The 2023 high school entrance examination has come to an end,
signifying that these students are about to embark on a new stage of life;
at this crucial moment, which is just one step away from adulthood,
every choice becomes particularly significant.
Have you ever envisioned how to spend your three years in high school?
What knowledge and skills will you carry in your journey towards the future?
There is a group of "academic achievers"
who have resolutely chosen
Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Diploma Programme
among many schools and programmes.
Let's hear their reasons for choosing this IB programme!
Student Zhou with Zhongkao Score of 749
Our choosing of GZFLS IB Diploma Programme was based on "trust". Compared to AP and A Level programmes, there are relatively few schools that offer the IB Diploma Programme. After thorough research and confirmation from various sources, we found that GZFLS IB Diploma Programme has nearly perfect implementation. From the moment we learned in April that a friend's child is one of the first gratudates at GZFLS Diploma Programme, to attending several information sessions, and later having more interactions with the teachers who were all enthusiastic, professional, and dedicated, the more we learnt about this pogramme, the more we "believed" in it, which ultimately solidified our decision to apply for this programme.
In summary, the main reasons are:
1. The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) is widely recognized by the majority of universities worldwide.
2. The IBDP curriculum has many advantages. It has three core components and six subject groups, and focuses on writing and expression, critical thinking, and social activities. It is committed to developing the potential of each individual child, embodying the concept of holistic education.
Based on these reasons, our child and we have chosen the GZFLS IB Diploma Programme. We sincerely hope that through three years of immersive learning, our child will become a young person with stronger thinking ability, better action capability, and broader horizons.
Student Xi with Zhongkao Score of 725
Xi's school selection research started in 8th grade. She has always had a relatively clear educational intention. Her strengths are in English and painting, and she has a keen interest in animation, illustration, and oil painting. Her artistic career path is relatively clear, and she has her own educational goal – School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which is the talent pool for the Walt Disney Company.
As parents, we care more about our child's experience and gains in the three years of high school than the outcome (which university to attend). A good learning environment, academic atmosphere, good learning habits and discipline, diverse and international learning models, holistic development – these are the primary factors we consider when selecting a school. Additionally, we strongly support Xi's artistic career path and hope that she can also have better channels for learning and improvement in academic subjects, especially English and a second foreign language (which we believe is crucial as an international communication tool). As parents, there are always many things we consider and want to provide to our child, but finding a school that can truly meet all these expectations is not easy.
After conducting field visits and comparisons of multiple schools and various international programmes, we made our final choice in the last month before the exam and decided on GZFSL IB Diploma Programme. It is worth mentioning that during GZFLS's open day, two IB students had detailed discussions and exchanges with many parents about the school's IB curriculum and student life. They left a deep impression on us – their courteous and fluent expressions provided us with a clear understanding of the school learning environment and the type of students developed by the IB programme. We could see their inner strength and confidence, which is exactly what we hope Xi will become. At the same time, the teacher's friendly teaching and communication during the biology demo class quickly closed the distance between the teacher and the students. Xi liked it very much and identified with it. The learning sharing and university selection of the graduate Natalia Kang presented a high similarity to Xi's growth and learning, which showcased a successful example of excelling in both academics and art. Through the open day and sharing sessions, we became more certain of our final choice of GZFLS IB Diploma Programme.
We have been struggling for a long time in choosing between IB and A Level programmes. For a student aiming for an international art career path, the general recommendation would be to choose the A Level programme because it requires less subjects and there is no need to balance between liberal arts and sciences, which is easier as the student also needs to learn the art courses. However, after learning about the IB curriculum, we found that it better aligns with our (and Xi's) planned direction. On the one hand, the 5+1 curriculum structure allows for art course selection while maintaining a balanced development in other subject groups. Due to Xi's relative weakness in sciences, we hope to continue consolidating and improving her foundation during the basic learning stage rather than giving up too early. On the other hand, the IB programme's educational philosophy – cultivating lifelong learners, teaching them how to learn and enjoy the process – is beneficial to the child for a lifetime. It coincides with our educational philosophy, so even though we know the IB Diploma Programme is not easy, we still chose it.
In addition to the students mentioned above, the following students and more have also chosen GZFLS IB Diploma Programme:
- Student Yao, scored 761 in zhongkao, graduated from Guangzhou Tieyi Middle School
- Student Luo, scored 756 in zhongkao, graduated from Guangzhou Foreign Language School
- Student Liu, scored 748 in zhongkao, graduated from Guangzhou Foreign Language School
- Student Mao, scored 747 in zhongkao, graduated from Yingyuan School of Guangzhou No.2 High School
- Student Jiang, scored 742 in zhongkao, graduated from The Middle School Attached to Sun Yat-sen University
- Student Li, scored 737 in zhongkao, graduated from Guangzhou Foreign Language School
- Student Li, scored 730 in zhongkao, graduated from Guangzhou Haizhu Foreign Language School
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This is the unique charm of Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Diploma Programme.
For some students who were not admitted to any high school due to unreasonable choices in their application, there is still an opportunity for success through second application and changing route.
According to the information from the Guangzhou government, it will announce the second application and admission plan on 20 July. Students who were not admitted can fill out second application on 21 July through the government platform (https://zhongkao.gzzk.cn). On 22 July, schools with additional admission plans must log in to the platform to enroll students.
Due to the special nature of international programmes, it is recommended that students contact the admissions office in advance for consultation and submit their zhongkao score and standardized English test scores (such as IELTS, TOEFL) for evaluation.
On 15 July, Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Diploma Programme will hold an offline information session. During this event, Principal Huo Jianhua, Head of the Programme, will provide detailed explanations of the IB educational philosophy, teaching methods, and education achievements for students who have been admitted to the CNC programme of GZFLS or are eligible for additional enrollment and interested in transitioning to an international programme to achieve higher academic accomplishments. Parents and students are welcome to make reservations and sign up!
Stand Out in the New Route - How to Excel in the IB Diploma Programme
Guangzhou Foreign Language School
If you are unable to attend the offline information session, parents and students could participate in the online lecture for guidance on second application on the evening of 17 July (Monday). Ms. Huang Jinrong, the Coordinator of Pastoral Care at GZFLS IB Diploma Programme and the former G9 Coordinator at The Middle School Attached To SunYat-sen University, will provide detailed explanations of the additional enrollment rules and the ways of filling out second application. Principal Huo Jianhua will also be present in the live broadcast to answer questions for students and parents.
Introduction to Second Application and IB Diploma Programme
Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Diploma Programm
Guangzhou Foreign Language School IB Diploma Programme is the first public school IB Diploma Programme in Guangzhou. The programme is built upon the profound boya cultural heritage of GZFLS, integrating the advanced concepts of the IB holistic education and the management and discipline of a public school, aiming to nurture future talents with a Chinese soul, global visions and international competitiveness.
In the university applications for 2023, nearly one-third of the students at GZFLS IB Diploma Programme were admitted to Top 30 universities in QS World University Rankings, and nearly two-thirds were admitted to Top 50 universities in QS World University Rankings. The universities include National University of Singapore，the University of California, Berkeley, University College London, the University of Hong Kong, the University of Toronto, and the University of the Arts London etc.
In the IB educational philosophy,
the potential of a child should not be measured by a single exam.
Changing route could lead to a more exciting future.
