A Guide To The Upper Secondary School: Years 10 And 11
During Years 10 and 11 students at GIS study a range of courses which lead to examinations and internationally-recognised qualifications called the International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs).
As students enter Year 10 they begin studies on a range of subjects, some compulsory and some optional. At Garden International School we provide a balanced range of options.
After completion of Year 11 and depending on the success of the individual student, it is usual to either continue studying for the internationally recognised and respected International Baccalaureate (IB) course or to enrol at a Thai university.
Deciding which courses to study in years 10 and 11 are important because the qualifications gained at the end of the two years may affect your child's individual career path. It is therefore crucial that the decision about what will be studied involves students, parents and teachers and is made after very careful consideration. Our Careers Advisor can also assist in making choices.
The IGCSE
What is the IGCSE ?
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a qualification awarded by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). It is usual for students to study from five to eight subjects. These courses have been specifically designed to meet the needs of students of International Schools such as those at GIS. They result in the award of internationally-recognised and respected qualifications equal to the GCSE exams that children in England and Wales take at this same stage of their education.
IGCSE Assessment
These courses, which take two years of study, are assessed through final examinations taken at the end of the course in May / June of the second year. However, in certain circumstances, it may be possible to re-sit examinations the following November. Assessment methods vary from subject to subject and, as well as the final examination, may include oral / aural or practical examinations as well as some pieces of coursework carried out during the two years of study. All exam scripts are sent to CIE to be externally marked. Please see the following pages for details regarding specific subjects.
IGCSE grades range from A* at the top to G at the bottom, with grades A* to C being recognized as good passes. Although coursework may be marked initially within school, it is sent off with the final examinations to England and checked by CIE markers. The final percentages and grades are therefore awarded in England and communicated back to the school.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Do all students take the same number of subjects?
No. Some students may take fewer subjects, particularly where their knowledge of English is limited.
All students are expected to study the core curriculum which consists of English, Mathematics and Science. In addition they can choose from a range of further options currently available.
2 Do all students study the same subject at the same level?
No. Many subjects can be studied at different levels, often referred to as Core and Extended.
3 How do the IGCSEs relate to IB ?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a two year programme of study which follows on directly from IGCSE courses. The IB Diploma provides greater breadth and depth of study than national systems allow and is an internationally recognised qualification for university entrance. The IB is highly regarded throughout the world and facilitates entrance into top universities world-wide.
A minimum of 5 A* to C passes is required to gain entrance onto the full IB Diploma programme.
Should a student not achieve 5 A* to C passes in the June examinations it is possible to re-sit in November of the same year. While doing this it is possible to mix some IB courses at Standard Level to gain experience and subsequently complete an IB Foundation Year. Students can then pass onto the two year IB Diploma programme after this.
4 How do the IGCSEs relate to University courses?
To gain entrance to international quality universities in America, Europe, Australia, etc a student will need to study beyond the IGCSE, for a further two years on the IB Diploma programme. However, some of our Thai students in the past have chosen to go direct to Thai Universities after completing the IGCSEs. Individual universities have different minimum requirements but often 5 A*-C passes is sufficient to get you to the interview stage at Thai Universities.
5 Can all students join the IGCSE programme?
No. It is a requirement of the school that all students on the IGCSE course have a level of English sufficient for them to access the curriculum. Students must have passed the Cambridge KET assessment (or equivalent) before being admitted to year 10.
Course Option Guide All students must make one selection from each row: A, B, and C.
Click on any subject to get more information.
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2 IGCSE Design Technology (DT) |
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Option B |
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Option C
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It is strongly recommended the all students whose first language is Thai choose Thai in Option C.
Decisions on who will enter into First Language English and Literature are dependant on the ability and past results of the student and will be made in consultation with the English teachers. In Science and Mathematics students are placed according to ability by the teachers of those departments.
Every effort is made to place students in the appropriate set for the start of year 10. However, placements are reviewed early in year 10 and throughout the course.
In addition to the IGCSE courses that students study throughout years 10 and 11 the Thai Ministry of Education stipulates that all students must also receive one lesson a week of Thai Studies.
All our students also receive weekly sessions of sports (non IGCSE PE), Physical Health and Social Education (PHSE) and a varied and exciting range of activities.
The school reserves the right to make changes.
Information On The IGCSE Subjects Offered At GIS:
The course is over two years introducing students to a more disciplined and refined approach to 2D and 3D art and design processes.
Aims of the course:
- For students to develop skills in a range of drawing, painting, printmaking and 3 dimensional techniques.
- To gain confidence in applying creative ideas to artistic processes using a range of materials and tools.
- To engage in exploration of artists and art movements through research and gain greater understanding of the artistic process.
Final Assessment:
There are two alternatives for students.
- Coursework (internally assessed) and one (10 hr) Interpretive Theme exam (externally assessed).
or - 2. One (10 hr) exam Observational Study (externally assessed) and one (10hr) Interpretive Theme exam (externally assessed).
The IGCSE Business Studies syllabus develops students' understanding of business activity in the public and private sectors and the importance of innovation and change. Students learn how the major types of business organisation are established, financed and run, and how their activities are regulated. Factors influencing business decision-making are also considered, as are the essential values of cooperation and interdependence. Through their studies, students not only learn about business concepts and techniques but also enhance related skills such as numeracy and enquiry. The syllabus provides both a foundation for further study and an ideal preparation for the world of work. Business studies combines well with almost any subject and is held in high regard by universities and employers. Most students will work in some form of business organisation and an increasing number of students want to set up their own business ventures.
Pupils at IGCSE investigate every aspect of setting up a business and how businesses operate: with particular focus on Marketing, People, Production and Finance. The use of up to date and real life case studies takes students through the skills and theory behind starting up and growing business, providing vital training for budding entrepreneurs.
Course Outline & Assessment
- Business and the environment in which it operates
- Business structure, organisation and control
- Business activity to achieve objectives
- People in business
- Regulating and controlling business
Students sit two written examination both worth 40% of the overall mark. The remaining 20% is achieved through a coursework component.
This subject is all about designing and making products. It involves problem solving with creative and ingenious thinking.
Students identify or are given real life problems. They then use the design process to investigate and research the problem, to identify constraints and opportunities for ingenuity. They need to analyse and synthesise their ideas into a specification which is then the basis upon which they can release their imagination to create and develop their own ideas and solutions to the problem. They make decisions based on value judgements of an aesthetic, technical, economic and moral nature with an understanding of social responsibility.
They use a range of drawing techniques, both freehand and technical to communicate their ideas resulting in a fully worked solution that is both functional and imaginative. They then must both plan how to make the product and manufacture it themselves within the workshop. At this stage, they must pay careful attention to time planning, the use of tools and techniques and recognise the possibilities of materials and their own skills. They try to make the best quality product possible, taking full account of safety issues, quality control and tolerance during the manufacture. Finally, the product is tested and evaluated to see how well it solves the original brief.
The process is both challenging and rewarding and is intended to mirror as close as possible the real life experience of designers and manufacturers, managers and problem solvers. Skills learnt here are relevant to careers in architecture, product design, manufacturing, project management, engineering, fashion design, graphic design or entrepreneurship.
Through studying this course, students develop their higher thinking skills and are forced through the nature of design to become independent reasoned decision makers. It is highly enjoyable for all those who enjoy making things, those who are creative and those who think they have what it takes to solve the world's problems!
Assessment is in three parts:
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Paper 1 |
Design |
Design drawing and annotation |
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Paper 2 |
Graphic Products |
Technical drawing |
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Project |
Coursework project |
A3 folder and a 3D made product |
IGCSE English First Language and Literature courses
The beauty of the subject of English is its diversity and subjectivity. Characters in literature are mouthpieces through which provocative ideas on eternally relevant aspects of life are conveyed. Books are inspiring, thought-provoking and integral to students developing their own philosophies and interpretations on life, society, relationships, morals; how they view themselves, others and the world. Literature is a fantastically stimulating means to incite independent thought, critical thinking and learning.
We believe it is importance to instil a positive attitude and enthusiasm for reading in the minds of all our learners. The English Department aims to nurture the initial responses of our students, encouraging them to deepen their own deconstruction and critique of a text confidently in a stimulating and challenging environment where they feel safe and secure to do so. At Garden International School, we believe that a positive attitude to literature and reading is imperative to all aspects of learning. Language formulates the basis of how we communicate and we aim to provide and develop important language skills through setting personal targets and continued personal feedback.
At GIS we seek to develop student's reading, writing and speaking skills through access to a wide range of contemporary and classical literary texts, as well as non fiction and media texts. As students progress towards their final IGCSE exams at the end of Year 11 and for those who go on to the International Baccalaureate we aim to provide them with a variety of essential cognitive skills including analysing, speaking, listening, reading, evaluating and appreciating different forms of literature.
IGCSE English as a Second Language
English as a Second Language (E2L) is a course designed specifically for students whose mother tongue is not English.
In E2L students will learn how to effectively and creatively use the grammar and vocabulary they already know in a variety of situations. Among many other skills, by the end of Year 11 students will be able to write magazine articles, draft formal letters, summarize what they have read in newspapers, take notes from radio reports and talk at length about what interests them.
As E2L is skill based, our teachers are free to use topics that are both fun and relevant. These can include themes such as music, fashion and crime.
There is no coursework in E2L. At the end of Year 11 students will take 3 exams:
- Reading and Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
Do you like asking questions? Maybe you like knowing the answers? Geographers ask many questions; who, what, why, where, when and how? IGCSE Geographers learn how to find their own answers.
Do you like working independently; in groups; drawing; public speaking; conducting fieldwork; planning scientific investigations; building things; or just like learning interesting facts?
Did you know:
- The world's population is growing by 9000 people an hour?
- In the time it has taken you to read this paragraph five people will have died from hunger.
- You are standing on a piece of rock that is moving about the same speed that your fingernails grow?
- Tourism employs more people than any other industry in the world.
Students will learn why these things are and much more. They will know how to read maps, and interpret information about our local area as well as be given many opportunities to address larger scale problems such as global warming, poverty and pollution
Students who chose IGCSE Geography will build on the knowledge they have already acquired and gain a much greater understanding of the interactions between ourselves and our environment.
Topics Include: Population, Settlement, Natural Hazards, Rivers, Rocks and Landscape, Coasts, Tourism, Industry and Agriculture, Energy, Weather and Climate
Students will be assessed in a number of different ways:
Coursework Geographical Investigation
Paper 1 Geographical Knowledge and Understanding
Paper 2 Geographical Skills
If you think that History is all about dates and Kings and Queens then think again. The IGCSE History is an exciting and stimulating course that helps you to think about why things happen and how we got to where we are today.
Here are some of the things we study in IGCSE History at GIS:
- International Relations - Why did the world go from making peace in 1918 at the end of World War 1 to thinking in 1939 that it would be a good idea to have another world war!
- America 1920-1941 - This is a time of gangsters (Al Capone), crime, new music, new sports and the first films. It's also a time when America had an economic boom that made some of its people the richest in the world and also a time when many lost all of their wealth.
- The Cold War - This is a period when America and the USSR tried to make themselves the most important countries in the world. We look at how they used other countries to get their ideas across. In this section we'll look at such events as the Korean War, Vietnam War, The Cuban Missile Crisis and the building of a wall across a whole city!
History is a subject that uses many different skills and in the GIS History Department we develop these skills so they can be transferred to other areas of your studies. The skills we use mostly are: research, ICT, presentations, analysis, writing/reading, statistics and evidence handling.
History IGCSE is a fun course that helps to answer the 'why?' questions in life and gives you the skills and qualifications to go onto further education be it IB or University. It is assessed through written papers in Year 11.
IGCSE Information And Communication Technology
This course aims to help students to develop and consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding in Information and Communication Technology. Students will learn the skills to enhance their work in a variety of subject areas and will be provided with opportunities to analyse, design, implement, test and evaluate information and Communication Technology systems. We encourage students to consider the impact of new technologies on methods of working in the outside world and on social, economic, ethical and moral issues.
Students should be able to use major software packages such as e-mail, presentation, word processing, database, and spreadsheets, as well as create websites and use the Internet effectively.
Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in relation to the functions of the main hardware and software components of computer systems, the networking of information-processing systems, the ways in which information and communication technology is used and the effects of its use, the stages and methods of system analysis and design and computing terminology.
Assessment consists of a written paper and two practical tests.
IGCSE Mandarin or Spanish Languages
We offer exciting and enjoyable courses in Mandarin or Spanish as a second language, leading to an IGCSE qualification. We concentrate on all four skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. All four language skills are developed and used to cover topic areas and issues relevant and important to young people. Each is assessed individually in an end of course exam.
Our courses enable the student to communicate effectively in a second language. They also broaden students' horizons by affording students an in-depth knowledge of another culture and a different mindset. For example, students learn about different types of food and drink and also different traditions.
Our students learn through games and other interactive activities such as role-plays and debates. We also use computer-aided learning.
Our resources include music, films and TV programmes in the target language.
We find that students really enjoy these courses and they are provided with life-long skills.
IGCSE Mathematics enables students to gain skills that will be used every day and last a lifetime. It gives students an excellent preparation for further study. Students not only gain confidence about the knowledge they have acquired, but also gain satisfaction and enjoyment in both their learning and use of mathematics.
IGCSE Mathematics provides an excellent foundation for:
- Students who want to continue their studies at IB Level and beyond
- Students who need mathematics to complement other subjects
- Students who need a final qualification in mathematics
Students follow a Core curriculum. Teachers can also stretch their students with an Extended curriculum. Students can change level during the course according to their progress. Core curriculum students are eligible for grades C to G. Extended curriculum students are eligible for grades A* to E
The course is assessed in year 11 in written exam papers.
Music plays a key role in the life of students at GIS. Music is a truly international language, shared by every culture around the world, and as such, a fantastic method of personal expression. Studying Music at any level has a great impact on a child's development, helping to improve coordination, creativity, literacy, listening skills, ICT skills and building self-esteem. Music students are also encouraged to undertake regular solo practise sessions in their own time, helping them to become responsible learners.
IGCSE Music students are encouraged to take full advantage of the extra-curricular activities offered by the Music Department at GIS, ranging from Orchestra, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Ceilidh Band and Samba Band through to the various pop/rock ensembles formed by the students themselves. Group music-making has a very positive influence on students' social skills, and students have the opportunity to perform in numerous Musical Events held throughout the year.
The Music IGCSE course is spread between three main areas of study:
Listening (40%)
The Listening course is a combination of Music Literacy (theory) and Music History. Students learn to identify elements of music by listening to music of different styles, and learn musical vocabulary to describe it. Listening is assessed by sitting two written papers, totaling 1 hour 40 minutes which are taken in June of Year 11. Candidates listen to a recording of musical extracts and answer questions on them.
Composing (30%)
Students begin to develop their composition skills by writing arrangements of traditional melodies, before moving on to compose original pieces of work in a variety of styles. Most students choose to compose using ICT, enabling them to hear their work as it is created. Students then submit their two best pieces, as written scores and audio CDs.
Performing (30%)
Students are encouraged to take instrumental tuition on their chosen instrument(s), either in school or privately. They are also required to participate in at least one extra-curricular ensemble and perform regularly to each other, and the wider school community. Students record their performances throughout the course, and in Term 2 of Year 11 they create a folio of their best work on CD.
Students that choose IGCSE PE will have an exciting opportunity to improve their existing practical skills and to develop their understanding of selected theoretical aspects of Physical Education.
The syllabus is divided in favour of the practical side with 60% of the marks awarded for performance and analysis of performance. Students must offer four different activities from two groups and at GIS we offer a choice from Games, Athletic Activities and Swimming. Students will practice and improve skills in their sports and look to apply these skills whilst developing their understanding of tactics and strategies that can be used in competitive situations. The practical parts of the syllabus are completed by the school and final assessments are recorded.
The theory (40%) focuses on factors affecting performance, health, safety and training and reasons and opportunities for participation in Physical Education. Whilst there are some specific terms to get to grips with, there are links to other subjects and a common sense approach will carry a long way. The theory is assessed by a short written paper and the paper has two parts, Part A is short answer questions and Part B has three structured questions. The written exam takes 1 hr 45 minutes.
Science at Garden International School provides three major areas of study: life and living processes, materials and their properties and physical processes. The subject is concerned with encouraging children to investigate the world around them by using scientific techniques and to gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world. During lessons skills are developed including observation, discussion, identifying, measuring and hypothesising. Exploration and communication are encouraged and science is related to everyday life.
In Year 10 and 11 students study IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences or Combined Science. Both courses offer a broad and balanced curriculum covering the three sciences. Most students study towards the double award, meaning it is worth two IGCSEs. All Students are taught biology, chemistry and physics by specialist subject teachers.
The Co-ordinated Science programe is ideal preparation for taking any of the senior science courses. The Combined Science in an ideal course over two years for our ESL students.
At the end of the two years this course is examined and marked externally, and students receive a certificate from Cambridge Examination Board. Last academic year our students achieved excellent results with 87 % A-C Grade and 74% achieving A* and A grades.
Science facilities in the Secondary School include three specialist laboratories. Each laboratory has good resources for science studies up to pre-university level. ICT is incorporated into our curriculum and is widely accessed by our students in their lessons both in the science laboratories or in one of the computer suites.
Wherever possible educational field trips are integrated into the curriculum. Residential trips include water testing on the Magic Eye Barge, Erawan Water Falls and the Hydro Electric Dam in Kanchanaburi Province, Night Safari and trekking in Koh Yai National Park. Day trips include the zoo at Nong Nooch, and Investigating ways to reduce friction and energy transfer at the ice skating rink.
This course is for native speakers of the Thai language.
On this course the students study the basics of text and short story commentary. Students study with the teacher, often using news items as a focus. For example breaking news or true stories found from newspapers, Internet, TV and magazines are analysed in class. The teacher teaches the basics of philosophy; often the questions the students are asked are why a particular actor or person did a certain action. The students learn techniques of story criticism.
In the IGCSE exam the students sit two papers.
The first paper calls for the ability to select, compare and summarise specific information from given passages, and to respond to passages in a variety of forms.
In the second, students choose an essay title and are required to write about 500 words on a given title, calling for an imaginative, narrative or argumentative response in an appropriate style.
