Grade 9
Students in Grade 9 study courses from all eight subject areas of the Middle Years Programme. In many courses this grade level is seen as the start of the final section of the MYP, culminating in the award of the MYP certificate at the end of Grade 10. The eight subject areas are: English, World Languages, Humanities, Science, Mathematics, Technology, Arts and PE. A subject area may offer several courses. Course selection may be determined by student choice or school placement according to ability level. Each subject is graded 1 to 7 based on the levels achieved in the criteria specific to each subject area. To achieve the overall MYP certificate a student must achieve an average of a 4, and have no grades below 3 in any subject. In addition, they must complete the school’s Community and Service requirement and a Personal Project that they begin at the end of Grade 9.
In each week, students have 1600 minutes of instructional time divided into forty 40-minute periods - eight each day. Most periods are arranged in doubles of 80-minute blocks. Students study English for 240 minutes, World Languages for 200 minutes, Humanities for 200 minutes, Science for 240 minutes, Mathematics for 200 minutes, Technology for 160 minutes, Arts for 160 minutes, and PE for 160 minutes. There is an additional homeroom period of 40 minutes each week.
English is divided three levels according to language proficiency: English A, English B Advanced and English B Standard. Students are placed on entering the school according to a test, and subsequently change levels based upon their on-going performance. For students who required further support with their English there is an additional Study Skills class that replaces the Technology course.
Students may choose one of the following World Languages: Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. There are four levels of Chinese – Chinese A, Chinese B Advanced, Chinese B Standard and Chinese B Foundation; on entering the school students who choose this option are placed in an appropriate level according to a test. German, Japanese and Korean are only available to native speakers, while Spanish is only available at a beginner level.
Humanities is a single course incorporating elements of History, Geography, Business and Economics. Science is similarly a single course with units of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Technology and Arts students make a choice at the beginning of the year. As these choices are designed as two year courses leading to possible IB Diploma entry, students are unable to modify their selection during the final two years. The options for Technology include Design Technology, Computer Technology, Food Technology and Graphic Design. The options for the Arts include Visual Art, Drama or Music.
PE is a year long course and incorporates a health component.
Grade 10
Students in Grade 9 study courses from all eight subject areas of the Middle Years Programme. This is the final year of the MYP, culminating in the award of the MYP record of achievement and, if appropriate, the MYP certificate at the end of Grade 10. The eight subject areas are: English, World Languages, Humanities, Science, Mathematics, Technology, Arts and PE. A subject area may offer several courses. Course selection may be determined by student choice or school placement according to ability level. Each subject is graded 1 to 7 based on the levels achieved in the criteria specific to each subject area. To achieve the overall MYP certificate a student must achieve an average of a 4, and have no grades below 3 in any subject. In addition, they must complete the school’s Community and Service requirement, a Personal Project begun at the end of Grade 9 and have been in the programme for two full years.
In each week, students have 1600 minutes of instructional time divided into forty 40-minute periods - eight each day. Most periods are arranged in doubles of 80-minute blocks. Students study English for 240 minutes, World Languages for 200 minutes, Humanities for 200 minutes, Science for 240 minutes, Mathematics for 200 minutes, Technology for 160 minutes, Arts for 160 minutes, and PE for 160 minutes. There is an additional homeroom period of 40 minutes each week.
English is divided three levels according to language proficiency: English A, English B Advanced and English B Standard. Students are placed on entering the school according to a test, and subsequently change levels based upon their on-going performance. For students who required further support with their English there is an additional Study Skills class that replaces the Technology course.
Students may choose one of the following World Languages: Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. There are four levels of Chinese – Chinese A, Chinese B Advanced, Chinese B Standard and Chinese B Foundation; on entering the school students who choose this option are placed in an appropriate level according to a test. German and Korean are only available to native speakers, while Spanish is only available at a beginner level. Japanese is divided into two levels – native speakers and beginners.
Humanities is a single course incorporating units of History and Geography. Science is similarly a single course with units of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. During the final semester, science students specialise based on their choices for Grade 11 study.
Technology and Arts students who continue from Grade 9 will continue their choices from last year. New students must make a choice on entry. The options for Technology include Design Technology, Computer Technology, Food Technology and, from August 2012, Graphic Design. The options for the Arts include Visual Art, Drama or Music.
PE is a year long course and incorporates a health component.
