Examinations and EXAMINATION BOARDS
The course that you choose will, in most cases, last for two years, with a final External Examination at the end of the second year.
The exam boards set this exam externally. Two years is the recommended length to complete the course as it takes this long to teach the courses effectively. Qualifications obtained can be offered by any of the 3 Exam Boards listed below depending on the subject chosen.
- IGCSE (Cambridge University) International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
- (I)GCSE (Edexcel/PEARSON)
- Kuwait Ministry of Education.
Some of our Pearson (I)GCSE subjects will be following the new grading structure of 9-1. The bottom of the grade 7 aligns with the bottom of the grade A, the bottom of the grade 4 aligns with the bottom of the grade C and the bottom of the grade 1 aligns with the bottom of the grade G. 9 is a new grade, designed to recognise the very highest performing students. 9–1 will be awarded using the same reliable processes as the old A*-G grading.
Whatever courses you choose to follow, you should aim to gain a Grade C and hopefully higher. Grades D – G will not help you gain entrance to University. Please be aware that entry into year 12 at KES will require a minimum of 6 Bs at IGCSE level or a numerical grade of 6 if you are taking a Pearson GCSE subject, including grades A, B or 6 in the subjects you wish to study. You will also need to obtain a C or above in English and Mathematics. Arabic Second language will not be accepted as one of your 6 qualifying subjects and only one of the English Subjects will count. You must therefore expect to work hard and to be worked hard, and you must realise that you will not be able to take time off school. If you miss work due to absence it will be your responsibility to catch up. If your teachers think that you will not do well in the final examination they may not recommend your entry.
ATTENDANCEIf your attendance is below 91.5% throughout years 10 & 11, the school would be unable to register you as an IGCSE candidate according to the rules of C.I.E. and the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. |
Your subject choices depend greatly on the part of the world that you would be going to for your university education. You may think it is very early to be thinking about going to University, but there are some things you need to know now so that you can make the right subject choices. In some cases this will be very important when you apply to university. The following information is intended as a guide to help you and is the most up to date information we have.
| For all Kuwaiti Students |
Minimum requirements for Kuwait University and International Scholarships are currently 6 subjects at IGCSE and 2 subjects at AS level. Students wishing to attend Kuwait University or apply for an International Scholarship will have to complete Year 12. It will also be necessary to take additional entrance examinations.
*These requirements tend to change periodically, so please contact the Ministry of Higher Education for up to date information. |
| For Students who Intend to Study in the Middle East |
| All universities have different requirements and you must check carefully when you are applying. Some universities need 9 subjects and others 6 or 8, so you must make your choice carefully. Egyptian Universities now accept Ministry Arabic or IGCSE Arabic and IGCSE Design Technology. Further information can be found on the individual universities’ websites. At the moment most universities require 8 IGCSEs but will give preference to those students with AS and A Levels. |
| For Students who Intend to Study in the United Kingdom |
Students who wish to study in the United Kingdom should continue their education into the Sixth Form. This means you will finish your education after Year 13 at the age of 18. This is the standard age for entry into university degree courses all over the world. Your application will take place at the start of Year 13. All applications to the UK are sent through an online application portal called UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). A lot more information will come to you during Years 12 & 13. At some universities in the UK it is now possible for international students who do not have qualifications for direct entry to a degree course, to complete a Foundation Course. These foundation courses are taken at a college linked to the university but students need to be aware that Foundation Courses will not necessarily allow a student to apply to all UK universities nor will it guarantee entry into the degree programme of the University the college is linked to. |
| For Students who Intend to Study in the United States of America and Canada |
| The application process for North American Universities varies according to the college/university you are applying to. If you wish to apply to any of the Ivy League Universities e.g. Harvard or Yale, you will need 3 or 4 A Levels. American students will go to University after Grade 12, which in the British System is Year 13. If you wish to apply to “top tier” American Universities you will have to sit a further entrance examinations called SAT or ACT and you may also need an English Proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS. Canadian Universities will only accept students who complete and pass 4 AS levels or 2 A Level Subjects. |
| Education Fairs and University Visits |
| Kuwait English School has a good reputation and very good contact with many of the Universities around the world and many Admissions representatives visit the school regularly during the Academic Year. You will have the opportunity to meet them and discuss their Universities with them. Ensure that you visit the Careers Department Notice board and check your emails to find out about future visits. |
In CONCLUSION
- Kuwaiti students must still meet the conditions for the Ministry of Higher Education in order to qualify for a Higher Education Scholarship. This means you can only apply to a college/university listed on the approved list. This list can be found on the Ministry of Higher Education’s website.
- American Universities will accept students who complete their education in the British system and have UK ‘A’ Levels, which they accept as one of the best qualifications in the world. They are not always happy with students who change from one system to another. Some students think they have a better chance of getting into an American University if they attend an American School. This is not always the case.
- It is possible to enter an American College at the age of 16, but most Universities want at least 12 years of study. Remember the more popular the University, the higher the grades needed. However, a college may allow you to build up credits and then start a four year course. This means you could spend up to two years building credits then transfer to University to complete your degree. However If you have A Levels you can start straight away on the four year course and it is possible to gain exemptions for much of the first year (Freshman Year) as you will have already covered the work in your A Level course. When you consider that one year of study could cost over $55,000 it is something to think about!
- For many American Universities in the Gulf, including AUB, AUC and AUK, students should take the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS to show that their standard of English satisfies entry requirements even if they gain an IGCSE in English Language. SATs are also required by most American Universities in the Gulf.
