IN RECENT YEARS, more and more homeschoolers have gravitated towards IGCSE O Level exams as the preferred pathway to college and further education in Malaysia and abroad. Here’s an FAQ to clear the fog for Malaysian homeschoolers who are unclear about next steps:

 

Q: What is IGCSE?
A: IGCSE is the Level 10 high school exams offered by the U.K. Cambridge University and is accepted as equivalent to our local Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate exams.The IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14-16 year olds. It develops successful students, giving them excellent preparation for their next steps in education, including progression to A Level study, and equips them with skills for immediate employment. Cambridge IGCSE is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. In Malaysia, homeschoolers who sit for the IGCSE exams as private candidates have generally done well.

 

Q: Why aren’t homeschoolers opting for SPM?
A: The Malaysian Ministry of Education allows homeschoolers to sit for the SPM examination (Form 5 examination) in the year they attain 18 years of age. Presently all examination subjects are in Bahasa Malaysia except for Mathematics and the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics). However the Government has announced that the policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English will cease in 2012 and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools.

 

Q: What happens after a student completes the IGCSE exams?
A: When a student achieves a minimum 5 credits in the IGCSE (more would be better) he is qualified to apply to any of the following:

• Study for the A Levels exams, and thereafter apply to enter most private universities locally, or any university in Commonwealth countries (UK, Australia, etc) as well as America

• Sign up for a pre-university course at most private universities locally, and thereafter, proceed to a degree programme locally or abroad

• Enrol in an American university to begin a 4-year degree programme

Note: A number of homeschoolers apply to US universities with their IGCSE certificates together with SAT results in English/Maths. If a student does not have admissible SAT test scores, he will be required to sit for SAT during his 1st year in the university.

 

Q: What range of subjects are offered with Agape Paradise and in IGCSE exams?
 

Business Studies

Accounting
Biology

Physics

Chemistry
Chinese (Mandarin) – Foreign Language
Economics
English – First Language
English – Literature
Geography
History
Malay – Foreign Language
Mathematics
Mathematics – Additional
Sciences – Combined
Sociology

 

Q: Where can I get information regarding syllabus and examination application/services?
A: Visit the University of Cambridge International Examinations site for more details on syllabus and qualifications. For registration forms, time-tables, and services, visit the British Council website.

 

Q: How do I prepare my homeschooling teen for IGCSE exams?
A: A number of homeschoolers in the country have successfully studied for the exams at home as the culmination of their homeschooling journey. In this D-I-Y approach, parents either guide their children themselves or enlist the help of private tutors to complement their studies.

- See more at: http://homeschoolhomefrontier.com/resources/homeschool-and-igcse#sthash.SMwy3fN0.dpuf