<![CDATA[Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program]]>Dear parents,


Are you happy with the programme so far? What are the strengths of the programme?

How many students have gone to Harvard, Princeton, STanford, Cambridge?

Please advise.

Regards 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/16949/parents-of-students-acs-i-r-u-happy-with-the-ip-programRSS for NodeMon, 20 Apr 2026 16:50:15 GMTThu, 09 Dec 2010 09:32:14 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Fri, 28 Jun 2019 06:36:43 GMT]]><deleted>

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1916277https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1916277Fri, 28 Jun 2019 06:36:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:27:09 GMT]]>Hello! I know this is a very old post but I came across it... so I just wanna ask whether anybody here knows about the admission test to ACS independent year 5? I wanted to apply, but I need some details from people who have experienced it. Thank you 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1902211https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1902211Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:27:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:25:55 GMT]]>so far has MOE taken in IB graduates to become trainee teachers ? or only recognise GCE A level cert ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/662121https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/662121Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:25:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:57:33 GMT]]>I am not a parent of ACS (I) but I hope to add on to the discussion about whether IB or ‘A’ levels is better. Yes, IB has greater recognition because of the long history and the insitutions across the world take the exams. However, the academic rigour is less compared to the ‘A’ levels. The ‘A’ levels is well espected in the universities abroad and some universities give exemptions the ‘A’ level students for their basic modules. Feedback by university admission officers and professors has been that the ‘A’ levels prepares the students adequately for the university courses. But IB is more holistic and has advantage of greater creativity through the varied projects.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/662097https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/662097Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:57:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:54:14 GMT]]>

oliveminx:


Do you mean Cambridge?
Sorry, I was not clear. I meant Cambridge 'A' Level.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/655819https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/655819Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:54:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:43:56 GMT]]>

Faun:
According to a principal who was involved in developing the ip for the top schools, the IB was recommended instead of the Cambridge but due to political reason, the government chose IB.

Do you mean Cambridge?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651859https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651859Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:43:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:43:49 GMT]]>Also, for A level, if you fail one subject you redo all but IB you can retake the subject you are not happy with the grades again over 2 times I think. they have 2 exam time available a year.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651627https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651627Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:43:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:38:58 GMT]]>

leow:
Which is a better path ? A levels vs International Beaculerette ?


A levels has been around for the longest time, but IB is very new, at least in Spore. Are the prospects of the child for admission to University different for the 2, are there any constraints for IB ?

Also what are the differences in the curiculum and the character development ?

How do we choose between the 2 ?
In 2006 MOE tweaked the SingPore Cambridge o and a level to model after the IB. Program which has been around since the sixties. This was done because they realized that the IB is mor holistic. If you look at the way the a level grouping is, it is a copy of IB. According to a principal who was involved in developing the ip for the top schools, the IB was recommended instead of the Cambridge but due to political reason, the government chose IB.

IB is criteria based. You marks don't get tweaked to fit into the Bell curve.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651623https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/651623Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:38:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:44:09 GMT]]>IB is better recognised by top universities around the world like Oxbridge when compared to A-levels… ^_^

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/624161https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/624161Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:44:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:31:57 GMT]]>I heard below feedback on O level vs IP program, pls provide your views for those who has or is going thru and your advice for us.

1) IP program, no fallback if the child fail to make the cut. Hence some parents had to scramble and move the kids back to O level if he did not make the cut during the IP program. or the kids will not have any certificate to show if they fall out the race near or at A levels.
As these kids are still growing, there is no assurance that they’d be consistent academically in their teen years even if they do very well in PSLE. This I see is the risk of the IP program.
2) Heard that some IP programs are grilling, altho no major exams (O levels), every qtr they are being assessed and must continuous make the cut, otherwise out (heard TJC). Therefore very stressful. On the other hand, there are some other IP schools where it is heard that the child is enjoying it thoroughly (heard ACSI) since there is no major exam until 6yr later.

Please provide views.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/614900https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/614900Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:31:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:23:02 GMT]]>Which is a better path ? A levels vs International Beaculerette ?


A levels has been around for the longest time, but IB is very new, at least in Spore. Are the prospects of the child for admission to University different for the 2, are there any constraints for IB ?

Also what are the differences in the curiculum and the character development ?

How do we choose between the 2 ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/614893https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/614893Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:23:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:45:28 GMT]]>Notable alumni


PoliticsRaffles Institution has produced seven out of twelve of Singapore's Presidents, Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers.

Yusof Ishak, 1st President of Singapore (1959–1970)

Benjamin Henry Sheares, 2nd President of Singapore (1971–1981)

Wee Kim Wee, 4th President of Singapore (1985–1993)

Lee Kuan Yew, 1st Prime Minister of Singapore (1959–1990), Senior Minister of Singapore (1990–2004), Minister Mentor of Singapore (2004–2011)

Goh Chok Tong, 2nd Prime Minister of Singapore (1990–2004), Senior Minister of Singapore (2005–2011)

S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (2004–2009) and Minister for Law (1988–2008)

S Rajaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister (Foreign Affairs) of Singapore (1980–1984), Minister for Foreign Affairs (1965–1980), Minister for Culture (1968–1971), Senior Minister of Singapore (1985–1988).

K Shanmugam, Minister for Law of Singapore(2008–present), Minister for Home Affairs (2010–present)

Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore (2002–present)

Michael Chew Koon Chan, Baron Chan of Oxton, Merseyside, second person of Chinese descent to serve in the House of Lords

Aziz Ishak, Malayan freedom fighter and former Malaysian cabinet minister

Tun Sardon Jubir, former Malaysian cabinet minister and Penang state governor.

Tun Abdul Razak, 2nd Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Lim Yew Hock, 2nd Chief Minister, Singapore.

Tan Cheng Lock, founder of the Malaysian Chinese Association, co-founder of independent Malaysia.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Member of Parliament for 26 years (1980–2006),
presidential candidate for the Singaporean Presidential Election, 2011.

Business and economics

Robert Kuok, billionaire and richest man in Southeast Asia

Lim Boon Keng, philanthropist and co-founder, OCBC Bank and Singapore Chinese Girls School

Peter Lim, Singapore billionaire and avid sports fan.

Others

Lim Bo Seng, World War II hero
Chandran Nair, writer, poet and artist.
T.T. Durai, former CEO of the National Kidney Foundation
Alfian Sa'at, Writer, poet and playwright.
Choor Singh, judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore (1963–1980)
Tee Tua Ba, former Chief Commissioner of Police Force
Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large
Robert Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore
Ong Teck Chin, former principal of the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/605605https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/605605Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:45:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:42:20 GMT]]>so far, who are some of the prominent Ministers or civil servants whose alumni come from RI, Hwa Chong Institute, NUSH, Dunman - since mentioned (beginning of this thread) that they sort of disappear, compared to outstanding ACS boys who seek revenge at our education system, when comes to mid career level?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/604330https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/604330Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:42:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:40:17 GMT]]>ACS(I) is a good alternative to those who are considering SOTA but prefer a more well rounded academic environment. Their IB Visual Art results were 11 sevens and 3 sixes for the 2010 cohort of 14 students. Those interested in the Visual Art programme might want to take a peek at their programme this Sunday 6-8 pm when they are presenting their current cohort works set up for their IB graduation show (a requirement for IB Visual Art which include an interview in lieu of time based exam). They are offering 19 candidates this year. You would get a chance to meet the teachers and also speak to the students. Quite likely the new Principal would be there too I heard.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/603978https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/603978Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:40:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:15:47 GMT]]>

autolycus:
COD Warrior:

Hi autolykus,


What are the second languages offered for IB students in IB-Year 5 at ACSI? (apart from Chinese, Spanish, French and German which you have already mentioned)

Thank you.

It depends on whether there is demand. I think some PRC scholars are doing English as their second language, and Bahasa Indonesia is also a possible option. IB offers many languages including classical Greek and Latin, but I don't think ACS(I) offers them all! 🙂

From the current school list (not sure if updated recently): Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, Spanish, German, French.

Hi Autolykus,

Do you know what if the child is exempted from MT and in the eyes of MOE, the MT is already deemed fulfilled. Does the child still need to do a second lang. in the IB program?

If a child does an entirely new language, eg. German, wont they have to start from scratch? Will a child without any German background be at a disadvantage?

Thanks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578488https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578488Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:15:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Sat, 28 May 2011 05:21:15 GMT]]>I don’t mean to be a wet blanket but any ACS(I) parent feel that your child is struggling or not enjoying this programme ? Any specific issues that are impeding their progress? Thanks in advance!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/432223https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/432223Sat, 28 May 2011 05:21:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:57:15 GMT]]>

Faun:
You mentioned the 34 points requirement. If we minus 3 points for TOK, Extended Essay and Creative, action service, that means it's 31 points for the subjects for the 6 groups. That comes to about 5 points per subject. 5 point = average, I think. Is 5 point a B3 equivalent in O'level?

This would be excluding bonus points. So you need to have a score of 34 for the best 5 subjects from Groups 1 to 5 and one other subject. For the ACS(I) pre-IB, 7 points is roughly 85% and 6 points is roughly 70%. 5 points is a B3 or B4.
Faun:
My son has started on the iB prog. He's not strong in Chinese and I'm kinda glad the Chinese requirement is not that high for IB. In Y5&6, a second language is compulsory but must it be Chinese? My friend told me he knew an ACSI boy doing Malay for those 2 years instead because he kept failing his Chinese through the years. Just wondering if it's possible for my ds to do, say Spanish instead as he's more interested in that.
The second language must be the Mother Tongue language in order to meet SG bilingualism requirements. However, if your son has met those requirements (e.g. by HMT) by Year 5, he can take another language. It is also possible for him to appeal to change his MT (or MT equivalent). I'm not sure what the procedure for that is, though; I think it must be something like applying to do CL B in the GCE course.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/323519https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/323519Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:57:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:12:43 GMT]]>Hi autolycus,


Thanks so much for all the info.

You mentioned the 34 points requirement. If we minus 3 points for TOK, Extended Essay and Creative, action service, that means it’s 31 points for the subjects for the 6 groups. That comes to about 5 points per subject. 5 point = average, I think. Is 5 point a B3 equivalent in O’level?

My son has started on the iB prog. He’s not strong in Chinese and I’m kinda glad the Chinese requirement is not that high for IB. In Y5&6, a second language is compulsory but must it be Chinese? My friend told me he knew an ACSI boy doing Malay for those 2 years instead because he kept failing his Chinese through the years. Just wondering if it’s possible for my ds to do, say Spanish instead as he’s more interested in that.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/322528https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/322528Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:12:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:30:58 GMT]]>

COD Warrior:
Hi autolykus,


What are the second languages offered for IB students in IB-Year 5 at ACSI? (apart from Chinese, Spanish, French and German which you have already mentioned)

Thank you.
It depends on whether there is demand. I think some PRC scholars are doing English as their second language, and Bahasa Indonesia is also a possible option. IB offers many languages including classical Greek and Latin, but I don't think ACS(I) offers them all! 🙂

From the current school list (not sure if updated recently): Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, Spanish, German, French.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/322321https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/322321Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:30:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:01:02 GMT]]>Hi autolykus,


What are the second languages offered for IB students in IB-Year 5 at ACSI? (apart from Chinese, Spanish, French and German which you have already mentioned)

Thank you.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/321584https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/321584Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:01:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:49:40 GMT]]>

phankao:
What I meant was - is it MOE does not take the IB Chinese paper as a valid fulfilment of requirement, hence the need to take the O level CL/HCL papers instead.

No, the IB Chinese paper is a valid fulfilment of the bilingual/MT requirement. However, if O-level HCL is taken, that fulfils the pre-university bilingual/MT requirement as well. The student may then do another language besides Chinese for the IB (which itself always requires a second language); in fact, if the student has done HCL at O-level, he shouldn't be doing IB CL Lang B, since that is actually of a far lower level.

There are also ACS(I) students who do O-levels, and those of course must do the MT or HMT paper as part of that certification. They have to do it even if they subsequently get into the IB course, since they wouldn't know if they had got in until the O-level results were released.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320111https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320111Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:49:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:54:03 GMT]]>

autolycus:
phankao:

[quote=\"gleemom\"] HMT boys can take 'O' level Chinese at Sec 3 (or again at Sec 4 if not happy with grade). This grade is not counted in overall IB marks but I guess it's a good cert to have. The boy still takes IB Chinese in IB year. Most do the exam in IB year 1 (similar to JC 1), so that they can concentrate on the other subjects in year 2..


Probably bc having O/A-level Chinese is a requirement of MOE? Does MOE provide for IB Chinese as an alternative ?

Having a Mother Tongue language is part of MOE's bilingual policy. If this requirement is fully met by Year 4, the student may choose another language as a second language for the IB course. Hence a number of students who have already complete Higher Mother Tongue by Year 4 go on to do other languages like Spanish, French or German as an IB second language.

The IB Chinese paper is set at a true second-language level; i.e., not as a mother tongue. It is therefore very easy to do well in, and hence a safe source of IB points. The large majority of ACS(I) Year 5 students get 7/7 points for that paper.[/quote]What I meant was - is it MOE does not take the IB Chinese paper as a valid fulfilment of requirement, hence the need to take the O level CL/HCL papers instead.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320015https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320015Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:54:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:34:40 GMT]]>

phankao:
gleemom:

HMT boys can take 'O' level Chinese at Sec 3 (or again at Sec 4 if not happy with grade). This grade is not counted in overall IB marks but I guess it's a good cert to have. The boy still takes IB Chinese in IB year. Most do the exam in IB year 1 (similar to JC 1), so that they can concentrate on the other subjects in year 2..


Probably bc having O/A-level Chinese is a requirement of MOE? Does MOE provide for IB Chinese as an alternative ?

Having a Mother Tongue language is part of MOE's bilingual policy. If this requirement is fully met by Year 4, the student may choose another language as a second language for the IB course. Hence a number of students who have already complete Higher Mother Tongue by Year 4 go on to do other languages like Spanish, French or German as an IB second language.

The IB Chinese paper is set at a true second-language level; i.e., not as a mother tongue. It is therefore very easy to do well in, and hence a safe source of IB points. The large majority of ACS(I) Year 5 students get 7/7 points for that paper.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320011https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/320011Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:34:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Parents of students ACS(I) - R U Happy with the IP program on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 06:23:04 GMT]]>

gleemom:
HMT boys can take 'O' level Chinese at Sec 3 (or again at Sec 4 if not happy with grade). This grade is not counted in overall IB marks but I guess it's a good cert to have. The boy still takes IB Chinese in IB year. Most do the exam in IB year 1 (similar to JC 1), so that they can concentrate on the other subjects in year 2..

Probably bc having O/A-level Chinese is a requirement of MOE? Does MOE provide for IB Chinese as an alternative ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/319982https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/319982Sun, 26 Dec 2010 06:23:04 GMT