Discussion on the choice between GCE A-Level & IB Diploma

schiu999

I don't think Chrisf has tried to send out a message like - IB is no good!  After reading his posts about this topic, what I got is GSIS is good regardless any curriculum and even is still good after adopting IB.  

Let's disclosing my interest before expressing my views.  I will be sending my child to a IS which is adopting IB program this summer for P1.  But, to be frank, I have no clue about what IB diploma program.  The reason I made my choice is I wanna my child to escape from the tradition HK education system.  No more than that!

If the debate between A-level and IB program lies in the choice between specialism and breadth, I would opt for IB program.  

I ask myself how I went through my education.  I am locally educated with HK A-level exam., in an era of real "specialism".  At that time, other than English, I could only study three A-level subjects.  Then, accordingly, I went to college with a specialized subject.  Fortunately, what I am doing now is quite in relation with my specialized subject in college, most of the knowledge of the other two subjects I did in A-level were almost forgotten.  And, most of my classmates are working in a job unrelated with what he/she was studying in his/her college.  

So, I may ask myself why a 16-yr old student should start to study at such specialised curriculum.  Of course, some gifted student, who benefit, can develop their interest at early stage, e.g. some talented mathematican and phyiscan.  I don't know my child, who is capable to go to university.  Hence, I would rather prefer my child to study under a curriculum with more board perspective, which may help her to see the world.  

That is my view!!

WYmom

schiu999,

Quite agree with you.  I also feel that it seems to be too early to specialize in a few subjects (particularly either Science or Art in the past) starting F.4 or F.6.  It will be more beneficial to let the students learn a boarder and balanced cirriculum and then specialise in a few things in their University studies.

IB also encourages a step further after getting answers, i.e. asking more questions from the answers, which leads to further development or improvement.  I believe this is essential.

Afterall, I think it will be more flexible if students can be given a choice to take IBD or GCE AL.

TeddyBear2006

I think the dissection of curriculum has gone unnecessarily deep.

It really does not matter from knowledge acquisition standpoint if your kid should study GCE or IB. Some students like studying in depth but some don't and students still have much room to exercise their studying style in either curriculum. Therefore what does matter is not which curriculum you think is good but how student can adapt himself or herself to either one.

However, from furthering studying point of view, IB does offer wider choice than GCE.

TeddyBear2006

Christf,

*IB can only be adapted easily by all rounders but not the others*

Well! Another way to say it is: all non all-rounders will find themselves difficult to adapt to IB. Your point is noted but disagree. I think you have over-weighed the depth of materials taught in IB in particular and secondary school in general. Those IB students are not studying nuclear physics and molecular biology at the same time!

If you want to go to the US or Canada to further your study, will you choose GCE? If you want to go to the UK for study, will you submit your SAT scores? If you want to stay in HK, shouldn't you take HKCEE? So if you are not sure where you want to go, will you choose GCE, SAT, HKCEE or IB?

Seems that noone can have different opinion than yours no matter they advocate IB or not.....

TeddyBear2006

Christf,

What I mean is: secondary students are not doing difficult research on nuclear physics and molecular biology, the materials in IB (as well as GCE) are still relatively easy to excel and it makes no significant difference for a motivated students to study in either one. Think about it, GCE or IB is already quite low level a curriculum compared to HKCEE or HKALE and therefore I don't know why it has to be an all-rounders to excel one to another.

Regarding SAT, you digressed too far and what actually is your point? Of course one has to take SAT to apply for the US (I studied in the US for quite some years to know that). It does not matter SAT is required in additional to IB and GCE or not. The only thing matter is: if you do not know where you will go, will you rather take GCE or IB?

Besides, how many subjects does a student sitting GCE O-level has to take? It is uncommon to see student taking 10 or more subjects and students are free to choose many subjects that they are interested. Comparing with 7 subjects in IB, is it so crystal clear that IB need more all-rounders to excel?

TeddyBear2006

Christf,

Is O-level part of the GCE curriculum? So studying 10+ subject in GCE-O can safely be ignored in comparison since those students spend their final 2 years to study 3 subjects. May I ask why you choose to take a snapshot at the end of the entire pre-university education to stereotype the whole education curriculum?

May I also ask how many seconds within your student life you have spent within the IB curriculum so that you can speak so authoritatively that "IB can only be adapted easily by all-rounders" these kind of *subjective* statement. I am also certain that you must have looked up the Oxford dictionary where the definition of "subject" has been clearly and succinctly defined without ambiguity that "Theory of Knowledge" is not considered as a subject.

Finally, I am certain that you have spent much more time than me studying in the US so that you have the responsibility to lecture me the basic information about SAT and admission criteria of US schools. Of course, I should not even question you on the GCE exam since I only took this exam as a backup. When I prepare my kid to study in the US, I'll surely ask him to take GCE rather than IB since academic result is the major criteria of US university admissions, which is consistent to the focus of GCE assessments.

I know I speak with no logical sense, always mix things up and cannot read careful enough your precious words and decipher the true meaning behind them. However, can you do me a favour? Please do not tell everyone so explicitly in public about the weaknesses of a ignorant mother because it will make me very embarassing and that surely is not what a logical, smart and kind man like you intended to do.  

Thank you for lecturing me and I dare not to challenge you in future on any of your points because you are the true expert and virtually a walking dictionary of IB I have ever seen.

WYmom

Chrisf,

I think both systems have their pros and cons.  GSIS can just let students choose.  Just like in ESF, students will all take GCE O-level, then they can choose to take GCE A-level or IBD after getting O-level results.  So they can choose according to their abilities and the universities they want to join.  I like this flexibility very much.

Kycmc

Dear Teddybear 2006,

I am with you on this.

[quote]
TeddyBear2006 寫道:
Christf,

Thank you for lecturing me and I dare not to challenge you in future on any of your points because you are the true expert and virtually a walking dictionary of IB I have ever seen.

:

Newton

It is too early to debate which diploma to take while the rest are still talking about how to be admitted to the kindergarten.

As long as the program is not teached under HK education system, it is already a good program for children :wink: