PISC welcomes you ALL

1. PISC welcomes you ALL On the first parents/teachers career counselling session

2. We all feel comfortable in doing those things in which we are best able to succeed • In the same manner, students feel comfortable with those subjects in which they are best. • This depends on the student’s aptitude and the environment. • It’s not always best to force a student to take a subject in which he/she is not interested.

3. The Desired Path • The children should be encouraged to take those subjects in which they feel better off at the IGCSE, AS and A2 levels • More frequently YOU as a Friend not as Parent should ask your child at the dining table or at some other convenient time about his/her favourite subjects. • Also ask about the subjects he/she does not like

4. The Important Y • Develop the thinking and analytical ability of your child by asking • WHY does he/she like a subject or does not? • The reasons are important to determine the best available choice of careers for your child.

5. The courses available • International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), • General Certificate of Education (GCE) commonly known as AS and A2 levels.

6. IGCSE • IGCSE is taken in over 100 countries worldwide and is internationally recognised as being equivalent to the GCSE in the United Kingdom. • Grading is on an eight-point scale (A* – G) • In some countries, IGCSE qualifications will satisfy the entry requirements for university. In others, they are widely used as a preparation for A Level, AS, International Baccalaureate and US Advanced Placement courses.

7. IGCSE subjects classification • 1) Languages: ESL, French, Arabic • 2) Humanities and Social Sciences: History, Geography, Sociology, Economics, English Literature • 3) Mathematics: Mathematics • 4) Sciences: Biology, Physics, Chemistry • 5) Creative Technical and Vocational: Art, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Accounting

8. GCE subjects classification • A) Mathematics and Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Mathematics, Physics. • B) Languages: English, French. • C) Arts and Humanities: Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, History, Geography, Sociology.

9. AS and A2 levels • AS level: AS Level, was introduced in 2000. It represents the first half of an A Level course but may also be taken as a free-standing qualification. • AS Levels are accepted in all UK universities and carry half the weighting of an A Level. For example, students may be admitted with suitable grades in two A Levels and two AS Levels (in place of 3 A Levels).

10. A levels • A Level, is the 'gold standard' of CIE qualifications. • A Level examinations are usually taken after 13 years of education and are based on approximately 360 hours of guided learning normally over a two year period. A Levels are highly specialised and a student will normally take three subjects. • It is accepted as an entry qualification by universities of the UK, USA, European Union, on a par with the French Baccalaureat, the German Abitur, etc.

11. PISC from next session introducing EDEXCEL • The Q arises Y Edexcel ? • Internationally recognised just like Cambridge, • They have the option of the course work which carries 20-30% of the total marks, • More choice for the students, • Initially we are introducing only three subjects for next year i.e. Economics, Accounting and Biology for IGCSE.

12. Edexcel • Edexcel was formed in 1996 by the merger of the Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC), the country’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, and the University of London Examinations & Assessment Council (ULEAC), one of the major exam boards for GCSEs and A levels. • IGCSEs aim to provide students with an international perspective to their studies so that work can be based on their own region, where possible, making study more relevant and rewarding

13. Requirements for Universities • There is not single criteria for the students to be admitted to the universities all around the world because all countries and universities have their own specific requirements. • However as a general rule, all universities require at least 5 IGCSE and 3 A level subjects.

14. The acceptable grades are from A* to C. • Very popular courses will often require higher grades. For example, medical colleges in the UK often require grades of AAB and the highly selective universities of Cambridge and Oxford ask for at least AAB.

15. Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Islamabad • We are side by side offering Science subjects held under the FBISE Islamabad Pakistan • They are also internationally recognised • All those parents who are interested in this form of examination, may please contact the office at the earliest.

16. FBISE Islamabad Pakistan • There are two main core of examinations • a) Matriculation: this includes 8 subjects including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Urdu, Islamic Education and Pakistan Studies. This is equivalent to IGCSE subjects. • F Sc: We are offering the engineering combination in F Sc. This is equivalent to A levels subjects.

17. Thank you very much • We hope that parents/teachers collaboration like these will go a step forward in making the right choices for our children in the times ahead.