JC/Upper Sec Education Review chaired by then-Education Minister Tharman.

Thank you autolycus :thankyou:

[deardear07]

can someone enlighten?


if u join acsi o level track, is there a chance to explore n switch to IP track later on in sec life? is there this option to? the IP track is onto acjc right?

[Estéema]

deardear07\" post_id=\"1900101\" time=\"1551241077\" user_id=\"1429:

can someone enlighten?

if u join acsi o level track, is there a chance to explore n switch to IP track later on in sec life? is there this option to? the IP track is onto acjc right?

Short answer is YES.

Those who hv good results fr ACS Barker after Sec 1, will get a chance to transfer to ACSI Express stream including those who apply fr other sec schools. Many cases last 2 years alr. However, there’s no switch in Yr 2 to IP fr Express in Yr 2.

If the child achieved good results overall at Yr 2, ACSI will offer deserving students a chance to do IP/IB fr Yr 3. At Year 3, those who did not do well consistently in IP Yr 1&2 IP will go to Express stream, based on Yr 2 overall assessment (step down as not all students are suited to IP).

After Year 4, ano round of major assessment - for those keen to earn IB Diploma. You’ll see MGS girls given opportunity, including all other sec sch students. Yr 5 is the year the sch will see female students fr Crescent, SCGS, etc. Year 5 is also the year many will try DSA into Yr 5 IB (guys & gals).

The sch hv a very collaborative & warm family environment. Some students are encouraged to form study & prayer groups, to support each other & those under stress given extra coaching for weak subjects. There’s a PSG father volunteer, semi-retired psychiatrist, who provides sch support esp to manage students under all types of stresses. But not sure how long he’ll continue as both his boys alr in uni.

ACSI students are provided with immense support to prepare for the IB Diploma.

Hope abv helps you ustand a little bit more sch culture too.



So,

[anxious.01501dad]

[quote]deardear07 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:17 pm
the IP track is onto acjc right?[/quote]No, IP track will continue in ACSI for year 5 & 6.
ACJC is not an IP JC, it admits students through JAE.

[autolycus]

anxious.dad\" post_id=\"1900110\" time=\"1551243664\" user_id=\"52054:

No, IP track will continue in ACSI for year 5 & 6.
ACJC is not an IP JC, it admits students through JAE.

Small elaboration, just in case:

ACS(I) IP is Year 1-4 then 5-6 terminating in IB Diploma for those last two years.
ACS(I) O-level/Express is Year 1-4 terminating in O-levels after which JAE to any school you can enter
— this includes both ACS(I) IB and ACJC, but there are no bonus points for applying to ACS(I) IB.
ACJC is only JC1/JC2 terminating in A-levels.

Cheers!