Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[Estéema]

radiantmum:

How are the students given improvement feedbacks for the various project works?

It depends. Group projects usually requires them to do presentation (unless owise specified as not nec). Individual projects may be given 1-1 feedback. For Yr 1, teachers usually give early checks to ensure students are on track, giving them time to adjust if out of point. But time will be tight is students hv not fulfilled rqmts & hv to re-do. They’re graded & recorded in report books. Not sure this year, after MOE announced Yr 1 hv no MYE. Hope it gives some idea.

[joy2]

Hi, may I know what is the grading system for express year 1-4?

[AnneY]

joy2:

Hi, may I know what is the grading system for express year 1-4?

They follow the \"O\" level grading system in express (A1 >75 marks; A2... etc)
For the IB program (which my son is in) and they use the IB Grade 1 to 7 (7 is >80)

In Sec 1 last year , there was a mid year exam (30%). Term 3 assessment was Class Test for express (20%) and Coursework for IB students (20%) (i.e each subject you need to do a project, could be individual or group depending on subject). Then final exam in term 4 (50%).

This year there should be a change since no mid year exam for year 1 (MOE).

[joy2]

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

[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: