Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
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Hello, my child is not in ACS(I) but may I ask a question about IBDP? Is it correct that if you take HCL O Level exam in Sec 4 then you cannot take Chinese again under the Language Acquisition category (MOE will not let you take something that is deemed to be at a "lower level" than what you’ve already passed)? In contrast, if you just stick with Normal CL in Sec 1-4 then you can take Chinese B under the Language Acquisition category (which similar to H1 Chinese is generally assessed to be "not too tough")?
If the above is true, I guess the advantage of clearing the HCL O Level exam on the A Level side is somewhat higher in that you don’t need to take H1 CL or anything else in Year 5-Year 6. However, even if pass HCL O Level in IBDP, you still need to take Language ab initio under the Language Acquisition bucket.
Don’t mean to turn this into an A Level vs IBDP debate, but specifically wondering if this is correct w/regards to the CL/HCL component in Sec 1-4. Said another way, if I have to do something in Year 5-6 is Chinese B vs. something else ab initio more manageable (i.e. more advanced but have 10 years of instruction vs. beginner level but new)? Thanks. -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2050155\" time=\"1638333210\" user_id=\"188234:
It's not that MOE won't let you take something that is deemed to be at 'lower level'—it's the IB that won't let you do that, because language acquisition isn't tested if you already know the language at a higher level!
Hello, my child is not in ACS(I) but may I ask a question about IBDP? Is it correct that if you take HCL O Level exam in Sec 4 then you cannot take Chinese again under the Language Acquisition category (MOE will not let you take something that is deemed to be at a \"lower level\" than what you've already passed)? In contrast, if you just stick with Normal CL in Sec 1-4 then you can take Chinese B under the Language Acquisition category (which similar to H1 Chinese is generally assessed to be \"not too tough\")?
If the above is true, I guess the advantage of clearing the HCL O Level exam on the A Level side is somewhat higher in that you don't need to take H1 CL or anything else in Year 5-Year 6. However, even if pass HCL O Level in IBDP, you still need to take Language ab initio under the Language Acquisition bucket.
Don't mean to turn this into an A Level vs IBDP debate, but specifically wondering if this is correct w/regards to the CL/HCL component in Sec 1-4. Said another way, if I have to do something in Year 5-6 is Chinese B vs. something else ab initio more manageable (i.e. more advanced but have 10 years of instruction vs. beginner level but new)? Thanks.
The advantage for the 'A' level is that you don't have to take MT again—true.
The advantage for the IB is that you can now study another language of your choice at ANY level, which advantages the linguists and those who want to learn a new language for future career prospects. At ab-initio level, you are talking about tourist-level learning: how to get around in Paris, for example. It's fun and people tend to score well.
To compare the two, remember that the A-level Certificate is designed to show your specialist proficiency in something, whereas the IB Diploma is designed to broaden your learning for international flexibility. Different things. -
autolycus\" post_id=\"2050167\" time=\"1638336385\" user_id=\"16143:
Thank you, and apologies if it came across as something bad attributed to either MOE or IB. I thought there was some constraint here and got the two mixed up.
It's not that MOE won't let you take something that is deemed to be at 'lower level'—it's the IB that won't let you do that, because language acquisition isn't tested if you already know the language at a higher level!
The advantage for the 'A' level is that you don't have to take MT again—true.
The advantage for the IB is that you can now study another language of your choice at ANY level, which advantages the linguists and those who want to learn a new language for future career prospects. At ab-initio level, you are talking about tourist-level learning: how to get around in Paris, for example. It's fun and people tend to score well.
To compare the two, remember that the A-level Certificate is designed to show your specialist proficiency in something, whereas the IB Diploma is designed to broaden your learning for international flexibility. Different things.
Out of curiosity, if you take Third Language (French, German, Spanish, Japanese, etc) in Sec 1-4, can you take this as Language B under Language Acquisition in Year 5-6 to further your knowledge/understanding? Or if you pass the O Level exam does IB not allow that either (i.e. not learning anything new or more advanced)?
Agree on the pros for an additional language. I also understand the general differences between A Level and IB Diploma; I do think ACS(I) and MGS IP programmes are a unique and attractive offering within the Singapore schooling system.
Regards... -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2050170\" time=\"1638338153\" user_id=\"188234:
No need to apologise at all! We all learn from each other around here.
Thank you, and apologies if it came across as something bad attributed to either MOE or IB. I thought there was some constraint here and got the two mixed up.
Out of curiosity, if you take Third Language (French, German, Spanish, Japanese, etc) in Sec 1-4, can you take this as Language B under Language Acquisition in Year 5-6 to further your knowledge/understanding? Or if you pass the O Level exam does IB not allow that either (i.e. not learning anything new or more advanced)?
Agree on the pros for an additional language. I also understand the general differences between A Level and IB Diploma; I do think ACS(I) and MGS IP programmes are a unique and attractive offering within the Singapore schooling system.
Regards...
If you do L3 up to S4, it's equivalent to ab-initio (which means 'from the beginning') but perhaps a bit more. So you can indeed do the same language as Language B if the school has staff capable of teaching it; in fact, having a teacher available is the main constraint here. After all, people doing Chinese at MT (which is higher than L3) can still do Chinese as LangB.
I've had the unique perspective of helping to shepherd both the ACS(I) and MGS IPs through the MOE process, so if you want to know anything about the fundamentals, I can help.
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SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2050155\" time=\"1638333210\" user_id=\"188234:
From SJI
Hello, my child is not in ACS(I) but may I ask a question about IBDP? Is it correct that if you take HCL O Level exam in Sec 4 then you cannot take Chinese again under the Language Acquisition category (MOE will not let you take something that is deemed to be at a \"lower level\" than what you've already passed)? In contrast, if you just stick with Normal CL in Sec 1-4 then you can take Chinese B under the Language Acquisition category (which similar to H1 Chinese is generally assessed to be \"not too tough\")?
If the above is true, I guess the advantage of clearing the HCL O Level exam on the A Level side is somewhat higher in that you don't need to take H1 CL or anything else in Year 5-Year 6. However, even if pass HCL O Level in IBDP, you still need to take Language ab initio under the Language Acquisition bucket.
Don't mean to turn this into an A Level vs IBDP debate, but specifically wondering if this is correct w/regards to the CL/HCL component in Sec 1-4. Said another way, if I have to do something in Year 5-6 is Chinese B vs. something else ab initio more manageable (i.e. more advanced but have 10 years of instruction vs. beginner level but new)? Thanks.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10lAUOv43YLCWYOyoX3tPvFz1Q5WxYbdm/view?usp=drivesdk -
emoh\" post_id=\"2050215\" time=\"1638358699\" user_id=\"10618:
To be clear, if you have O-level HMT, you still cannot do the same language at a lower level. However, you can do a different language at any level. For example, if you have Chinese HMT O-level, you can do Malay B SL. I believe that Language B HL is not considered lower level though.
From SJI
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10lAUOv43YLCWYOyoX3tPvFz1Q5WxYbdm/view?usp=drivesdk
Another thing to note: SJI itself doesn't offer O-level HMT in its IP, from 2019 onwards; it offers its own IP MT. That is why there is a row for 'SJI IP Mother Tongue without O-Level exam'. -
autolycus\" post_id=\"2050217\" time=\"1638359909\" user_id=\"16143:
The SJI table first row seems to suggest those with O-level HMT can also offer the same language B at SL
To be clear, if you have O-level HMT, you still cannot do the same language at a lower level. However, you can do a different language at any level. For example, if you have Chinese HMT O-level, you can do Malay B SL. I believe that Language B HL is not considered lower level though.
Another thing to note: SJI itself doesn't offer O-level HMT in its IP, from 2019 onwards; it offers its own IP MT. That is why there is a row for 'SJI IP Mother Tongue without O-Level exam'.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10lAUOv43YLCWYOyoX3tPvFz1Q5WxYbdm/view -
emoh\" post_id=\"2050224\" time=\"1638366766\" user_id=\"10618:
I think what it means is that you can do Lang B SL in a different language if you have HMT. And you can do Mandarin B HL if you have HMT CL. It's unusual, because even ACS(I) doesn't offer it — and this topic is about ACS(I). I might be wrong, though. Things do change. But the general principle is that you can't do a language at a lower level than your existing experience.
The SJI table first row seems to suggest those with O-level HMT can also offer the same language B at SL
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10lAUOv43YLCWYOyoX3tPvFz1Q5WxYbdm/view -
autolycus\" post_id=\"2050240\" time=\"1638371721\" user_id=\"16143:
in this reddit thread last year, seems HMT O level can do Language B already
I think what it means is that you can do Lang B SL in a different language if you have HMT. And you can do Mandarin B HL if you have HMT CL. It's unusual, because even ACS(I) doesn't offer it — and this topic is about ACS(I). I might be wrong, though. Things do change. But the general principle is that you can't do a language at a lower level than your existing experience.
Hi, I’m taking Spanish ab initio! It’s not difficult; you just need to put in some effort to listen in class, do hw, and revise grammar rules and common vocab! We have a great teacher - he’s really nice and friendly! I took HMT in O Levels and could’ve taken Language B, but I don’t regret choosing Spanish ab initio and enjoy it so much!
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/kl95u9/ib_sji_ama_2020/ -
emoh\" post_id=\"2050257\" time=\"1638409702\" user_id=\"10618:
I saw that! And I was wondering if that was in fact true for both Mandarin Lang B SL and HL, or only for HL as expected. So many questions. Also, we need hard data for ACS(I)—which doesn't offer Mandarin Lang B HL last I checked.
in this reddit thread last year, seems HMT O level can do Language B already
Hi, I’m taking Spanish ab initio! It’s not difficult; you just need to put in some effort to listen in class, do hw, and revise grammar rules and common vocab! We have a great teacher - he’s really nice and friendly! I took HMT in O Levels and could’ve taken Language B, but I don’t regret choosing Spanish ab initio and enjoy it so much!
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/kl95u9/ib_sji_ama_2020/
So, please could we leave out the SJI data unless it is more explicit? E.g. \"You can pass Chinese HMT at O-levels and then proceed to do Chinese B SL in the IB.\"
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