GRADE 10 COURSE SELECTION

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 not only focus on university requirements for making their choice of pathway.

When selecting between the 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, 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: Generally, the most important aspect to consider is not what pathway or courses you are studying at SAIS, but how successful you can be within it/them. Universities, as a first priority, want to see students who have achieved success within the pathway of study they are undertaking at High School.  Remember that every student will graduate with a US High School Diploma (even if taking the IBDP pathway), and all courses are counted as credits towards obtaining this qualification.

For more specific requirements, The Matrix of Country-specific Prerequisites outlines some of the more frequently seen entry requirements across popular study destinations. This is a guideline only and is meant to be a starting point from where students can begin their research. Note: a vast number of university programs have no specific subject prerequisites.

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. 

Students can also refer to the grade requirements (prerequisites) to reflect on how comfortable a course may be for them, based on their current Semester one grades.

A: The A&C Counselors recommend that students discuss with their Mathematics teacher regarding the suitable Mathematics courses for Grade 11-12 to consider. Students should also check directly with universities of interest whether there is a specific Math requirement or preference, which can sometimes be in place for Math, Science, or other STEM-related degree programs. For example, in some countries, IB Math: Applications and Interpretation SL may not meet the subject prerequisite for certain courses such as Engineering.

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 Counseling team: college.counseling@sais.edu.sg