As a 15-year private international school with the DNA of a world-renowned school, Ardingly College Zhongshan provides students with the best education in the Bay Area through a holistic education that blends the best of East and West. In addition to gaining unique and solid academic skills in the early years of their studies, students will also be able to excel in their further academic careers both in China and overseas through the school's multi-track pathway at high school.
With the completion of the Academic Test for the Junior High School Students and entry into high school, Ardingly College Zhongshan will provide children with multiple pathways that includes Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges, the International Curriculum and Artistic Studies, while our students will be able to make their own choices in relation to their studies, interests and future target universities. With the help of the school's top academic team and university guidance, students will be able to gain access to 985 and 211 universities in China, or apply for the world-renowned universities.
In this article, we will focus on our unique International High School, where you can find out more information about the A-Level and AP, as well as the HKDSE, which has recently become a popular pathway in China.
Known as one of the top three international curriculums in the world, A-Level(General Certificate of Education Advanced Level) is the university entrance exam for UK students. In general, students take the Cambridge International Examinations (CAIE) through 2 years of study (Years 11 and 12), which leads to applications to top local institutions, including G5 universities in the UK, or to qualifications for entry to higher education institutions in the world, such as the USA, Canada and Australia.
For Chinese students, the A-Levels not only provide a 'global competence', but the overall framework of the programme is also more exam-oriented, making it ideal for students who have a high level of ability in a single subject, or a strong test-taking ability. With over 70 subjects (including arts, business, economics, languages, mathematics, science, computing, law, media, music, etc.), students only need to take three or four main subjects and pass the corresponding exams to obtain the corresponding diploma.
A-Level students take two tests over two years, with an additional make-up test in the first year, which provides an additional opportunity for students who are nervous or who do not perform well.
A-Level students take two tests over two years, with an additional make-up test in the first year, which provides an additional opportunity for students who are nervous or who do not perform well.
* A-Level score requirements for some of the top 10 universities in UK:
University of Bath
A-Levels in the AAA - ABB range are required, with higher requirements for science subjects and lower requirements for language subjects.
The University of Edinburgh
A-levels are set between A*AA - ABB, with higher requirements in Mathematics, Law and Regulation.
Durham University
A-levels are required to be between A*AA and AAB.
With such an outstanding international curriculum, school has also chosen to make it a key gateway for children to the world. From G11-G12 onwards, the school will offer children a number of high quality A-Level courses that they can choose on their own.
AP courses are Advanced Placement courses offered in countries such as the United States and Canada, and are sponsored and authorised by the College Board as high school prerequisite college courses that can also be used to apply to a number of prestigious universities around the world. Overall, AP courses are more suitable for students with excellent academic ability, not only as proof of academic ability when applying, but also for credit conversion in college, reducing the cost of education, enabling grade skipping and shortening the time spent on college education.
Although AP courses are generally more difficult, they are actually advantageous for Chinese students who generally excel in mathematics. For example, AP Calculus is not only the most prestigious course among all AP subjects and can focus on receiving favourable treatment from universities, but more importantly, AP Calculus also covers many university science majors, including physics, chemistry and economics, which all involve calculus knowledge to some extent. As a result, students are able to take AP Calculus while relieving some of the academic pressure of university.
AP courses have one exam per year and each exam will be divided into two parts: the first part will be multiple-choice and the second part will be a free-response paper. The content of each exam will vary depending on the subject and students can choose the exams according to their needs.
AP exams are scored using a 5-point system, with candidates receiving different scores depending on their ability, and a score of three or more can be redeemed for credit at university.
* AP score requirements for some famous universities:
Top 50 Universities in the US
2-3 AP scores of 4 and above required
The University of Hong Kong
Requires 3 AP scores of 4 and above with specified subject requirements for AP courses
National University of Singapore
3 AP scores of 4 or above are required.
The University of Melbourne
Popular majors require a minimum of 3 AP scores of 3 and above.
The University of Sydney
Popular majors require a minimum of 3 AP scores of 5 or 4 AP scores of 4.
Like many international schools in China and International Classes in public schools, we also offers a wide range of AP classes and specialist teachers for high school children. With options in Art, English, History and Social Sciences, Maths and Computer Science, Natural Sciences, World Languages and Literature, and the Topstone Diploma Programme, children will excel in their college applications and university studies.
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| Chinese Language and Culture |
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The HKDSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) is an annual public examination administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and is currently the only international examination that can be answered in Chinese. It is also known as the "golden entrance exam" as it can be applied to over 400 overseas universities (including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, Japan and other countries).
The most significant advantage of the HKDSE programme over the Chinese College Entrance Examination is that it is less competitive. In addition to a high degree of overlap with the mainland syllabus, the course is easy to articulate and avoids the increasing pressure of "internal papers" in China.
The HKDSE programme has four main subjects (three of which are chosen from the Chinese, English, Mathematics and Citizenship and Social Development) and a number of electives. Students are allowed to answer all exams in Chinese except for the English papers, and the exams are scheduled in a more spread out manner, giving students plenty of time to prepare. The examinations are also based on the assessment of students' overall ability, rather than subject knowledge as the only criterion, and students can obtain a more objective examination mark.
The HKDSE course system is more user-friendly exam results are graded using a level-referenced grading system: there are five levels of DSE [Levels 1-5], with Level 5 being the highest level, and the best performance of those awarded Level 5 will receive a [5**], followed by a [5*] for better performance, and [No Assessment] for performance below Level 1. The results can also be retained for one year, and those subjects that are not successful can be taken again the following year. (The following are the requirements for G5 schools in the UK in terms of HKDSE scores)
* HKDSE score requirements for UK's G5 universities:
University of Cambridge
36 points in 7 arts subjects, 37 points in 7 science subjects (total 49)
University of Oxford
555 to 5*5*5 in three elective subjects or compulsory Mathematics
University College London
31 to 36 points in 7 subjects (49 overall)
Imperial College London
Three elective subjects or compulsory maths 555 to 5*5*5
The London School of Economics and Political Science
7 subjects from 29 to 33 points (49 overall)
The HKDSE programme is a new pathway for students to study in Hong Kong, which has been evaluated by a number of educational authorities, and offers them the opportunity to study at top universities such as Cambridge, Oxford and Yale. The school expects to open the following HKDSE programmes:
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| Citizenship and Social Development (Core) |
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A 15-Year Through School
Offering Multiple Pathways
In keeping with the educational DNA of Ardingly College, UK, one of the world's top 10 IB co-edu schools, Ardingly College Zhongshan has been providing students aged 2-18 with a future-oriented, personalised education and a diverse pathway to the best possible future through a forward-thinking and academically successful whole-person education model from kindergarten to high school.
As an IB PYP candidate school officially approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization, Ardingly College Zhongshan(Kindergarten) combines the essence of Chinese and Western pedagogies. The aim of the IB PYP is to provide students with an inquiry-based transdisciplinary framework incorporating 6 Units of Inquiry.
School rooted in the National Core Curriculum, a student-centered, inquiry-based and project-based bilingual integration model that tracks and supports each child's learning in depth.
International High School
With a team of experienced tutors and academic resources, we offer a wide range of courses for students to study in China, including Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges, international programmes and the arts pathway. The experienced team will make a personalised goal for each student based on their characteristics and family needs, to help them gain the strength to enter a 985 or 211 university in China, or to receive an offer from the overseas university.