Dipont A Level, AP and "Pre IB" Programmes
Students who wish to join our programmes transfer to the centres once they have completed either their nine year compulsory education, or senior years one and two, in the Chinese system. In all cases, they are keen to study at Higher Education level overseas - primarily in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The A-Level Programme
The CIE A Level Programme Cambridge International A/AS Level is an internationally recognised qualification taken by students in over 125 countries. The Dipont programme includes IGCSE for Pre A-level (PAL) and the CIE AS and A2 levels. IGCSEs are taught within one year, with students then moving onto the AS and A2 programmes. Expatriate teachers teach predominantly at AS and A2 level.
» Cambridge International Examinations website
Subjects offered are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Business Studies and Accounting. In some centres, ICT is also offered at A Level and Accounts at IGCSE level. All students take English as a Second language at IGCSE. English is a compulsory subject for all students throughout the programme even when they have met the language entrance requirements (IELTS/TOEFL) for overseas university applications. Students can choose 4 to 5 subjects at AS level and in most cases take 3 to 4 subjects at A2 level. The Chinese school system places a great deal of emphasis on mathematics and sciences and therefore many students enter the centres with a very strong academic background in those subjects. Their background in business studies subjects can be limited and therefore more support for these courses is required in the PAL year.
» English
» Mathematics
» Physics
» Chemistry
» Biology
» Economics
» Accounting
» Business Studies
The AP Programme
Advanced Placement courses provide high ability students with the opportunity to earn college credit whilst at high school and stand out in the admissions process to Colleges in the US, Canada and other parts of the world. Dipont has developed a coordinated curriculum that builds on the strength of the Chinese National Curriculum through the study of AP courses and the provision of Academic English teaching.
In some parts of the world, secondary school students can take AP examinations without having taken AP courses. The College Board, however, strongly recommends that the best way to prepare for an AP exam is to take a specifically developed AP course. For most Chinese students, whose learning follows the Chinese national curriculum, taking the AP exam without undertaking a specific course is unrealistic due to the requirement to master concepts, display critical thinking skills and study particular content. Our students really benefit from our more concept-driven AP courses that can build upon their previous learning.
We currently offer AP courses in Calculus, Physics and Economics, whilst English is taught to all students as a separate subject. Over the next two years we will further widen the subject provision. As in the A Level Centres, students take a Pre-AP year in order to prepare them for the first year of AP study.
» English
» Calculus
» Physics
» Economics
The "Pre-IB" Programme
Building on the success of our existing A Level centres, Dipont Education began a ‘pre-IBDP’ programme in August 2011. This is a one year preliminary programme designed to equip students to progress successfully onto the diploma programme upon authorisation from the IB. For the first year, the programme will focus on the development of English skills and will introduce the range of subjects available within the diploma to enable students to make an informed choice of their diploma subjects. IGCSE certification will be incorporated in the first year.
» Science
» Mathematics
» Humanities
» English
» Chinese
» Aesthetics