Raising kids is full of difficult decisions, especially when it comes to education. Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding the right school and the right curriculum; after all, it doesn’t matter how amazing the facilities are if the style of learning doesn’t fit. We hear from three recent graduates about the academic pathways they chose and where it has led them.
At the Australian International School (AIS), students can follow one of three different academic pathways according to their strengths, learning styles and future ambitions. It’s the only international school in Singapore that offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the Australian Higher School Certificate (HSC) and Vocational Education and Training (VET). Since AIS is a non-selective school, this flexible approach plays to the strengths of its diverse student body. With an impressive haul of results in 2017 (including a 100 percent pass rate on the IBDP for the second year in a row, and nine students appearing on the New South Wales HSC Honour Roll), it’s clearly one that works. But don’t just take our word for it, let’s hear from the students themselves!
Amelia Woodward
Amelia opted for the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) and achieved the highest possible score: 45 out of 45. She has been offered a number of university places around the world and is currently deciding between Oxford University in the UK and Stanford University in the US. She plans to study Bioengineering and Biochemistry.
“I couldn’t believe it when I opened the email offers from Stanford and Oxford. It’s thrilling to think that this year I’ll be studying Bioengineering and Biochemistry at one of these amazing places. Thank you AIS for a letting me delve into my academic and extracurricular interests, allowing me take risks as well as make brilliant friends. Here at AIS is where I fell in love with maths and the sciences, and here I hold some of my greatest memories.”
— Amelia
Gabriel Van Duinen
Gabriel chose to do the HSC (Australian High School Certificate) and was in the global top 10 achievers in HSC Legal Studies with an ATAR score of 97.3 (in 2017, 10% of AIS students received an ATAR of 90+). He received a number of university offers, including one from the University of Sydney. He plans to study Marketing and Public Health: Policy & Promotion at Macquarie University.
“I chose the HSC because it offered more subject choice and flexibility than the IB. I had also lived in NSW before and so I knew that it was a challenging yet engaging course. I researched both programs extensively and they were both rigorous and internationally recognised so I settled on the HSC. My teachers were fantastic. All of them were passionate, committed and experienced in teaching the HSC. It really makes a difference to the mark you get when your teachers have taught it for years. The pastoral support was great too, with special sessions from STRIVE (the School’s welfare program), ‘Elevate’ study skills workshops, and advice from a dedicated HSC coordinator. As a group, the students really supported each other. I also had the opportunity to go on a week-long geography field trip to Tioman Island, Malaysia. Being able to use the skills learnt in the classroom in the real world was a valuable experience for me.”
— Gabriel
Emily Segura
Emily graduated from AIS in 2017 having taken a vocational course in Hospitality as part of her wider studies. VET offers an academic pathway for students who want to pursue a particular vocation or profession. It’s a flexible system that contributes to a student’s broad education while developing and maximising their individual talents. Emily came top in her class for Hospitality. She plans to study Marketing at Macquarie University and pursue a career in Event Management.
“Without the incredible patience and kindness of Miss Campbell-Pegg I wouldn’t be on the path that I’m so glad to have chosen. I would never have developed a love for event management without the great Hospitality program at AIS – I’m so grateful it was available to us. I am now super confident with the coffee machine, which has helped me get a part time job at my local café and support myself with my further studies. I’m truly thankful for all the opportunities that were available at AIS, whether it be the Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) or my work placement at the Novotel, or all the extra time my teachers gave to help me be the best version of myself that I could be.”
– Emily
1 Lorong Chuan | 6653 2958 | ais.com.sg
Want to know more about Singapore schools?
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