IGCSE, AS and A Level programmes at SACS offers boys enrichment and extension to their National Senior Certificate studies. SACS is affiliated to Cambridge Assessment International Education, which administers the IGCSE, AS and A Level courses. Although these programmes do not replace the National Senior Certificate (NSC) at SACS, Universities in South Africa recognize the qualifications.
The International A Level is a 2 year course, running parallel to the UK school term times. At SACS the course is started in Grade 10 at the start of Term 3, with exams the following May-June. After this first year, learners obtain an AS Level in their chosen subject and have the choice of continuing for another year to obtain an A Level. In all subjects, the AS Level is worth 50% of the A Level mark.
For each subject, learners are expected to attend one 2 hour lesson per week and complete weekly homework tasks, in addition to re-visiting knowledge and skills learnt in lessons. The weekly lesson takes place at a time that is convenient for learners and staff, avoiding conflict with sporting and cultural commitments. Many lessons start after 5.30pm.
To be invited onto the A level programme, boys who achieve 80% or higher at the end of Grade 9 in any of the subjects offered at AS and A level are invited to attend an information evening with their parents / guardians. During this meeting, information on the subjects offered, costs and logistics will be shared. Costs and subjects vary from year to year depending upon interest. We currently offer AS and A levels in Maths, English Literature, Chemistry and Biology at a cost of R8500 per subject per year. If there isn’t enough interest to run a course one year, it will always be offered the following year to Grade 10 and Grade 11 learners who did not have the opportunity to follow the course in their Grade 10 year.
The IGCSE programme is run in a very similar way to our AS and A level programme. IGCSEs are international versions of the General Certificate for Secondary Education in the UK, a suite of qualifications for 16 year olds which are externally assessed. It is a 2 year course with terminal exams and builds a good foundation for AS and A levels, although learners do not have to have completed an IGCSE at SACS to start an AS level course.
We currently offer IGCSE Mathematics to Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners. The course starts during Term 3 of Grade 8 with exams in May / June of Grade 10. The course is delivered via one 90 minute lesson per week. Similar to AS and A levels, the lessons take place after sport and other extra-mural commitments, during the late afternoon or early evening. As with AS and A levels, the cost varies from year to year and currently it is R4500 per year.
To be invited onto the IGCSE Mathematics programme, boys who achieve 80% or higher in the Grade 8 June exam series are invited to attend an information evening to hear more about the programme with their parents / guardians. Following this parents / guardians and learners are invited to make an application. We hope to be able to offer more subjects at IGCSE level in the future.
For more information on the details of the courses offered by Cambridge Assessment International Education, please visit https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/
To find out more about the IGCSE, AS and A level programme at SACS contact Dawn Siso (sisod@sacollege.org.za).