Igcse Through British Council.

[siampreggers]

Does anyone know about how these work.

My child will probably study in a Thai E.P. school with me homeschooling them for an hour or two each day. I'd like this homeschooling to be as official as possible, but it probably won't.

What I would like them to do is do the GCSE exams through the British Council. I am Irish and would like them to study in Ireland for their tertiary education. But would like them to be officially educated to a British level regardless, and not just Thai.

Anybody know about how it works? Cost? Can I teach them the curriculum unofficially and they just show up for the exams??

http://www.britishcouncil.org/thailand-exams-school-exams-igcse.htm

Thanks.

[MonkeyMagic3]

From the link you provided I see they have quite a few offices and all have contact details, you would probably get a more definitive answer from them rather than a forum http://www.britishcouncil.org/thailand-about-us.htm

[siampreggers]

I find getting info and experiences from customers is also beneficial compared to info from just the provider.

I would imagine most if not all British expats with Thai based children would have been interested in this service should they not be able to enrol them in an International school.

Edited August 31, 2012 by siampreggers

[MonkeyMagic3]

I find getting info and experiences from customers is also beneficial compared to info from just the provider.

I would imagine most if not all British expats with Thai based children would have been interested in this service should they not be able to enrol them in an International school.

You'd be surprised! I've worked in a number of schools here, both government & private, and of the many expats whose children I taught there was only one who was doing what you plan to do. Most expats here, despite many knowing the Thai education system is poor, are happy for their kids to have a Thai education.

[Phatcharanan]

The IGCSE exams can be sat with the British Council. Registration is required to sit the exams and the cost varies depending on subject. Typically between 5,000 to 8,000 baht per subject.

Yes you can teach your children and they can just 'rock on up' and sit the exams. Bear in mind though that you will probably be restricted to just the examinations outcomes. What I mean is, there are also assessments on coursework which are marked externally by Cambridge.................that option will probably not be available to you as an unqualified teacher

There are two exam boards, Edexcel and Cambridge. Edexcel is considered by some to be 'slightly easier' than Cambridge, particularly for EAL students.

There are a range of online and distance learning options available..........just google 'IGCSE Online Learning'

The link to this brochure for Cambridge IGCSE may be of some help to you.

Good luck.

http://www.cie.org.uk/docs/qualifications/igcse/IGCSE%20Brochure.pdf

[siampreggers]

Thanks for the info, it seems quite doable.

My email to them:

Hi,

I am an Irish national living in Thailand with a young Thai/Irish child.

They are about to start school and in the future I am interested in them studying for their iGCSE's.

I am unsure of the process and requirements though. They are likely to study in a Thai government English Program school, and I plan to homeschool them for an hour or two each day following the British curriculum.

By doing this are they eligible to study for their iGCSE exams through the British Council?

Does being an Irish/Thai national and not a British/Thai national exclude them from being eligible?

If not:

Is it okay to not study at the B.C. and only take the exams?

How many exams do they usually take each year?

What is the approx. cost per exam?

Thank you very much for any information you can give me.

Their reply:

Thank you for your email.

We would like to inform you that, at the British Council Thailand, we provide IGCSE examinations which everyone can apply for.

More information, please visit our website http://www.britishcouncil.or.th

Please also be informed that we do not provide any IGCSE courses. I’ve attached the list of tutorial schools for your kind information.

Best regards

Customer Services Team

It doesn't the questions about how many subjects and exams are taken each year though.

I presume that info is probably in their site somewhere.

I'd be interested in any experiences from someone who's doing such a thing.

I think 50k baht per year to do iGCSE exams is probably better than spending an extra 50k to go to a slightly 'better' (in name probably) Thai school and still only get the Thai school qualifications.

[Phatcharanan]

There are over 70 subjects available and any one of these can be sat with the British Council. 30 of the subjects relate to languages and the rest are the usual core (Math, Science etc) along with 'foundation' subjects.

Full list of subjects can be found here:-

http://www.cie.org.u.../igcse/subjects

Exams are sat twice a year.

List of Edexcel IGCSE subjects can be found here:-

http://www.edexcel.c...es/default.aspx

You are able to 'mix and match' Edexcel and Cambridge

Edited August 31, 2012 by Phatcharanan

[siampreggers]

To highlight how little I know about it I didn't even know what it stood for:

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Is there anything similar for primary level students?

I'd like to follow the rough primary curriculum through homeschooling anyway, but are there such things as primary school exams (Grade 6 for example) that one can take here?

[siampreggers]

There are over 70 subjects available and any one of these can be sat with the British Council. 30 of the subjects relate to languages and the rest are the usual core (Math, Science etc) along with 'foundation' subjects.

Full list of subjects can be found here:-

http://www.cie.org.u.../igcse/subjects

Exams are sat twice a year.

Thanks, any idea of how many subjects they to do exams for?

I presume the aim is to get their 'O levels' and 'A levels', anybodu know what the minimum amount of exams required to get these are?

[Phatcharanan]

To highlight how little I know about it I didn't even know what it stood for:

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Is there anything similar for primary level students?

I'd like to follow the rough primary curriculum through homeschooling anyway, but are there such things as primary school exams (Grade 6 for example) that one can take here?

Yes............Cambridge Checkpoint exams. These are used as assessments for progress though and are not a substitute for 11+ exams etc.

http://www.cie.org.u...imarycheckpoint

Exams are available in ALL subjects.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Phatcharanan

[Phatcharanan]

I presume the aim is to get their 'O levels' and 'A levels', anybodu know what the minimum amount of exams required to get these are?

Don't get confused by this. O Levels are still for the same age groups as IGCSE. You choose one or the other. Sitting the IGCSE program does not give you an O level. For that you need to follow the O level programs of study.

Personally, given the choice, I would choose the IGCSE programs of study as they are instantly recognizable by tertiary institutions worldwide.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Phatcharanan

[thequietman]

Hi,

go to ALISON.com. there you will find all parts of the uk gcse curriculum for free.

just go through each individual course with your kids.

very useful and more importantly....... free.

good luck.

[culicine]

Depending on which EP you send your child to, you will be roughly following what's in IGCSE anyway for some subjects. For example, the basic maths IGCSE is mostly covered by our EP books to about grade 9 level. We mostly use Singaporean books, which are based on the British curriculum anyway.

[Phatcharanan]

Depending on which EP you send your child to, you will be roughly following what's in IGCSE anyway for some subjects. For example, the basic maths IGCSE is mostly covered by our EP books to about grade 9 level. We mostly use Singaporean books, which are based on the British curriculum anyway.

What you say is probably correct however, basic math coverage towards IGCSE study areas can be said of most junior math curriculums.

IGCSE starts at Grade 9 level, sometimes Grade 10 and there is much more emphasis on problem solving. I have attached a link where you can not only see the proposed curriculum for math, 2012, 2013 but you can also view examples of past papers. Note how many word problems are within the exam papers.

Regarding Singaporean books, the Primary and Secondary math & science curriculums are most definitely not based on British curricula. The teaching and learning concepts for Singapore are quite unique with a lot of emphasis on bar modelling (for math in particular). I do agree however that Singapore math and science are one of the finest in the world.

http://www.cie.org.u...t?assdef_id=872

Edited August 31, 2012 by Phatcharanan

[Big Guns]

I note that the OP wanted his child to enter tertiary education in Ireland, he should be aware that most countries require either IB or A level qualifications for University entry. I teach at an international school in Thailand and I know that my students can enter a Thai university with 5 IGCSE A*-C grade passes. However, you couldn't get into a UK university with these qualifications. To enter year 12 at my school to study IB you need 5 IGCSE A*-C passes. Once you have studied the IB for 2 years and achieved the required number of points, then you could enter a UK university. I recommend that the OP checks the requirements for university entry in Ireland

[culicine]

Depending on which EP you send your child to, you will be roughly following what's in IGCSE anyway for some subjects. For example, the basic maths IGCSE is mostly covered by our EP books to about grade 9 level. We mostly use Singaporean books, which are based on the British curriculum anyway.

What you say is probably correct however, basic math coverage towards IGCSE study areas can be said of most junior math curriculums.

IGCSE starts at Grade 9 level, sometimes Grade 10 and there is much more emphasis on problem solving. I have attached a link where you can not only see the proposed curriculum for math, 2012, 2013 but you can also view examples of past papers. Note how many word problems are within the exam papers.

Regarding Singaporean books, the Primary and Secondary math & science curriculums are most definitely not based on British curricula. The teaching and learning concepts for Singapore are quite unique with a lot of emphasis on bar modelling (for math in particular). I do agree however that Singapore math and science are one of the finest in the world.

http://www.cie.org.u...t?assdef_id=872

I found the following link on a a Singapore website. http://www.seab.gov.sg/oLevel/2012Syllabus/4016_2012.pdf Is this not the same syllabus that UK based students also study? I had assumed there were the same (or close), but had never really looked into it in depth. Not sure about A-levels, but as Big Guns mentioned, A-levels would need to be done for entrance to UK universities, or something equivalent.

[Phatcharanan]

I found the following link on a a Singapore website. http://www.seab.gov....s/4016_2012.pdf Is this not the same syllabus that UK based students also study? I had assumed there were the same (or close), but had never really looked into it in depth. Not sure about A-levels, but as Big Guns mentioned, A-levels would need to be done for entrance to UK universities, or something equivalent.

Its true in a way as Singapore was of course, a former British colony. However, around the early '80's Singapore decided to develop their own curriculum for math thus doing awy with importing books and curriculum resources from other counties.

Their syllabus is now so completely different in terms of its approach to problem solving that even Grade 3 students can solve multi-step word problems. Also, their course books do not repeat math skills taught in the previous academic year, whereas the UK and the USA does........(.before moving onto new skills).

I'm a huge fan of their programs and the Singapore books are a delight to work with.

[culicine]

I found the following link on a a Singapore website. http://www.seab.gov....s/4016_2012.pdf Is this not the same syllabus that UK based students also study? I had assumed there were the same (or close), but had never really looked into it in depth. Not sure about A-levels, but as Big Guns mentioned, A-levels would need to be done for entrance to UK universities, or something equivalent.

Its true in a way as Singapore was of course, a former British colony. However, around the early '80's Singapore decided to develop their own curriculum for math thus doing awy with importing books and curriculum resources from other counties.

Their syllabus is now so completely different in terms of its approach to problem solving that even Grade 3 students can solve multi-step word problems. Also, their course books do not repeat math skills taught in the previous academic year, whereas the UK and the USA does........(.before moving onto new skills).

I'm a huge fan of their programs and the Singapore books are a delight to work with.

Thanks for your input...learn something new everyday:) We are using Singapore books at my school (an EP). My son is in grade 3 and he does have some multistep problem solving questions. They seem quite challenging; the mail problem is the advanced vocabulary used.

[siampreggers]

Thanks for all the info.

I think the main concern is trying to ensure that they don't finish school with only a Thai M6 Certificate, but something that is seen as International or Western.

[siampreggers]

For those studying the Singaporean curriculum/using Singaporean textbooks in an EP, do they still just do the national M6 exams (presuming there is a uniform set of M6 exams every year that students take to gain their M6 Cert. ) or do they do different exams that are set for those Singaporean textbooks?

Do EP students get a different qualification/Certificate when completing M6 than the main M6 Cert. that all the the Thai program students get, or they they just end up with the stock M6 Cert.?

[culicine]

For those studying the Singaporean curriculum/using Singaporean textbooks in an EP, do they still just do the national M6 exams (presuming there is a uniform set of M6 exams every year that students take to gain their M6 Cert. ) or do they do different exams that are set for those Singaporean textbooks?

Do EP students get a different qualification/Certificate when completing M6 than the main M6 Cert. that all the the Thai program students get, or they they just end up with the stock M6 Cert.?

In my EP, we follow the Thai curriculum using Singaporean books and additional material that's not covered in their books. They still get their M6 certificate which is the sames as is given to students from the Thai program. If they finish 5 IGCSE's before the end of 12th grade, they can still go to university here based on these qualifications. However, I'd recommend finishing grade 12 to make sure more work is covered.

Many of my students end up in International programs; a few will go to Thai programs provided they studied enough of the core subjects in Thai (Tutorial classes etc).

[Phatcharanan]

We are using Singapore books at my school (an EP). My son is in grade 3 and he does have some multistep problem solving questions. They seem quite challenging; the mail problem is the advanced vocabulary used.

You're absolutely right of course and this is the crux of the problem. It's all very well having this amazing Math and Science curricula but if the kids can't comprehend what is being asked of them, both verbally and written, then the Singapore curricula becomes just another ordinary set of books.

The comprehension of course, comes from the acquisition of the English language. So........in a nutshell, it is how the kids are taught by the English language teachers. This is where it starts to fall down. For instance, you make mention of vocabulary which, as we are all aware, can be very complex. Add to that the exceptions in the English language, vocabulary that has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used, then you start to have real problems.

Unfortunately, many of the 'TEFL type' teachers are not sufficiently equipped, knowledge and pedagogy wise, to overcome these learning and comprehension 'blocks'. I don't say this to put down TEFL teachers. There are many who are very dedicated and push themselves to improve upon all aspects of teaching and learning. They are in the minority though, no matter what people say.

Before people start to jump on my comments regarding TEFL teachers, let me say this...............I truly admire all dedicated and committed teachers, regardless of qualifications or nationality. Those teachers, take on board one of the worlds most responsible professions and responsibilities (medical excepted perhaps) and yet they are so under-valued in terms of financial and benefit reward.

What teachers do today, affects our world of tomorrow and this is never more truer, than for those who teach Primary. It is these teachers who (generally), inspire in their students a 'love for learning' which then carries them through into the professional hands of the subject specialists.

Dedicated teachers, never fail to amaze me.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Phatcharanan

[Scott]

Usually for subjects such as math and science, we use non-native speakers whose major is in the subject they are teaching. This is especially true with the upper grade levels. I seldom get a complaint other than usual grumbling you get about any book from Singapore. They are very comprehensive and quite detailed.

Regardless of what subject you teach to non-native students in this part of the world, teachers have to remember that they are still basically teaching English. Students still must know the difference between 'for' and 'since', for example.

[siampreggers]

From this it seems that students in such EP's get a better education from using better Singaporean textbooks, once they can understand English to that level, but none the less, still only end up with the M6 Cert (is there a name for it btw? 'Mor 6' or something?) the same as the students in the regular Thai program.

While the education may be better, the certificate and qualifications at the end of it are not, and are still just your basic Thai M6 Cert.

[culicine]

From this it seems that students in such EP's get a better education from using better Singaporean textbooks, once they can understand English to that level, but none the less, still only end up with the M6 Cert (is there a name for it btw? 'Mor 6' or something?) the same as the students in the regular Thai program.

While the education may be better, the certificate and qualifications at the end of it are not, and are still just your basic Thai M6 Cert.

We've had a few kids attempt IGCSE's by themselves, but not too many. I think one student managed to pass the five subjects, but it was many years ago. There are a few schools, like Amnuay Silpa, that seem to integrate the IGCSE studies into their regular lessons.

There are also a few tutorial schools that offer courses in IGCSE in BKK, but I don't know how comprehensive they are. Bu the main issue is your child would need to do A-levels or IB if they were to return to the UK, and I don't know of any english program that does that - it simply isn't possible, as the Thai curriculum also needs to be covered, and they diverge somewhat in the upper grades.

[I Like Thai]

You advise that you wish to have your child's third level education in Ireland, would you not also consider using an Irish curriculum for Primary education ?

Here is an Irish site, that may be able to advise you in the area of home education.

henireland

[siampreggers]

^ tbh, I think I'd want my child's education to be anything but Thai.

It's just trying to find ways around that while living in Thailand and not paying 10-20 million baht on a good international school throughout their school years.

I'll also be raising them outside of BKK.

Perhaps shoving them into an International School for the last two years (from 16-18) would be the answer.

Edited September 4, 2012 by siampreggers