Senior Curriculum

Curriculum

The ALC curriculum is unique in the context of Beijing with students enjoying an experience that is almost indistinguishable from an international British-style school. Students prepared for the CAIE, IGCSE and A Level examinations. The ALC selected CAIE because it believes that the academic demand of the courses and the high security of external assessment allow students to gain qualifications that have academic integrity and worldwide portability.

With access to 17 IGCSE and A level subjects, students have the opportunity for early specialisation in subjects for which they wish to develop a deep body of knowledge or they can if they wish have a broad and balanced programme that mixes Arts, Humanities and Science subjects. The school is one of the few that offers an extensive programme in First Language English and English Literature. It also has high numbers of students who take Psychology, Music, Art (both Digital and Painting and Drawing). The school is also to our knowledge the only Chinese school which offers Drama.

As our students are preparing for life in the West there is also an academic focus on global issues and international relations. Many students study Global Perspectives and the school was one of the first in China to have students take the examination. This heavily skills based course allows our students to develop many of the essential softer skills that are needed for success in university.

In Senior 1 (Grade 10) students study English, Mathematics and at least one science from Biology, Chemistry and Physics. They are then free to choose an additional up to three option subjects from, Accounting, Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Drama, Economics, Information and Communications Technology and Music. Students who choose specific courses are eligible for recognition within the CAIE ICE Diploma. Students also prepare for their Chinese High School Diploma by studying Chinese Language & Literature, Geography, History, Music and Art. The IGCSE programme is usually taken over a two-year period and students normally take eight or nine subjects. At the ALC students have only one year to prepare for the examinations so they have a slightly reduced programme and prepare for six to five examinations. With supervised study periods after school students are able to reach the right competency levels prior to sitting the exams by the summer.

In Senior 2 (Grade 11) Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Global Perspectives and Psychology are additional subjects. All students study English and Global Perspectives. Most students will study 4 AS Level subjects. Those students who choose specific courses are eligible for recognition within the CAIE AICE Diploma.

In Senior 3 (Grade 12) most students study 3 Advanced level subjects. They also continue to study English for Academic Purposes or Global Perspectives.

Grading Scale

At the ALC, student performance is assessed each semester with end of semester examinations. The Cambridge International subjects at all grade levels finish with formal, externally marked and moderated examinations organized by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). The Chinese curriculum subjects are assessed by internally set and moderated examinations. In line with normal international practice, students are not ranked nor is a GPA calculated.

The grading scale is based on the CAIE scale at both IGCSE and A Level, as well as for the Chinese Curriculum. In line with the international standard, the school considers all grades E to A* as passing grades.

IGCSE Grade	Percentage	AS Grade	A2 (A Level) Grade	Percentage	Chinese Curriculum Grade	Percentage
A*	90	A	A*	90	A*	90
A	80		A	80	A	80
B	70	B	B	70	B	70
C	60	C	C	60	C	60
D	50	D	D	50	D	50
E	40	E	E	40	E	40
F	30	U (ungraded)	U (ungraded)	< 40	U (ungraded)	< 40
G	20
U (ungraded)	< 20

Transcript and Recommendation

To ensure the integrity of documentation sent to US colleges, we use Naviance eDoc platform. For colleges using Common App or accepting Naviance eDocs, Naviance will be the sole method of sending documents; for schools not using electronic transmission, all materials, including transcripts and letters will be sent by courier directly from the school office. When mailing out paper form of transcript, it must bear the school’s official stamp and Principal’s seal; while electronic form of transcript will be generated directly into Naviance, thus will not have stamp or signature.

Chinese high schools are 3 years starting from Grade 10 ending with Grade 12. Students’ transcripts for courses taken in Grade 9 are provided by their respective middle schools and will be sent along with our ALC transcripts.

At the ALC the Counseling Staff who regularly meet with students to provide guidance on college and university selection and career advice write a Counselor recommendation letter. The Chinese and International homeroom teachers collaborate to produce the second letter of recommendation. These teachers oversee the day-to-day pastoral care of the students and are also routinely involved in reviewing their academic performance and help their students with goal and target setting. The third reference is written by a subject specific teacher who is familiar with the student’s academic ability and potential for a subject in which the student wishes to major in college.

Extracurricular Activities

While the primary focus of the school is to offer pupils a high quality educational experience that delivers rigour, breadth and depth, there is more to the school than simply creating a culture that places a premium on absolute academic achievement. At the ALC students have access to a vibrant co-curricular programme. The school has developed an ambitious programme in partnership with our international sponsor Headington School in Oxford, UK that would bear comparison to many top independent international British-style schools. Each week students participate in at least three activities or clubs. Students are encouraged to try a range of activities that will challenge and develop them.

Activities are designed to develop individual skills, team work, promote a healthy lifestyle, encourage service to others and develop global awareness. Students who successfully complete the course are awarded a Headington Diploma, classed as Pass or Distinction. For our students the programme is a viable alternative to the International or Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Pastoral care of the students

The pastoral care system at the ALC is also very unusual for a Chinese school. Unlike the Chinese class system, students are assigned a homeroom, which has both a Chinese and an International teacher. The homeroom has a vertical composition with students from all three grades. Currently the twenty-four homerooms are assigned to four Houses. Students are proud of their Houses and compete against each other in a range of sporting, artistic and cultural events. A Head of Pastoral Care leads a team of eight Chinese and International House Leaders who manage the day-to-day welfare of the students. The homeroom and House system foster a strong sense of community and there are high levels of engagement between the staff and students. For our many boarders the school is a safe and happy place where they have started the journey that will inevitably lead them to study abroad.

Graduation Requirements

For the Chinese subjects, students must earn a grade of C or above. Students have the opportunity to re-sit one course in Senior 3. For the A Level curriculum, students must pass three A Level courses with a grade of E or above. English courses must be passed with a grade of D or above. For the Chinese curriculum, students must earn a grade of C or above in their end-of –the course examinations. Students must maintain an attendance rate of 90%. Students who have not obtained the required grades have one opportunity to re-sit at the end of 2ndsemester of Grade 12. 

Calendar

There are two semesters beginning at the end of August and mid-February. Students have 45 lessons in a 5-day week. Each lesson is 40 minutes in length. Internal examinations are held at the end of each semester. External CAIE examinations are taken in May and June.

Matriculation

In 2017 the first cohort of ALC students matriculated. These students had previously achieved considerable examination success in the CAIE IGCSE and AS examinations, with performances well above the world averages. ALC students are ambitious and driven and we hope that their talent and potential will be recognized by top universities and colleges around the World.