Secondary School
Joy Bosman: Key Stage 4 Coordinator
Zekeriyaköy Mah.,Kilyos Cad., No: 227/1,2, Sarıyer, İstanbul
Tel:
+90 212 202 7027 Ext: 111/112
+90 212 202 7709 Ext: 111/112
Fax
+90 212 202 7796
Email:
joy.bosman@bisistanbul.org
16th January 2014
Dear Year 11 Parents,
Mock examinations have gone smoothly and the official results transcript will be sent home
on Friday January 31st.
As we enter term 2 I am looking forward to an exciting final few months with our Year 11
students. We will focus academically on exam preparation as we lead up to the IGCSE’s and
in PSHE the emphasis will be on further education choices as student’s make their
preparations for moving onto Key Stage 5.
February 6th IB Options meeting at 6pm
Please note that our IB Options meeting will take place on the same day as the parent-teacher
meetings on February 6th. This will give you and your child an opportunity to speak to the
subject teachers of their possible IB choices during the parent-teacher meeting time between
1pm – 6pm.
At this time it would be good to ask the teachers about your child’s suitability to the subject at
IB and the recommended level that they should take in the subject (IB higher or IB standard
level). We will then meet in the theatre for our IB Options meeting at 6pm where final option
groups will be announced and students make their choices based on these groups. Attendance
at the meeting is essential for both students and parents of year 11 students going on to the IB
Diploma Programme next year.
During PSHE time on the 21st and 28th of January the heads of departments will speak to the
students about the content of each IB subject and give them the opportunity to start thinking
about what choices they would like to make. Information about the IB programme is included
on the pages at the end of this letter, and on the IB website where information about the
programme and the individual subjects can be found. www.ibo.org
On the following pages you will find Key dates for IGCSE and information about the IB
diploma. Please read through it carefully with your son or daughter.
Thank you for taking the time to read through all this information and please do not hesitate to
contact me if you have any questions about your child’s progress in Key Stage 4.
Regards,
Joy Bosman
KS4 and IGCSE coordinator
Upcoming KEY DATES
Jan 7th – Jan 17rd
Mock exams
Jan 31st
Provisional Statement of Entry sent home.
 Please check that the name, date of birth and subjects are correct
Jan 31st
Mock Exam Grades Transcript Issued
Jan 21st & 28th
IB subject sessions from Heads of Departments for students
Feb 6th
Parent-teacher meetings (1 – 6pm) & IB Options meeting (6 - 7pm)
 IB option groups based on student selections made in the IB subject
sessions will be announced at this meeting. Students make choices
from the groups offered.
 IGCSE information for June 2014 will also be available during the
meeting
April 11 th
Final statement of IGCSE entry & Term 2 report
March 4th – 28th
IGCSE oral EXAMS
April 2th & 7th
ICT practical EXAM
April 3th & 4th
Art EXAM
May 6th – June 13th
IGCSE Written EXAMS (including May 19th)
June 13th
All Text books returned by this date
*text books should be returned on the day of the last exam in that
subject.
June 27th
Awards Assembly, year books and Summer Celebration Breakfast on
last day of term. (9 – 12am)
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate (www.ibo.org) is a two year programme for year 12 & 13
students. The IB Diploma curriculum consists of six subject groups:
Language A1
-
Language B
-
Humanities
Experimental Sciences
-
Mathematics
-
Arts
Each subject is offered at SL (standard level) or HL ( higher level) and both levels are graded
on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum).
Students also take additional components:
The Extended Essay An independent research paper of 4000 words
Theory of Knowledge a course which explores the relationships among the various
disciplines and ensures that students engage in critical reflection and analysis of knowledge
acquired within and beyond the classroom
CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) CAS encourages students to take up numerous sporting,
artistic, charitable or environmental activities.
Bonus points (up to three) may be awarded for an exceptional performance in the Extended
Essay or in Theory of Knowledge.
Choosing your IB Subjects:
Start by choosing six subjects one subject must come from each of the first 5 groups. The
sixth choice is either from group 6 or a second subject from group 3 or 4)
If you wish to do the full diploma and your IGCSE results meet the admission criteria then
you need to take three of your six subjects at Higher Level (HL)
Language A
Language B
English
French
Turkish
Arts
Humanities
Business &
Management
Sciences
Maths
Biology
Maths studies
German
Economics
Chemistry
Maths SL
Visual Arts
Spanish
History
Physics
Maths HL
Music
Spanish Ab
initio
French Ab
initio
Geography
Psychology
Theatre
Computer
Science
Sport
Science
Universities will sometimes state the subjects you need to do particular courses, please
research this before choosing your subjects.
General Criteria for admission to BISI IB Programmes
To do the Full IB Diploma a student will need to have a minimum 6 grade C’s at IGCSE
including at least a C grade in English Language, Mathematics and a Science.
To access the subjects chosen at the level of the IB Diploma it is recommended that a student
will need to have a minimum of 4 grade C’s at IGCSE and sufficient knowledge of the
English language.
In addition the following criteria and restrictions will apply:
Criteria for Registering for a Higher Level course
A student will need to achieve at least a B at IGCSE to continue the subject at IB level.
The exceptions to this are:
1. To take Maths HL a student must have gained an A* in extended mathematics
IGCSE or a B in Additional Mathematics IGCSE or pass a placement test
2. Subjects offered at IB level but not at IGCSE level at BISI will have no prerequisites for initial enrolment.
3. Business & Management
Course Choices for Students Joining BISI in Year 12
Decisions related to subjects, levels and whether the full diploma or diploma programme is
more suitable for a student will be based on previous school reports and extenal exam
results, CAT3 test and a placement paper made up of IGCSE level questions from the core
subjects (English, Maths, Science)
Changes to Courses and Levels
Students achieving a 2 or 1 in an HL subject in any report during year 12 will drop to SL in
that subject and take the diploma programme unless it is possible to promote the student
from an SL course to an HL course in another subject.
Students achieving a 2 or 1 in an SL subject in any report during year 12 will drop that subject
and take the diploma programme with a reduced number of subjects (to a minimum of 4)
Students starting the full diploma programme must have a minimum of 24 subject points in
their first term report or move to the diploma programme.
If the overall and subject-specific performance of a student on the diploma programme is
higher than expected it may be possible for the student to transfer to the full diploma
progamme at the discretion of staff, the KS5 coordinator and Director of Studies.
Note: All students in years 12 & 13 must fulfil the IB CAS requirements and attend ToK
classes