A: The IBDP pathway is a two-year program that includes six IB subject courses and three additional 'core' elements of CAS, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Students graduate with an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme qualification.

BTEC Diploma, AP and Stamford courses are NOT pathways, but a selection of different courses that students can enroll in, to count towards their overall US High School Diploma qualification.  This is therefore known as the individualised pathway, which enables students to graduate with an accredited US High School Diploma.

NOTE: Students choosing the IBDP program are not able to take any other course options (it is not possible to choose an AP, BTEC or Stamford course, if pursuing the IBDP program). Students taking the IBDP program must select three IB courses as Higher Level (HL), and three IB courses as Standard Level (SL), along with Theory of Knowledge, as their full course schedule.

A: Both AP examinations and the IBDP are accepted in the majority of educational systems around the world. Students should carefully consider their countries of interest, and fully research which qualifications required for entry in these destinations before confirming their pathway choice. 

When selecting between these pathways - either the individualised or IBDP - students should think about:

• What do I want my experience to be like in the last 2 years of high school?

• Do I feel comfortable with taking the same courses over two years (i.e. committing to the IBDP)?

• Am I prepared to be completing the IBDP Core elements, including a 4000-word Extended Essay?

• Do I want to be able to choose from a range of courses, and have more flexibility in my Grade 12 year?

• Do I want to be able to specialise within a discipline, e.g. Humanities, Science, Visual Arts, or have a defined breadth of subjects (i.e. the IBDP)?

A: This is a complex question! The answer depends on which country, university, and subject one is considering after high school. National systems and individual universities that offer specialised courses generally expect students to be exposed to certain subjects before joining a subject-specific course or faculty. The Matrix of Country-specific Prerequisites outlines in broad terms, some of the known entry requirements for common course subjects in popular countries. This is a guideline only and is meant to be illustrative of where students can begin their research. There are a vast number of university courses that have no specific subject prerequisites.

Families should discuss which countries a student is likely to apply in and to what extent a student has developed a particular subject passion or career interest. For students applying to the United States, students are generally expected to meet the Stamford US High School Diploma graduation requirements. There is no preference of pathway. For students applying to specific degrees in the UK, European countries, and to some extent Canada and Australia, students should carefully consider their courses, as prerequisites may exist: within IBDP HL/SLs, or if studying within the blended pathway, there may be specific AP exam requirements.  

NOTE: EU nationals planning on returning to certain EU countries for university should carefully research the requirements with the national education agency, and discuss their pathway choice with an A&C Counselor.

A: No, you don't need to decide what you want to do at university now. It is very normal not to be sure. However, take this as an opportunity to start thinking about your future and considering where your academic strengths and interests lie. Depending on the pathways you're considering, university may not be the most effective route for you. Some students take a gap year to explore their passions and interests, which help them decide on their next steps. Take all your time and explore every possible future pathway.

A: Yes, SAIS students can choose up to a maximum of four AP and/or IB HL courses per academic year (within their total of seven courses within the course schedule). This is to ensure a manageable balance in students' course workload, and also allow students to dedicate themselves to their service and extracurricular commitments.  

A: Yes it's possible, but this is normally only for US universities. Universities have their own policies on this for both AP and DP, and this would generally not lead to a full year of study being exempted (only certain individual courses at the university). Students should research with specific universities of interest.

A: Students can consider subjects at the advanced level in which they are most interested and enjoy the most. Before making a final decision, students should reflect both on their motivation for course and preparedness for course. Additionally, they are encouraged to use teacher recommendations to consider which advanced courses would be best for them.

A: The A&C Counselors recommend that students follow the recommendation of their Mathematics teacher regarding the best Mathematics course for them. Students should check directly with universities of interest whether there is a specific Math requirement or preference, may can be in place for Math, Science, or other STEM-related degree programs. For example, in some countries, Mathematics AI SL may not meet the subject prerequisite for certain courses such as Engineering.

Students should balance their desire to have as many university options open to them as possible, against their ability and preparedness to manage the Math course workload. 

A: Yes, please refer to our SAT google site here. Students interested in taking a standardized test such as the SAT or ACT must register for this test directly with the test provider (i.e. the CollegeBoard for SAT). 

A: There are several people that can help with course selection:

• IB/AP Coordinator (Dr Amit Khanna) 

• BTEC Coordinator (Mr Andy Tear) 

• MYP Coordinator (Ms Rhonda Wiens) 

• Academic & College Counselor (Ms Rin Kim) - for all general questions about course selection: rin.kim@sais.edu.sg