There are many international curricula available in Malaysia, among them the A-Levels (United Kingdom), the Advanced Placement and high school diploma programme (United States), the New South Wales curriculum (Australia), and the International Baccalaureate.
Each is developed with the students’ learning goals and success in mind. Students need to identify their strengths and strategise their subject focus by understanding the requirements of the examinations, which makes it easier for them to do well and enrol in their ideal university.
1. UK A-Levels
This rigorous curriculum is accepted in universities worldwide and is typically for students aged 16 to 18. It generally comes in two sections: a one-year AS-Levels course and a two-year A-Levels course.
The preferred providers in Malaysia are Pearson Edexcel and the Cambridge International Examinations. There are many ways to calculate student performance in A-Levels; Pearson Edexcel, for example, uses a five-point grading scale from A to E.
Taking A-Levels subjects can ease student learning during their first year in university as the topics are primarily covered during their time preparing for this curriculum. The examination is assessed externally.
2. US Advanced Placement (AP)
AP covers introductory-level courses that students can take during the first year of their degree, allowing them to skip those classes and enrol in more advanced ones.
Aimed at students aged 15 to 18, AP is recognised in other international universities besides those in the US.
AP subjects are externally assessed with one examination at the end of the year, and are scored on a 1 to 5 scale. The results can substantiate introductory classes during a degree programme, giving students an edge by demonstrating their ability to cope with tertiary-level workload.
3. Australian New South Wales Higher School Certificate (NSW HSC)
Students with NSW HSC can apply for their preferred university with their final examination results as the academic calendar ends earlier than other popular curricula. The Australian International School Malaysia offers this option to students aged 16 to 18.
This course is assessed by internal and external examiners, combining a 50:50 weightage of examinations and assessments. It is then divided into bands that define student academic performance, calculated through the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank that helps determine university placements.
Like A-Levels, some courses in the NSW HSC can aid student learning during their first year in university.
4. International Baccalaureate (IB)
There are two types of the IB Programme: the Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the Career-related Programme (IBCP). These are assessed internally and externally.
Taken by students aged 16 to 18, each unit or subject is graded on a range of 7 to 1, with the highest achievable score being 45.
The IBDP is suitable for those interested in a research-based route, while the IBCP allows students to get involved in hands-on learning through project-based assessments.
IBCP students are required to take three academic subjects from the IBDP.
Switching curriculum
Parents and students often wonder if they can switch from one curriculum to another. The answer is yes. In fact, students from the national curriculum, too, can switch to an international programme.
That said, it is important to understand the requirements and differences between your child’s current curriculum and the intended programme of study. A student who wants to switch from the US curriculum to IB, for example, must have strong academic performance.
Meanwhile, the A-Levels and NSW HSC are academically rigorous with some project-based assessments, so certain students might feel more comfortable and confident of succeeding in these curricula.
At the end of the day, a student’s success is backed by the school’s role and support in helping them cope with the transition. Parents, too, need to consider their children’s strengths and interests before finding the right curriculum to help them achieve their goals.
Schooladvisor.my provides information on private and international schools, extra-curricular activities as well as other education-related topics in Malaysia.