Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP?

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:57:23 GMT

autolycus — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:57:23 GMT

Someone really should put this thread to sleep.

The answer is that this is never going to happen. The transitional costs and everything would make it prohibitive.

In the case of ACS(I), the school created a whole Year 5/Year 6 cohort doing IB out of nothing. They extended up from Sec 4. No added transitional cost. This was helped by the fact that ACS already detached its pre-university A-level programme in 1977 and never took it back.

For RI and HCI, they already have a well-established A-level programme entrenched for a large cohort. It would have a large added cost to change the whole programme or a part of it large enough to make the trouble worthwhile.

In the case of the international schools, they can all offer IGCSE, GCSE, whatever they want. So they all decided on what they would offer and then set up their programmes. Again, no added transitional cost.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:32:06 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:32:06 GMT

anime fan:
I dunno if RI will have this IB programme, but HCI is definitely not going to have it.

@ Micko07,
there are classes for students with different strengths. Science, humanities, 'O' level, normal classes and CSE. O level classes are for students who do not have a high chance of getting into HCJC, and CSE classes are for the truly smart and hardworking students. However, this only starts from sec 3 onwards. Normal classes follow the consortium- based system, implemented in sec 1.

The principal said they so far has only a class of about 15 students doing the O level - mostly due to students' family problems and the like, causing then to slide in their grades, but it is much much more expensive to run the class for the 15 of them but being HCI's promise is to take care of everyone in their intake, hence they make sure the boys are taken care of to ensure doing well at O level...and almost all of them make it back to HCI (college) again for JC 1

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:33:55 GMT

anime fan — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:33:55 GMT

I dunno if RI will have this IB programme, but HCI is definitely not going to have it.

@ Micko07,
there are classes for students with different strengths. Science, humanities, ‘O’ level, normal classes and CSE. O level classes are for students who do not have a high chance of getting into HCJC, and CSE classes are for the truly smart and hardworking students. However, this only starts from sec 3 onwards. Normal classes follow the consortium- based system, implemented in sec 1.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:51:03 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:51:03 GMT

so, it remains as unsubstantiated rumours

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:28:32 GMT

jtoh — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:28:32 GMT

d1s2:
I've not heard of IB being discussed in HCI before either. As for RI, during the open house 2 years ago, the prinicipal after commenting on the merits of an A levels track, mentioned the possibility of offering IB (if I remembered correctly - pending MOE approval) to a smaller group of students who \"may be more suited\" to that type of curriculum ie broader based but less depth.There was no mention that the offeringis will be for the \"top 5%\" of students only.

Just a thought ... will offering too many different tracks within a school dilute the resources available?

You're right. Offering too many tracks may dilute resources. IB teachers need to be re-trained to teach the IB syllabus. So it doesn't make sense to offer it to just 5% of the population.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:34:13 GMT

d1s2 — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:34:13 GMT

I’ve not heard of IB being discussed in HCI before either. As for RI, during the open house 2 years ago, the principal after commenting on the merits of an A levels track, mentioned the possibility of offering IB (if I remembered correctly - pending MOE approval) to a smaller group of students who "may be more suited" to that type of curriculum ie broader based but less depth.There was no mention that the offerings will be for the "top 5%" of students only.

Just a thought … will offering too many different tracks within a school dilute the resources available?

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 03:29:16 GMT

micko07 — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 03:29:16 GMT

Never heard of any plans for HCI to offer IB either.

HCI and RJC both have very reputed Humanities programmes so I honestly don’t think there is any real need to offer IB just to cater for Arts-oriented students. The present A level system is fine.

That said, I think introducing IB would be quite a good idea - more variety for students to pick from. Singaporeans seem to have done very well under IB; possibly more so than A levels.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:16:38 GMT

wonderm — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:16:38 GMT

jtoh:
I've not heard the rumour but it doesn't make sense to offer IB only to the top 5% of students. The IB programme isn't more superior nor more difficult than A levels so any student in HCI and RI are capable of taking it.

I agree. Hwa Chong International is offering IB to all students. There is no reason for HCI to only offer it to top 5% of students. Anyway, never heard of plans to offered IB in HCI.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:03:51 GMT

jtoh — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:03:51 GMT

I’ve not heard the rumour but it doesn’t make sense to offer IB only to the top 5% of students. The IB programme isn’t more superior nor more difficult than A levels so any student in HCI and RI are capable of taking it.

There has been talk about RI offering IB for some time now. Not sure if it’s coming to fruition.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:56:07 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:56:07 GMT

atutor2001:
verykiasu2010:

the starting point of this discussion was about HCI / RI rumored to be doing IB diploma for their top students as if IB is perceived to be more highly prized by the ivy league - whereas they (HCI / RI) already are issuing their own diploma which are highly recognised by those top uni overseas (ivy & oxbridge)
My apology for going off thread. Anyway, have not heard of the rumour though I have heard that RI may be offering IB but up to the student to choose.

ooi, just casual discussion ! u are too serious ! :lol:

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:53:29 GMT

atutor2001 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:53:29 GMT

verykiasu2010:

the starting point of this discussion was about HCI / RI rumored to be doing IB diploma for their top students as if IB is perceived to be more highly prized by the ivy league - whereas they (HCI / RI) already are issuing their own diploma which are highly recognised by those top uni overseas (ivy & oxbridge)

My apology for going off thread. Anyway, have not heard of the rumour though I have heard that RI may be offering IB but up to the student to choose.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:43:08 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:43:08 GMT

atutor2001:
verykiasu2010:

Of course they do take the A level, except that these students usually receive their offer of uni admission from the ivy league or oxbridge before they got their A level result. Hence they don't rely on the A for the uni entrance

Understand that in HCI, they have a dept helping student placement to those Unis
They gain acceptance to ivy league or oxbridge through their prelim results and interview. However, their final acceptance is still subject to conditions such as A's for certain subjects in A level which of cause is no problem.

It is very difficult to get into these uni unless results are consistently good and can write and speak well. Otherwise must pull string and the string is hard to find and costly.

yes, it is some what like the DSA for sec school in S'pore

for those students who are consistent in their academic performance, provisional offer / acceptance pending final A result is not an issue

the starting point of this discussion was about HCI / RI rumored to be doing IB diploma for their top students as if IB is perceived to be more highly prized by the ivy league - whereas they (HCI / RI) already are issuing their own diploma which are highly recognised by those top uni overseas (ivy & oxbridge)

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:51:14 GMT

atutor2001 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:51:14 GMT

verykiasu2010:

Of course they do take the A level, except that these students usually receive their offer of uni admission from the ivy league or oxbridge before they got their A level result. Hence they don't rely on the A for the uni entrance

Understand that in HCI, they have a dept helping student placement to those Unis

They gain acceptance to ivy league or oxbridge through their prelim results and interview. However, their final acceptance is still subject to conditions such as A's for certain subjects in A level which of cause is no problem.

It is very difficult to get into these uni unless results are consistently good and can write and speak well. Otherwise must pull string and the string is hard to find and costly.

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:27:08 GMT

xxjustakidxx — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:27:08 GMT

huh serious ah

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:00:05 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:00:05 GMT

Nebbermind:
verykiasu2010:
[quote=\"Faun\"]Heard a rumor that the top 5% of the students in HCI and RI could be doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Anyone can verify that?

source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas

u mean these students don't take 'A'?[/quote]Of course they do take the A level, except that these students usually receive their offer of uni admission from the ivy league or oxbridge before they got their A level result. Hence they don't rely on the A for the uni entrance

Understand that in HCI, they have a dept helping student placement to those Unis

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:14:42 GMT

Nebbermind — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:14:42 GMT

verykiasu2010:
Faun:
Heard a rumor that the top 5% of the students in HCI and RI could be doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Anyone can verify that?

source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas

u mean these students don't take 'A'?

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:12:00 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:12:00 GMT

wonderm:
naggo-nitemare:
[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]
source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas
from the information tt i've gathered abt IB n 'a' levels over the past few mths, my impression of an ideal IP sch would be one tt offers 'a' level route for pupils who are passionate in the sciences n maths, at the same time, offering the IB route for those passionate in the humanities and who are heading in the liberal arts direction. so far, neither HCI nor RI are allowed to do so. Maybe, now's the time for this new development. Hope this rumour can be clarified by credible sources

I thought both RI and HCI have very good Humanity Programme and their students should have no problem taking the liberal arts courses in top universities such as Yale?[/quote]In fact, HCI is THE centre for Humanities studies even before the IP days, and now from various forum postings by ksp, even RJC students apply to transfer to HCI at year 5 for the humanities students. It is the recognition that HCI's humanities program is well received by both students and prospective universities overseas

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:02:20 GMT

wonderm — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:02:20 GMT

naggo-nitemare:
verykiasu2010:
[quote=\"Faun\"]Heard a rumor that the top 5% of the students in HCI and RI could be doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Anyone can verify that?

source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas

from the information tt i've gathered abt IB n 'a' levels over the past few mths, my impression of an ideal IP sch would be one tt offers 'a' level route for pupils who are passionate in the sciences n maths, at the same time, offering the IB route for those passionate in the humanities and who are heading in the liberal arts direction. so far, neither HCI nor RI are allowed to do so. Maybe, now's the time for this new development. Hope this rumour can be clarified by credible sources[/quote]I thought both RI and HCI have very good Humanity Programme and their students should have no problem taking the liberal arts courses in top universities such as Yale?

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:49:03 GMT

naggo-nitemare — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:49:03 GMT

verykiasu2010:
Faun:
Heard a rumor that the top 5% of the students in HCI and RI could be doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Anyone can verify that?

source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas

Reply to Is it true that top 5% of HCI and RI going to do IBDP? on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:07:34 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:07:34 GMT

Faun:
Heard a rumor that the top 5% of the students in HCI and RI could be doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Anyone can verify that?

source of rumor ?

they are already awarding their own diploma to their top students and is supposedly well recognised overseas