Grades just the beginning to get into university: how Hong Kong international schools are adding extended essays and vocational training to their curricula to make sure your kids don’t miss out
- The IB Diploma Programme, UK-based A-levels, and the international version of the national curriculums of France, Germany, Australia and the US are all options in the city’s international schools
- Malvern College offers the IBDP while German Swiss International has the Deutsches Internationales Abitur too and the Canadian international has the Ontario Secondary School Diploma
Choice of curriculum figures high on the list of questions most parents want to explore when assessing the relative merits of international schools in Hong Kong. During their research, they will typically size up everything from the teaching of STEM subjects and languages to the classroom time given to music, art and design.
But what they are really looking for is reassurance on two counts: that their children will not “miss out” in any significant way and that, in the senior years, the chosen curriculum creates a clear pathway to university places and opportunities beyond.
Aware of that, leading schools have become expert in setting out the plus points of the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), UK-based A-levels, and the international version of the national curriculums of France, Germany, Australia and the US.
There is no doubt that each serves its purpose, judging by the high overall rate of acceptance at top universities around the world, even during the pandemic disruptions of the past few years.
But the spirit of friendly rivalry means that every school continues to push for improvements. They are fine-tuning where necessary, incorporating new elements, keeping an eye on the competition and, all the time, remaining alert to what college admissions teams now look for in candidates.