ACS Athens Academic Planning: Best Fit Options for Our Students, Feb. 2014

ACS ATHENS Academic Planning Best Fit Options FOR OUR STUDENTS

Designing

Make the Best Fit Academic Choices

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply to any college in UK if I do not have an IB diploma?

Can I apply to top universities in the US if I do not have an IB diploma?

Do I have any chances in going to college in any of these countries if I haven’t taken IB or AP (Advanced Placement courses)?

Academic Options • Depending on the student’s academic goals a successful student profile requires an ACS Athens High School Diploma which may include any or none of the following: • • • • •

The IB diploma Some IB diploma courses Some Advanced Placement (AP) courses The ACS Scholar’s Diploma Some ACS Athens Authentic courses

Academic Options + College Planning USA • Most challenging program • Mixed courses • Best fit • Skipping entry level courses – College credit

UK • Top universities – most challenging program • Range of universities – combination of programs • Specialized / Mixed programs

Options & Planning

ACS Athens HS Diploma + Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

• One- year college preparatory courses • Syllabus for these courses is approved by the College Board • Students write at the end of the year (May) a standardized exam.

• Grades are awarded on a scale of 0-5.

• Students scoring a 4 and above may receive an equivalent college credit

Our AP Course selection AP course offerings for the academic year 2014-2015

• AP Calculus • AP Environmental Science • AP Spanish Language

Authorized to offer more AP courses

• AP Language and Literature • AP Comparative Government and Politics • AP Chemistry

Admission to AP courses • Minimum academic performance is required for the prerequisite courses to Advanced Placement courses.

(Please see Program of Studies) • Teacher recommendation is required • No application is required

AP Examinations • Standardized examinations in May • Students can take an exam in any subject without having taken the respective AP course • Students have the choice to report their exam score to Colleges.

ACS Athens HS Diploma + the IB Diploma The IB Diploma Is Offered By The IBO Organization, A Non-Profit Making Swiss Foundation Registered In 1968.

ACS Athens Member since 1976

The IB Diploma Is Offered By The IBO Organization, A Non-Profit Making Swiss Foundation Registered In 1968.

ACS Athens Member since 1976

IBO Mission Statement The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The IB diploma • IBO sets the Diploma requirements, designs course curriculum and regulates assessment. • The IB Diploma is a two- year program which prepares students to take standardized exams at the end of the second year.

IB Diploma Program

The design of the IB diploma program The Core of the program: • Theory of Knowledge • Extended Essay • Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) The 6 subjects: • Studies in Language and Literature • Language Acquisition • Individuals and Societies • Experimental Sciences • Math and Computer Science • Arts Assessment: • Each course is graded on 1-7 scale • Maximum IB diploma points are 45

IB Diploma requirements

Students must • complete 5 courses, from each of the subject areas, plus 1 course from Arts or from any of the other subject except Math. Each course is graded on 1-7 scale.

• write a TOK essay (max 1600 words) and an Extended Essay (max 4000 words). Both EE and TOK essay receive 3 points.

• complete at least 150 hours of CAS. • Achieve a required minimum performance in all subject areas.

Admission to the IB program A Student application is required Please visit our website to download the application form at www.acs.gr Admission requirements:

 Academic achievement (please see our program of studies)  Personal portfolio (please see instruction in the application form)  Personal interview

ACS Athens HS diploma + some IB courses + some AP courses • Students can choose any of the IB diploma courses offered to our school that fits their academic needs and goals.

• For each individual course students are placed in IB diploma courses based on academic performance and teacher recommendations • No application is required

ACS Scholar’s Diploma to be fully implemented by the 2014-15 school year • Core Courses: 4 honors-level ACS-interdisciplinary courses.

– – – –

9th Grade European History/Western Literature “Combo” 10th Grade American Lit/American Studies “Combo” 11th Grade & 12th Grade Humanities/English “Combo” 12th Grade Leadership and Ethics/World Literature, “Combo”

• Six honors-level (AP/IB) courses in Mathematics, Science, Languages, Arts in Grades 11/12 • Senior Honors Research/Service Project

What to choose? Confused?

• Can current 11th and 12th grades give us any practical advice?

Four Year Plans • Meeting with counselors • Determine best fit program based on ultimate goal • Revised every year • Parents are invited • Are now in process