parents’ meeting (for parents of students in 10+) exams a levels university applications

Parents’ Meeting(for parents of students in 10+)

ExamsA LevelsUniversity applications

GCSE / AS / A2 !?!?!

GCSE / AS / A2 !?!?!

Std. 10 & Std. 11 2 year courses• IGCSE• International GCSE• GCSE(exceptions are Religious Studies which is done in Std. 9

& std. 10 and Mathematics for some students)

This is equivalent to Std. 9 & Std. 10 in many countries (including India, USA, Australia)

GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education

GCSE / AS / A2 !?!?!

Std. 12 1 year coursesAS (Advanced Subsidiary)

Std. 13 second ½ of 2 year coursesA2 (incorporates the AS grade from the year before)

This is equivalent to Std. 11 & Std. 12 in many countries (including India, USA, Australia)

GCE = General Certificate of Education

At Hebron we recommend;Std. 12 4 AS Subjects (plus PD, PE & GS)Std. 13 3 A2 Subjects (plus PD, PE & GS)

Example 1:Std 12: Mathematics, History, French, ChemistryStd 13: Mathematics, French, Chemistry

A2: Mathematics, French ChemistryAS: General Paper, History

Example 2:Std 12: Biology, Art, German, Business StudiesStd 13: Art, German, Business Studies, Tech

A2: Art, German, Business StudiesAS: General Paper, Biology, Tech

Exams

At Hebron students sit exams in May / JuneThere are some exams offered in November (this is for Std. 11 Mathematics taken ‘early’)

Timetables for exams will be on the Hebron Website – When the exam boards finalise their timetables, a ‘Hebron timetable’ will be placed

in the website.

Exam Dates at end of June

The Leaver’s Service is on Saturday 15th JuneALL leaving students (std. 11 – 13) are expected to leave by Sunday 16th June unless they still have an exam.

• Music – 19th June – A2 Music Students • Mathematics C4 – 18th June – A2 Maths & AS Further Maths Students

• Mathematics FP2 – 21st June (am) – A2 Further Maths Students

• Mathematics FP3 – 24th June (pm) - A2 Further Maths Students

Exam Dates at end of June

Good News is that there are not any IGCSE or GCSE exams after the Leaver’s Service.

Exams

Re-marks•If the exam board does not change the mark, then parents must bear the cost. (GBP50)•This year we’ve had 2 out 9 go up this year by a few UMS marks (not even a grade). •The biggest RISK is not the financial cost is that the grade may actually go down and the new grade stands.•This year we have not had any go down – this is due to careful consideration before any requests have been made.

Exams

Re-Sits•Re-sits – costs GBP18 + GBP43 a subject + postage!! (one student this year is re-sitting all 4 subjects at a cost of INR 25,000)•The bigger cost to consider is TIME – students have drama, A2 courses, Music, SATs etc. to consider during this time (as most re-sit in November).•The difference here is that if the grade is not improved by re-sitting the best grade stands.•Encourage your children to “get it right the first time”

SAT, PSAT

PSATs – can only be done in (or before!) Std. 11 (it’s for 9th and 10th Grade Students)

•October – this year 20th•Offered at Hebron (& many other schools)

www.collegeboard.org

SAT, PSATSATs – should be done in Std. 12 or Std. 13•Usually the first Saturday in the month•Closest center is GSIS•Parents need to enter their students for SATs•Hebron staff arrange transport only•Hebron does NOT offer SAT preparation courses•There are many online practice tests & books available

www.collegeboard.org

Why should Hebron Students complete the full A Level Progamme?

A Levels is a very important all-round maturing programme, building towards the greater independence and level of responsibility. Examples include: •The greater emphasis on independent research, critical thinking, presentation skills and in-depth analysis in A2 academic courses. •The leadership opportunities including Student Council, Prefects, House Captains. In fact all Std 13 students are given leadership roles and responsibilities at Hebron.•The increasingly student-led and challenging extra-curricular opportunities in Drama, International Award for Young People, Christian Activities, Charity work and Music.


A Levels is a very important all-round maturing programme, building towards the greater independence and level of responsibility. Examples include: •The opportunities for cultural exposure and in-depth interaction with class peers, through the Delhi tour and other major dorm outings, the Orientation for College life through PD lessons.•The opportunity to research courses during PD lessons, as well as attend presentations by universities and colleges from all around the world (sometimes these are made as part of PD lessons and are not open to younger students).•The opportunity to prepare over a full academic year to leave with classmates, culminating in the Leavers’ Weekend and the Graduation programme at the end of the year.


Academically students will be disadvantaged by leaving before they complete the full two years of A Levels. •Students apply to colleges and universities on the strength of their results in IGCSE, AS and A2 exams. If they apply in Std 12, the only results that are completed are IGCSEs. •If applying to the USA, the other important component for admission to a good college is a high SAT score and the better colleges often require SAT 2 (Subject SAT) results as well as SAT 1. Students consistently achieve higher SAT1 results in Std 13, and are rarely able to attempt SAT 2 earlier. However good students who complete Std 13, regularly achieve very high SAT 2 results and are consistently rewarded for their A Level courses in the form of significant college credit, sometimes amounting to a whole year of credit.•Students who complete Std. 13 with three good A Levels and are granted credit may be able to complete a 4-year college course in the USA in 3 years or will be able to take a lighter load and work to earn money alongside studying. Several Hebron students have been given credit in US colleges on the basis of their A2/ Std 13 subject passes.•The UGC requirement for entry into an Indian university degree course is a minimum of 2 A2 passes at A Level.


The Hebron community is diminished by the loss of students half way through what is an excellent A Level programme; while as a school we accept the early withdrawal of students from the programme, it does undermine the training and personal development of students that we are working hard to provide.


There can be good reasons to leave Hebron before completing A Levels. •Sometimes it is appropriate for students to leave early because of family reasons. •Sometimes a student is finding the A Level programme too academic and is unlikely to succeed at the more demanding A2 level in Std. 13, or in some cases they may find the AS level in Std. 12 too demanding. •If a student is interested in studying professional courses at an Indian University, it may actually be appropriate for them to leave after Std. 11 so that they can complete their higher secondary school (+2) education in one of the Indian exam Boards (ICSE/ CBSE/ State Board etc) and then to prepare for the competitive entrance exams.

University Applications

June Std. 12: Students asked to discuss location and type of course with parents during the holidays.


August Std. 13: PD lessons allow time for course research and Personal Statements are written (where needed).


15th October: Oxbridge & Medicine applications due (earlier if interviews in Asia)


December Std. 13: All UK applications dueMajority of Northern Hemisphere applications due


March Std. 13: Indian applications finalised

October post grad: Southern Hemisphere applications due

University ApplicationsJune Std. 12: Students asked to discuss location and type of course with parents during the holidays.August Std. 13: PD lessons allow time for course research and Personal Statements are written (where needed).15th October: Oxbridge & Medicine applications due (earlier if interviews in Asia)December Std. 13: All UK applications dueDecember Std. 13: Majority of Northern Hemisphere applications dueMarch Std. 13: Indian applications finalisedOctober post grad: Southern Hemisphere applications due


Parents – please discuss the following with your children BEFORE they start Std. 13•Location – What is realistic for your family? – Cost, Visa, living arrangements, travel etc.

•Course– What is realistic? – AS grades are a good indicator

of what students should be applying for


How Hebron Helps your Children•Choosing courses•Writing personal statements•Filling in application forms•Provide Transcripts, References and other required documentsPlease don’t expect Hebron staff to do this during the holidays!


Useful Things to Know•Hebron Students are not required to sit TOEFL or another English Language exam (as long as they received a C or higher in IGCSE English Language).•Students are strongly encouraged to restrict their applications to 6 courses.

Questions?

parents’ meeting (for parents of students in 10+) exams a levels university applications

Documents

hebron students

a2 exams

parents of students

th grade students

time students

year courses a2

a2 courses

time slide