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IGCSE

The IGCSE courses are offered at IISA to act as a bridge between middle school and IB courses.
The IGCSE provides solid structure within each subject for students and teachers but does allow both some flexibility in learning and teaching. IGCSEs are of benefit to students in that they teach the appropriate subject material along with trying to encourage the student to develop appropriate skills in each area.
Thus in languages, students not only learn vocabulary and grammar but comprehension, expression, usage and ideas. In humanities, students learn to analyze and debate, asking important questions such as ‘what if..?’ and ‘why?’ rather than just ‘what did..?’. Students are required to think about the evidence we have for understanding history as it is. In mathematics and sciences, knowledge is taught alongside application and the skills needed to solve problems, analyze results and draw conclusions.
As the course is about learning knowledge and developing skills, it will come as no surprise that the assessment looks at how well the student can perform in each of these areas. Thus language assessment looks at the students’ ability to express themselves verbally and in writing, comprehend written and aural information and all in a body of knowledge which is useful to the student as a person. In mathematics and science the student is assessed in the knowledge they have, how they can apply that knowledge and the skills they’ve gained under test conditions.
IGCSE courses are seen also as a continuity factor in international schools. Teachers, administrators and students come and go but the course requirements are set for any two-year course and so students know what is expected of them.

IISA offer the following courses:
First Language English
English Literature
Mathematics
History
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Foreign language French
Arabic
Business Studies
Natural Economy
Courses which are being considered are
Psychology
Drama
Coordinated Science (Double award)
 

Robert Thorn
IGCSE Coordinator