A Key To Critcal Thinking And Problem Solving To Real Life Situations
– Igcse The Practical Approach

Back in those days ‘Intellectual Inquiry’ was probably unheard of. It is amazing to watch an ‘EY1’ student at Fravashi International Academy asking ‘Why, Why, Why and How’ questions anytime and every time, not only just at school but even at their respective homes and surroundings!

Well, that is what the ‘Cambridge Curriculum’ does to the learners. By the time a student climbs the tall ladder of the Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE, they have expanded the scope of their thinking and the endorsed resources what we call ‘Text Books’ become, one of the kinds because the learners look forward to more than just the last full stop in their ‘text books’ when they come to school.

Why then, is the Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE Curriculum so different? Or what sets the learners of Cambridge curriculum so different and unique?

It is not just the subjects’ availability but many other reasons that attract learners each year to the Cambridge Curriculum. As you may agree, no curriculum is bad, the right curriculum is that which suits your child’s needs and makes them reach their full potential in this competitive world. The definition of ‘Success’ differs for each child.

THE WHY ASPECT:

• ‘The Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE Curriculum’ tickles the curios mind and love of learning in every learner as they continue to expand their ‘knowledge base’ and understanding about the world around them.

• As per the mission ‘the Cambridge Curriculum develops Cambridge learners to be:

•  Confident: The learners work with new ideas and information.

• Responsible: They take ownership for their learning.

•  Reflective: They recognise themselves as learners.

• Innovative and engaged: They are always curious and find something new to learn.
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• This innovation keeps them engaged all the time.

• They are equipped with analytical skills required to face the bright new changing world around them that is so vast and challenging.

• It is broad and flexible, allowing the students to pick and choose from the plethora of subjects available. As of now there are over 100 subject-choices available for the students of Upper Secondary IGCSE and the list only gets expanded each year with new additions.

• The interactive teaching methodology engages students actively as the approach is ‘student-centric’ and fosters independent thinking in the learners.

• The Assessment under IGCSE focuses on conceptual or skill based learning and promotes higher order of thinking in students.

• The holistic approach opens doors to world class academic experience which fosters skills for success in an ever-evolving global landscape. In short it has a global recognitions besides it being accepted in India.

Suggest To Read : Excellence in Education: Fravashi International Academy’s Cambridge Curriculum Journey

THE WHAT ASPECT

‘The Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE Curriculum’ is the world’s most popular International qualification for the age group 14-16 year olds. It is recognised by the leading universities and employers worldwide and is a global passport to the evolving progression and success. It has been tried and tested by schools worldwide as the development history of it dates back some 30 years.

• The IGCSE is a two-year program that covers a wide range of the topic areas and the objective is to broaden the knowledge and abilities across all the subjects such as First language, second language, Literature, foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, ICT, humanities and the arts. The content is in depth which helps the students to do their next level of course – A Level with ease.

• Our students of The Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE are able to undergo the subject selection process after completing their Cambridge Lower Secondary qualification at FIA before they enter the IGCSE course. The subject selection happens systematically under the team of subject experts’ guidance. This gives clarity to students and the parents what subjects their child would want to take with full understanding of the advantages for further course of studies.

• There is a subject orientation sessions that take place so that the parents and students both have clarity of the subjects and its requirements.

• The students already studying similar courses at A Levels conduct subject briefing sessions to identify potential interest, the students may have in a particular subject before they choose one.

• This procedure allows our students to then make a careful choice before they finally make decision about their subjects of study at Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE.

THE HOW ASPECT

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

Besides the Academics, the students get ample opportunities to be a team player and a team leader at varied platforms, extended by the school throughout the course of their studies. The activities are led by the students with the democratic approach. They get to plan and execute every activity. The Interact club of FIA is constantly at work with initiation to reach out to the deprived sections of the society and they raise funds for the same. These activities develop in the students the required qualities as per the Cambridge motto. The learners emerge as confident yet compassionate team leaders, team players and most importantly good human beings by doing and ‘Looking Beyond’ as per the school motto. The approach of the education at IGCSE is simply a focus on ‘holistic profile’ for each child.

Cambridge Upper Secondary IGCSE ASSESSMENT:

Cambridge IGCSE Assessment takes place at the end of the course of two years and includes written, oral, coursework and practical assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly when their first language is not English. In many subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula making Cambridge IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities. Most of our students at IGCSE opt for the extended level and come out with flying colours making the results each year better than before.

Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, A* to G, which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade. Our strength each year is increasing at the IGCSE level and so are the benchmark with students achieving more A* in their chosen subjects.

The evaluation and grading is externally done through Cambridge board. The exams are sent to the school centre, the students have set dates to sit them as per the published time table by the Cambridge board and the student scripts are sent to the UK-London to be marked. The results of which are then sent to school as per stipulated time.

APPROACH: FIA provides a holistic approach to education. It educates the whole student, developing the capacity for inquiry, research and problem-solving as well as essential skills for communication and collaboration. The students are taught to apply what they have learned in different contexts and across disciplines.

PROVEN STRATEGIES ON HOW TO STUDY FOR IGCSE BOARD examinations (This has worked for our batches to date):

The IGCSE boards are an important milestones for students perusing the International General Certificate of Secondary Education qualification. It is therefore imperative to prepare and follow the effective study techniques in order to succeed in the board examinations.

To help students do well in their examinations here are a few strategies followed by students at FIA that have helped them maximise their performance. Implementation of these not only help our students to enhance understanding of the subjects but also boosts their confidence and overall exam performance.

• Read:  The students are advised to read the latest ER – Examination reports besides having full understanding about the syllabus and exam formats. They familiarise themselves with the structure of the exams, including the number and types of questions, time allocations and the marking scheme. They are advised to review the syllabus to identity the topics and concepts that will be covered. This helps them plan their study schedule and allocate time accordingly.

• Plan:    Developing a well organised study plan is essential for effective exam preparation so our students go through the examination timetable published on the Cambridge website and create a study plan besides the school hours. They allocate specific time slots for each subjects. Remembering to be realistic and not to forget to include break times in order to avoid burning out.

• Making use of Active Study Techniques: Using sticky notes to write important concise notes or using different colour pens/pencils to underline important key points and sometimes making mnemonic devices aids our students with memory retention. For example to remember the spellings of ‘piece’ and ‘receive’ a good mnemonic to remember would be- I before E except after C. or another example GAP- to remember Genre, Audience and Purpose while writing their language English longer tasks.

• Practice Session – SGM with Time Management– Smaller group mentoring sessions happen at school after the syllabus is completed. Past Papers solving and internal assessments are important as the school is then able to use the data for grades prediction and the students know where they stand from the point of their exam preparation. This helps the students to familiarise with the exam structure, improve their time management skills and identify areas where they need to improve. It also helps them to analyse their performance.

• Seeking Help: Students at IGCSE are advised to reach out to teachers for their expert opinions and suggestions on the areas where they have doubts. Doing this helps them clarify complex concepts, improve study techniques and boost overall confidence.

• Enhance Learning With Visual Aids: Mind maps, flowcharts and diagrams are excellent tools to simplify difficult concept while studying. Students are often found creating and using this study technique to remember the key topics which re-in forces their understanding and make revision more engaging and effective.

• Stay healthy and Manage Stress: This is important. It is stressed upon that they get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in regular physical activity to keep their mind and body in good shape. Managing stress through breathing exercises, meditation and activities they enjoy improves the focus, concentration and overall performance of our students.

TAKEAWAY: Preparing for IGCSE examinations requires dedication perseverance and a strategic approach to study which this article has tried doing by exploring the ‘WHY, WHAT AND HOW’ aspects of The Upper Secondary IGCSE with the strategies and the techniques that can greatly enhance the study routine and help students excel in their IGCSE exams.

It is important to remember that success in IGCSE exam is not solely determined by the grades obtained, but also by the personal growth, knowledge acquisition and skills developed throughout the journey. Let us embrace the learning process at FIA, stay motivated and maintain a positive mind-set as our students navigate the challenges and triumphs of studying for IGCSE examinations.