Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[Vanilla Cake]

kiasuson:

Please note that only students above the cut off point go for the IB Diploma programe. The rest will sit for 'O' Level. This year I think they only allow those above 260 go for the IP six years programe. The rest are for 4 years 'O' Level programe.

On behalf of my aunt, I would like to ask a few questions about ACS(I) as we could not find the answers from its website.


Q1
From ACS(I)'s website, 1st intake of students at year 1 is capped at 150 for IP while the rest goes to their 'O' level programme. How do they sort it out? Do they choose the best 150 students from DSA, PSLE S1 posting and those appealing after the PSLE S1 posting based on PSLE T-score? Does this mean that COP for their IP like what kiasuson mentioned is not fixed at 260+ for every year ?

Q2
Heard from somewhere that their first-year IP students MUST attend one-semester boarding programme that will emphasis on leadership development and enrichment modules like culture and the arts.How about the subsequent IP years at levels 2, 3 ,4 and 5 etc ?

Q3
Will ACS(I) be conducting any open house soon as their DSA will be ending on 25 Jun 2009?

Q4
Does ACS(I) mix GEPers with high ability mainstream students or separate them accordingly?

Q5
For those students on 'O' track from ACS(I), their advantage over other schools' 'O' level holders applying for ACJC will only be a 2-point bonus deduction due to affiliation?

Thanks for your time and helpful reply.

[Mandarin]

Hi Vanilla Cake,


I shall attempt to answer some of the questions based on what I know.

Q1
About 1/2 the IP places are offered during DSA. You need to indicate if you are applying for IP or Express in your DSA application. If you want to be considered for both, then you need to fill up both applications. The DSA offer indicates which program you are being given. So, if you are offerd IP, then you will get into IP as long as your PSLE score is eligible for Express stream.
As for students applying using PSLE score, you will be offered IP once you are admitted into the school and your score is above the IP cutoff score. This score varies from year to year, depending on the results of the cohort.

Q2
Not true for now, may change in future as the school is building additional blocks for boarding school. For this year, only the Y2 local IP students are offered the opportunity to apply. As there is limited places, not all will get in.

Q4
For this year Y1 IP, the GEP students are grouped into 2 classes, under SBGE (School-Based Gifted Education) programme. There is a mix of other non-GEP students in these 2 classes too as the total number of GEPers in IP is less than 50. I am not sure how the school select.
GEPers in Express are also grouped into 1 class, and mixed with other students.

[Vanilla Cake]

Hi Mandarin,

Thks for your helpful replies and sorry to bother you again.From ACS(I)'s website, their year 1 (2009) class allocation has 9 'O' lvl classes (304 students) and 6 'IB' classes (151 students).
From this http://www.montfort.morvensolutions.com/dsaFAQ.asp, the discretionary places available for DSA applicants will have:

IP - 100 %
IS - 20 %
AS - 10 %
NS - 5 %

Wonder what are the remaining 'IB' places left for PSLE central posting if the student is not successful in his DSA application for ACS(I)?

[Mandarin]

Hi Vanilla Cake,


From my understanding, about half the places for IP were given in DSA. The remaining were available for PSLE central posting. I believe this applies to most independent schools, except for NUS High.

[Jennifer]

Hi, Mandarin.


We always hear pple saying most ACS(I) boys come from upper income level family groups and are snobs. Is this true?

TIA your thoughts.

[spikey]

Jennifer:

Hi, Mandarin.


We always hear pple saying most ACS(I) boys come from upper income level family groups and are snobs. Is this true?

TIA your thoughts.

Take it from me as an ex ACS boy - it's certainly not true.

[Jennifer]

spikey:

Take it from me as an ex ACS boy - it's certainly not true.

Comforting to hear this, can ask which year you graduated? Not too sure where #1 hears from, he is quite unwilling to choose this sch becos of this.

[Jennifer]

Mandarin:

He also takes Life Science (which is essentially Biology) and Physical Science (which is a combination of Physics and Chemistry) as 2 different subjects.


You may want to note that every student must opt for 2 CCAs, one from Uniform Group, and another from Sports/Clubs/Performing Arts.

Hi, Mandarin.

Is Life Science a compulsory subject? Does it involve cutting up live/dead specimen?

My boy tried for Badminton DSA trial but was not successful. Many of the P6 pupils are from sch teams and are very well trained. Does it mean Sports is mainly for competitive players? Those who are up to it would not get admitted, and might end up choosing from Clubs/Performing Arts?

TIA your inputs.

[Mandarin]

Life Science is a compulsory subject in year 1. So far, not live animals to cut yet. From what I heard, there was bacteria culture and other std fare like testing chlorophyll etc. Though my son is not very interested in the subject itself, he is always excited about lab period (which is once a week). He finds it very fun.


Yeah, I heard that many national players turned up for badminton DSA trial this year. I guess the competition is keen. From other parents, I understand that there are only 5 confirmed offers for badminton.

My understanding is that many sports are filled up during DSA, hence it will be difficult for other kids to get in. However, the school offers many sports which does not pre-recruit during DSA. During the first week of school year (in their Discovery Camp), the year 1 students will get to try out various sports. The teachers will assess and recommend the most suitable sport to the kid at the end of the camp. So, there are still opportunity to get into sports, esp those sports that are not offered in primary schools. The kid has the choice to sign up for the recommended sport after having learnt of the commitment required, or join clubs/societies instead. I am also aware that some kids approach the teacher in-charge of the sports that they are interested in and got into the team after trial.

[Jennifer]

Mandarin:

Life Science is a compulsory subject in year 1. So far, not live animals to cut yet. From what I heard, there was bacteria culture and other std fare like testing chlorophyll etc. Though my son is not very interested in the subject itself, he is always excited about lab period (which is once a week). He finds it very fun.


Yeah, I heard that many national players turned up for badminton DSA trial this year. I guess the competition is keen. From other parents, I understand that there are only 5 confirmed offers for badminton.

My understanding is that many sports are filled up during DSA, hence it will be difficult for other kids to get in. However, the school offers many sports which does not pre-recruit during DSA. During the first week of school year (in their Discovery Camp), the year 1 students will get to try out various sports. The teachers will assess and recommend the most suitable sport to the kid at the end of the camp. So, there are still opportunity to get into sports, esp those sports that are not offered in primary schools. The kid has the choice to sign up for the recommended sport after having learnt of the commitment required, or join clubs/societies instead. I am also aware that some kids approach the teacher in-charge of the sports that they are interested in and got into the team after trial.

Thanks for the details, Mandarin.

My boy is quite squeamish, cant look at his dad chewing chicken feet and the likes. So I doubt he would enjoy live specimen dissect.

Only 5 offers for badminton :shock: There are easily more than 10 children who are very good.