English Secondary
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The English (formerly "International") Section Secondary comprises of Grades 6 through 10. Grades 6 to 8 (11–13/14) prepare students for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) which is taken at the end of Grade 10. Students also take the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD1) in grade 9. This is an official German language certificate accepted in Germany and all other countries abroad, which recognizes the students' intermediate level and facilitates their acceptance into German Schools and Universities.
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In Grades 6-8, the major emphasis is on the transition into senior school (IBDP) and for students to discover their aptitudes and strengths, together with the development of their key skills for successful preparation for the IGCSE course in Grades 9 and 10. During these 3 years, they study the following subjects in line with the International Cambridge syllabus:
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English Language
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English Literature
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Mathematics
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General Science
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German as a foreign language
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French as a foreign language
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Geography
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History
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Visual Arts
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Music
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PE
Through these subjects, the students enjoy a greater level of independence and a wider range of subjects to facilitate their learning. As they move from Grade 8 to Grade 9 (ages 13/14), they are guided through the choices of subjects they wish to study in preparation for their IGCSE exams in Grade 10 (age 15/16). This program encourages learner-centered and inquiry-based approaches to learning while developing learners’ skills in creative thinking, inquiry, and problem solving, giving excellent preparation for cross-curricular perspectives while being sensitive to different needs and cultures. The students are mentored in their choices and together the students, parents, and teachers undergo their selection of the subjects they wish to pursue for their IGCSE and eventually their IBDP.
In Grade 9, children undertake 5 compulsory subjects. These are referred to as their core subjects and are as follows:
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English Language
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English Literature
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Mathematics
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Double Awards (Science: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
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German as a Foreign Language
In addition to these core subjects students are also required to choose 3 subjects from the following 8 as options:
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History OR Economics
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Human Biology OR French OR Geography
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Computer Sciences OR Visual Arts OR Music
The students will also receive 2 periods of PE and Extended Essay (IBDP prep).
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This makes a total of 10 subjects studied in Grades 9 and 10. 8 of these subjects are then taken as IGCSE exams at the end of Grade 10. (Extended Essay and P.E. are not included). This examination is recognized as a reliable record of attainment by universities and employers around the world. It develops successful students, giving them excellent preparation for their next steps in education, including progression to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in years 11 and 12 (ages 16 to 18/19). The GESM English Section is a registered center for these examinations.
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