IGCSE

hellokids

Would anyone tell why some students taking IGCSE exam at F.4 (year 10 in ESF system)?

Activehealth

You can apply to do such through the British Council at any stage. There is no age limit and one can have multiple attempts.

I know a guy who did IGCSE Maths when he was 10 and he got A++.

Some guys are more gifted and they can manage such in advance.
Is there a problem?

Activehealth

Sorry, I meant A*

annie40

水平高的同學，學校會讓他們早考一年，常見早考科是Maths, Foreign Languages, Science etc. 待F5時已開始準備讀這幾科的IB，further Maths, AS levels 等。

亦有家長經香港考試局，譲孩子早考一些自修科如music , foreign languages, Maths, Science etc.

hellokids

Thanks both for your reply! So does it mean those students finish their IGCSE exam on the subjects they're good at don't have to deal with those subjects on IGCSE at their F5 and they can focus on the rest of the subjects they haven't taken exam on? And how about the cert? Result of all subjects will be split into 2 years...?

shadeslayer

Isn't form 4 (or year 11) the normal age of taking IGCSE?

Activehealth

shadeslayer 發表於 15-8-31 01:56
Isn't form 4 (or year 11) the normal age of taking IGCSE?

Year 11 is F.5, Year 12 is F.6 & Year 13 is F.7 according to the ESF system.
Year 11 F.5 is the standard level of IGCSE in that system.

shadeslayer

原帖由 Activehealth 於 15-08-31 發表
Year 11 is F.5, Year 12 is F.6 & Year 13 is F.7 according to the ESF system.
Year 11 F.5 is the stan

The British system year 8 = local form 1. I thought the local schools like DBS move their kids to IBDP after form 4. They spend their form 5 and 6 in IBDP. IGCSE is the pre-IBDP exam so must be form 4.  I am confused.

Activehealth

shadeslayer 發表於 15-8-31 07:34
The British system year 8 = local form 1. I thought the local schools like DBS move their kids to I ...

In the ESF system and the British system, kids start Year 1 P.1 at 5 and  Year 7 F.1 at 11.
Yes, the local F.1 equals Year 8 and most kids are 12.

In the ESF system, there is no K3 but they have Year 13 F.7 at the end.

The local system does not have F.7 anymore but some schools want to incorporate the IGCSE and IBDP into their system. It makes things even more complicated and let alone confusing.

hellokids

For school with year 13: year 11 = F5 local system
For school with year 12 only: year 10 = F5 local system

Activehealth

hellokids 發表於 15-8-30 22:54
Thanks both for your reply! So does it mean those students finish their IGCSE exam on the subjects t ...

Hellokids, as far as I understand and have been told. It's a common practice in the ESF secondary schools, there are different pathways in subjects like Maths. Students in the advanced Maths class will take the IGCSE Maths exam near the end of Year 10 (late May/early June) while other students will do so in Year 11. So they have more time to cover their extended units in IBDP Maths in Year 12 without having to worry about the IGCSE Maths exam.
They would have a separate certificate for Maths and results would be on 2 certificates. But it is seen to be of a bonus by most tertiary institutions as it is sign of higher abilities.

The guy that I know who did IGCSE at 10 and got A* , is attending school in the UK. His school may ask him to take the IGCSE Maths again to make it a "complete" certificate. It would not be a problem for him at all with his Maths ability. His multiple attempts would be a showcase of his exceptional talent. Apparently it is a common practice in the UK for kids who are highly gifted and most welcome by the UK universities.

For all who know more on this than me, if the above mentioned  is not correct, please kindly point it out and rectify as you see appropriate.

nintendo

Activehealth 發表於 15-8-31 07:29
Year 11 is F.5, Year 12 is F.6 & Year 13 is F.7 according to the ESF system.
Year 11 F.5 is the stan ...

Local vs ESF:
K3 = Year 1
P1 = Year 2
P2 = Year 3
P3 = Year 4.P4 = Year 5
P5 = Year 6
P6 = Year 7
F1 = Year 8
F2 = Year 9
F3 = Year 10
F4 = Year 11
F5 = Year 12
F6 = Year 13
In the end, the same number of years of pre-university education. Not confusing at all.

shadeslayer

原帖由 Activehealth 於 15-08-31 發表
In the ESF system and the British system, kids start Year 1 P.1 at 5 and  Year 7 F.1 at 11.
Yes, th ...

Since you agree British year 8 = Local form 1 at 12 yeas of age, it follows that British year 11 = local form 4 at 15 years of age.  Am I missing something?

I don't understand the question in the first place. Why do we talk about local form 4 or form 5 as the main stream local school students do not do IGCSE and everybody agree IGCSE happens at British year 11 (with year 12/13 on A level or IBDP).

As others explained, there is no minimum age for I/GCSE and many students do certain subjects younger than 15.

nintendo

shadeslayer 發表於 15-8-31 09:27
Since you agree British year 8 = Local form 1 at 12 yeas of age, it follows that British year 11 = l ...

FYI, there are local schools that arrange students to take IGCSE.

nintendo

hellokids 發表於 15-8-30 18:00
Would anyone tell why some students taking IGCSE exam at F.4?

Well, why not?
If a student wants to take IGCSE, it will be before high school curriculum like IBDP or AL.
DSE is a weird thing. Other high school curriculum span over 2 years. Only DSE span 3 years.
So, if local students take IGCSE, it make sense to take it at F4.
Of course, if you want, you can do it any time you want. Some "gifted children" do it much earlier.
Just as you wish.
But it does make sense to take it at F4.

shadeslayer

原帖由 nintendo 於 15-08-31 發表
FYI, there are local schools that arrange students to take IGCSE.

Thanks but I know. That's why I said "mainstream". I know kid's doing IGCSE in SPC school.

shadeslayer

原帖由 nintendo 於 15-08-31 發表
本帖最後由 nintendo 於 15-8-31 09:39 編輯

That is what I thought too. Doing IGCSE at year 11 or local form 4 age is the "normal" age.  Earlier for the smarter students at that particular subject.

FattyDaddy

hellokids 發表於 15-8-30 18:00
Would anyone tell why some students taking IGCSE exam at F.4?

It is a common practice that goes way back.

Around 40 years ago when I was studying in the UK I took GCE Maths at the end of my 4th form. However, having taken the exam didn't mean I could thus skip Maths class the following year

hellokids

回覆 Activehealth 的帖子

Thanks much Activehealth!

hellokids

Thanks all for your contribution to the topic! More is welcome😊