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Myths About International Schools- Everything You Should Know 

There are several fallacies regarding international Indian schools. All parents, deep down, are anxious about their children's future career choices. This anxiety arises in the first years of a child's life, just before he prepares to start school. Despite a lot of Indian parents having a positive view of foreign schools, their perceptions of international schools are clouded and sometimes confused by a variety of opinion influencers. International Village School is one of the top schools in Chennai to offer an IB syllabus with world-class amenities and highly skilled instructors. However, there are many misconceptions about international schools. We have decided to debunk some misconceptions in this article.

Curriculum Differences & Its Influence on International Schools

"In India, all international schools follow the same syllabus." This is not true. Parents who have gained knowledge about IB curriculum by surfing the Internet know this isn't true. People who believe that all foreign Indian schools teach a similar curriculum would be disappointed to learn that this is not the case.

In India, there are two main curricula used by international schools. They are the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Cambridge curriculum. The Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) authority assesses the syllabus of International General Certificate of Secondary Examinations exclusively for grades nine and ten. Some schools abroad provide a syllabus that is directly aligned with their home countries, such as the English National Curriculum from the UK or the United States.

Who Prefer International Schools? The Real Truth 

"NRIs and foreigners attend international schools." This was by far the most common misconception about international schools. However, this illusion is gradually fading due to the expansion of international schools.

International schools are not only for students who want to continue their education in another country. It is a dream for our young people to receive higher education in universities in America and Europe. Many students from other boards have also travelled to other countries for higher education, refuting the misconception that international schools are only for those who aspire to study abroad.

Students who have attended foreign schools are more prepared to tackle international subjects. International students are highly aware of intrinsic skills such as 360-degree thinking, independent thinking, time management, and the value of living a dedicated life, among others.

All About Academics- Examinations & Learning Patterns

"Academics for Indian schools are more difficult than in international schools." The International Curriculum, like other boards, is comprehensive. International board curricula develops into individual disciplines, but what sets them apart is how they study the subject. Foreign schools focus more on practical thinking, exam preparation and problem-solving, among other things, and this is a big difference.

"In International Schools, there are no coursebooks. They continue to work on projects." Is this true? Not totally. International schools use texts required by the curriculum they follow (Cambridge or IB). Projects, articles, exhibitions, presentations, games and other activities are prioritized. These exercises develop creativity.

"Competitive exams are not available to students at international schools." That is not the case. International school students are better equipped to succeed in reasoning and problem-solving courses and therefore have a small advantage over the rest of the students in these areas.

More seriously, passing a competitive exam does not guarantee a job or a bright future. When students develop the skills in subjects that interest them, they achieve true career success. Eventually, it becomes the biggest reason international school students have careers aligned with their passions. International school teachers recognize individual interests and make students pursue them.

"Test results at International Schools don't arrive in time for students to enrol in colleges or universities." This is not entirely correct. The Cambridge syllabus includes an exam in March, and results are announced in the same months as CBSE and ICSE. As a result, there is little competition for college admissions.

On the other hand, IB syllabus results are not announced until later and can therefore be difficult to obtain when applying to colleges or universities. However, when your child is applying to institutions in other countries, this won't be a barrier because most universities have two admissions.

Wrap Up

By gaining deep knowledge about the common myths in the IB curriculum, you will be able to look at international schools from a different perspective. Feel free to reach out to International Village School, one of the top schools in Chennai, offering an inquiry-based learning approach and following international standards.

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