Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[1122]

How many IB classes are there in ACSI in Year 1?
How many students are taken in through internal transfer from ACSI O level in Year 3 for IB?
How many of them are scholars?
How many IB classes are there after Year 3 intake?

There are no International Baccalaureate (IB) classes until Year 5. The IB is a 2-year academic diploma programme that supersedes the A-Levels.

In Year 1, approximately 50% of the intake is for the Integrated Programme (IP) leading to the IB. This is about 7-8 classes, about 250 students or so. As a rough idea, in 2018 there were 232 non-IP (O-Level) S4 students. The total school population is under 3000 students, with about 900+ in Y5-6 and the balance of about 1900 or so in Y1-4.

Internal transfers vary, but you might add up to two classes in a good year, bringing the total IP capacity to around 270 with smaller classes. Number of classes is not a good measure of number of students, in some years. The problem really is that there is a rough internal cap on how many students the school can afford to support at Year 5, and that number is about 450 (the programmes started with 360, and even that was a huge excess over the original 120 cap). Most recent years have seen 460-ish enrolment at Year 5. At least 120 of those are girls.

All of them are scholars, since ACS(I) intends that all its Y1-Y4 students be 'scholars, officers and gentlemen'.

After the Year 3 intake, in theory you could have up to 9 classes of IP students. That wouldn't tell you how many students there are, though. It will still be 8 classes of IP students in most years, out of 16. And they will be overcrowded, compared to what we wanted when we first designed the programme.

Thank you so much for your detailed reply.

[phtthp]

At the end of sec 2, who can transfer into ACSI ? only restricted to boys from ACS (barker) secondary, or anyone from outside schools ?

[autolycus]

At the end of sec 2, who can transfer into ACSI ? only restricted to boys from ACS (barker) secondary, or anyone from outside schools ?

Anybody not already in an IP can attempt it. However, it is far from easy; chance of success from outside is very low. I was once in charge of the admissions testing; some good years, maybe 3-5%. Sometimes, not a single one. Sometimes, via similar criteria to DSA, it's just about possible.

[siling]

At the end of sec 2, who can transfer into ACSI ? only restricted to boys from ACS (barker) secondary, or anyone from outside schools ?

Anybody not already in an IP can attempt it. However, it is far from easy; chance of success from outside is very low. I was once in charge of the admissions testing; some good years, maybe 3-5%. Sometimes, not a single one. Sometimes, via similar criteria to DSA, it's just about possible.

Appreciate for sharing this information!

[autolycus]

Hi, can anyone advise on the commitment for DSA Maths in ACSI? Must the child commit to Maths club throughout 4-6yrs, maintain a certain grades, etc?

Be ready to produce a portfolio demonstrating concrete interest in practical and theoretical mathematics. For all DSA academic variants, it's assumed that you're already consistently doing very well academically in the relevant subject. Extra math projects done in spare time are a bonus. Having had to evaluate such portfolios before, it's very easy to tell if the child is unusually motivated and talented in a given area; you can't hothouse them without the cracks showing. I used to give examples, but people just made their kids do those things instead of letting them discover such wonders on their own.

[autolycus]

Thanks for the advice, autolycus must the child's results be consistently at 90s? will child (GEP) only scoring at 80s with a few awards stand a chance in this sch if DSA Maths?

If GEP should be able to clear 255 and enter ACSI conventionally. DSA (anything) is for specialists with outstanding aptitude. That is, even with a high average, would your DS be considered an outstanding mathematician?

[ksraja69]

For Year 2 express promotion to Year 3 (IP), what is the typicakl percentage of marks in SA1 required typically?

[autolycus]

For Year 2 express promotion to Year 3 (IP), what is the typicakl percentage of marks in SA1 required typically?

About 85% across the board.

[GL]

Typically >75% but the interviewers will also take into account the following:
1) English and Literature results
2) HAST test taken on 15 May (if applicable)
3) Sec 1 and PSLE results
4) CCA, VIA and other worthy contributions
5) Form/PCT/Subject Teachers’ feedback

[autolycus]

Best to apply for DSA only with appropriate skill-set. Does he have anything else that might be sufficient?