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Choosing the best strategy for a successful graduation
Planning for a Successful Life
Welcome
As we witness our children’s journey through life, we share in the excitement and anticipation as they approach their graduation, marking the transition into young adulthood. However, this pivotal period also brings forth a myriad of concerns related to their education: from improving academic performance to making informed career choices, considering higher education options such as university or college, and even contemplating a gap year.
It’s no coincidence that you are considering enrollment at Ambition International School. We pride ourselves on being a reliable cornerstone in addressing these typical challenges, providing optimal solutions for our students and their families. Our school is dedicated to assisting students in navigating these crucial decisions, ensuring they have access to the best opportunities available.
At Ambition International School, we offer a supportive and empowering environment where students can not only excel academically but also discover their passions and interests. Our comprehensive educational approach, personalised guidance, and expert resources are designed to help students achieve their academic goals and make well-informed choices about their future.
By choosing Ambition International School, you are gaining a partner committed to providing your child with the necessary tools and guidance to overcome challenges, explore possibilities, and maximise their potential. We are here to support your family throughout this transformative period and ensure that your child’s educational journey is filled with opportunities for growth and success.
We firmly uphold several fundamental principles:
Individuality: It is imperative to acknowledge that each scholar is a unique individual with their own distinct strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. Beyond their school years, each scholar harbours different dreams and objectives.
Personalised Options: We advocate for providing scholars with fewer stressors and more options that align with their specific interests and goals. Tailoring their educational journey to suit their individual needs and preferences is paramount.
Self-awareness and Growth: Scholars should be afforded the opportunity to understand and embrace their own weaknesses and strengths. By acknowledging these aspects, we can design a learning path that takes them into account, ultimately leading to improved outcomes.
At this stage of their academic journey, scholars typically fall into two distinct groups:
Excelling Scholars: These learners have demonstrated a solid understanding of the material taught within the classroom and consistently perform at or above the level of their peers. They are highly motivated to leverage their strengths and continue excelling academically. Their goal is to achieve extraordinary graduation results that will not only position them favourably in the world but also align with their chosen post-school studies or activities. We are dedicated to supporting these scholars by providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to maximise their potential and achieve their ambitious goals.
Struggling Scholars: The second group consists of scholars who may encounter challenges in one or more subjects or areas of study. While there may be various reasons behind their difficulties, we believe it is essential to focus on finding effective solutions rather than dwelling on the specific causes. Our primary objective is to offer your child options that can assist them in overcoming these obstacles and achieving graduation results that will open doors to the opportunities they aspire to in society. By providing tailored support, personalised learning approaches, and a nurturing environment, we are committed to helping struggling scholars turn the corner and realise their full potential.
Regardless of which group your child falls into, our school is dedicated to meeting their unique needs and empowering them to succeed. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment that fosters growth, resilience, and academic achievement. Through our comprehensive approach and individualised attention, we aim to equip all scholars with the tools and skills they need to thrive academically and pursue their aspirations beyond graduation.
Placement Test
Recognising that our children, much like us during our school years, have both strengths and weaknesses in various subjects, it becomes essential to strategically address and leverage these areas. This understanding is particularly relevant as national matriculant achievements have been declining year after year. Scholars often have a vague understanding of their weaknesses in certain subjects, attributing them to various reasons. As they progress through school, particularly from Grade 9 onwards, where concepts become more challenging, these weaknesses tend to deepen. This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that within the school environment, scholars are primarily evaluated through “internal” teacher-originated exams and tests, which may provide a false sense of security. However, when they eventually face the “external” national or international graduation exams, their performance is often poor.
In reality, it is highly likely that scholars will have gaps in their understanding of fundamental concepts. Unfortunately, traditional schools are often unable to allocate the necessary time and resources to address these gaps adequately. As a result, students continue to struggle and their performance deteriorates, potentially leading to a disliking of subjects that they could otherwise excel in.
There are various factors that can contribute to the development of learning gaps among scholars. Understanding these factors is crucial in order to effectively address and bridge these gaps. Here are some key reasons:
- Traditional Teaching Approach: The conventional classroom setting often focuses on delivering lessons to the average learner, which can lead to scholars who require more time falling behind, while advanced learners may become disengaged and develop gaps.
- Time Constraints for Individual Attention: Teachers often face time limitations and may not be able to provide extensive support to scholars who struggle to understand concepts initially, resulting in persistent gaps.
- Disruptions in Education: Factors like illness, the impact of events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, or other interruptions to schooling can lead to gaps in a scholar’s education, hindering consistent learning.
- Lack of Individualised Instruction: Large class sizes make it challenging for teachers to offer personalised instruction tailored to each scholar’s specific learning needs, potentially contributing to gaps.
- Limited Access to Resources: Insufficient availability of educational resources, including textbooks, reference materials, and technology, can impede scholars’ learning experiences and contribute to knowledge gaps.
- Language Barriers: Non-native speakers of the language of instruction may face difficulties comprehending and expressing themselves, resulting in gaps in their understanding of the curriculum.
- Socioeconomic Disadvantages: Scholars from economically disadvantaged backgrounds may encounter obstacles in accessing quality education, materials, and extracurricular activities, which can lead to disparities and learning gaps.
- Learning Disabilities or Special Educational Needs: Scholars with learning disabilities or special educational needs may require specific accommodations and interventions to address their challenges. Without appropriate support, they may experience persistent gaps in certain areas.
How do we fix this??
At Ambition International School, every scholar embarks on their educational journey by taking a digital Placement Test, which serves as a quick assessment to identify any gaps in their learning. Through the utilisation of advanced algorithms, we are able to pinpoint the specific skills that may be missing across various subjects and grade levels. Based on these comprehensive results, a fully customised and unique learning path is designed for each individual scholar, enabling them to efficiently address these gaps and quickly achieve the appropriate academic level for their age.
Through our experience, we have observed that many scholars have significant gaps in their learning, often surprising their parents with the extent of these gaps. Compounding this challenge is the fact that our grading system follows international standards, meaning that, for instance, our Grade 8 aligns with South African Grade 10.
Can your child do our Placement Test without Enrolling in our school?
For details on how to book your FREE Placement test Click HERE
Yes of course. We offer the Placement Test and Missing Standards Report for NO-CHARGE.
Where does your child start?
In 9 out of 10 instances, children starting with us in our Senior Phase classes have considerable gaps in their learning. These gaps are identified through the MobyMax placement test. Before they begin the high school syllabus, they need to complete all MobyMax subjects up to the end of Grade 8. This ensures they have the foundational knowledge necessary to successfully tackle the high school curriculum. Once they reach this point, the choice is between the GED® or the American High School Diploma (AHSD). This choice will depend on the following factors:
1. The Current Age of Your Child
a) GED:
- The GED® can be completed in 6-12 months or less, but exams can only be taken at the age of 17.
- If your child is, say, 16 years old and completes GED® studies in 6 months, they will have to wait 6 months until their 17th birthday before they can take the exam. This delay can impact their performance as the material may not be fresh in their minds. This issue becomes more pronounced if they are younger than 16.
b) American High School Diploma (AHSD):
- This high school course typically takes 3.5 to 4 years.
- Using the example of a 16-year-old, this 4-year course means they would finish school at the age of 20. You and your child may decide this is too old to finish school.
- For younger children, say 14 years old, the GED® is not an option due to the age restriction mentioned in point (a), making AHSD the only viable choice.
2. Further Studies Intentions
- GED®: May not be acceptable for certain advanced studies or specific degree programs.
- AHSD: Generally more widely accepted for further studies, ensuring eligibility for a broader range of educational opportunities.
General Educational Development
The Internationally Recognized GED® program.
The General Educational Development (GED®) is the only higher secondary certificate available in over 85 countries and accepted by nearly all universities in the U.S.A. and many other universities across the world. The GED® is an alternative higher secondary certificate. The GED® is the American alternative to the UK’s A-level test, HSC, New Zealand’s NCEA, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and other higher secondary credentials.
GED® offers four main subjects offered in the GED® course:
- Mathematical Reasoning:
Basic Math, Geometry, Basic Algebra, Graphs, and Functions. - Reasoning Through Language Arts (English):
Reading for Meaning, Identifying and Creating Arguments, Grammar and Language. - Integrated Science:
Biology, Chemistry & Physics. - Integrated Social Science:World History, World Geography, Political Science and Economics.
GED® is an internationally recognised high school equivalency credential and is the most popular choice for most students.
GED® is typically a 2 to 3 year journey, though it is possible to complete in 1 year or less. Exams can be done at your own pace and are offered at various exam centres around the country. A minimum age of 17 applies to GED® exams.
The online curriculum is taught by master teachers that have been recognised for their expertise in both content material and conveying knowledge through video instruction.
A student can begin studying GED® once they turn 16 years old, however they can only sit down for exams once they turn 17 years old.
What Certification is Achieved
The GED® is a trusted, internationally recognised high school equivalency credential offered by the GED® Testing Service.
You can study further or get a better job with a GED® credential. It opens the doors to the next step in your education or working career.
It’s a grade 12 equivalent. SAQA (the South African Qualifications Authority) has evaluated the GED® and found the National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) as its closest comparable qualification.
Post High School Options
Students with a GED® credential can study higher certificate and diploma courses. GED® graduates are accepted at many ONLINE universities, as well as at over 40 colleges and other tertiary institutions in South Africa.
As SAQA has evaluated this at a National Senior Certificate, it is not automatically recognised as a Matric Exemption, which may be needed at some University level admissions.
In the USA, 97% of universities accept students with a GED® and internationally, the GED® plus SAT is widely accepted for admission to degree courses.
For more information on GED® Click Here
American High School Diploma
The American High School Diploma (AHSD) is a North American academic school leaving qualification awarded upon graduating from high school after successfully passing the international exams.
This diploma is for those students that are looking to become doctors, engineers, etc and who are looking for something with more subject choices.
The high school diploma is typically a FOUR journey though it can be done in Three and a Half years as you are not limited to a grade per year, and you can go as quickly as you can manage.
The online curriculum is taught by master teachers that have been recognised for their expertise in both content material and conveying knowledge through video instruction.
A student can begin studying AHSD from any age, however they can only get their diploma once they turn 16 years old.
What Certification is Achieved
The Advanced American High School Diploma (also called College Prep or Honors Diploma) is equivalent to the Cambridge A levels or South African SAQA National Matric Certificate.
Each student has access to self-paced courses, engaging video lessons, and personalized instruction as well as gap diagnostics that create custom personal instruction for any deficiencies.
Two Honours graduation pathway requires 26 Credits and is equivalent to a Matrix Exemption.
Post High School Options
The AHSD recognised by the South African Matriculation Board and USAF for university-bound students.
While colleges and tertiary institutions may typically accept GED®, the AHSD is the most frictionless path to meet university entrance requirements.
For more information on AHSD please click Here
