Choosing A Curriculum

CURRICULUM GUIDE
CHOOSING
A CURRICULUM
CGA.SCHOOL
CURRICULA/ INTRODUCTION
Choosing a Curriculum Ebook
Introduction
Which curriculum is right for you?
Which classes should you take to
get to your dream university?

How do they compare?
International GCSEs and A Levels
International Baccalaureate
Advanced Placements
How we can help

WHICH
CURRICULUM IS
RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you plan to attend a world-
leading university, it’s critical
to take higher-level courses
throughout your high school
career.
Enrolling in these classes allows you to
challenge yourself academically with a
college-level curriculum and rigorous
coursework. Further, electing to take these
classes illustrates your willingness to take
initiative, explore areas of interest, and
handle more demanding courses with
greater autonomy — all qualities that
admissions officers look for in top
applicants.
Additionally, scoring well on exams can
translate into class credits or allow you to
skip introductory courses when you head
off to college.
BUT, WHICH
CLASSES SHOULD
YOU TAKE TO GET
TO YOUR DREAM
UNIVERSITY?
There are a number of factors
that can help you decide what
curriculum is right for you.
Choosing the qualification with the
assessment structure that best suits your
learning preferences will help you get the
grades necessary for admission into top
universities and set you up for your dream
career. Here we help you compare HSC
with the most commonly studied
international curricula - the A Levels, IB
and AP courses.
A-Levels, IB and APs are academically
challenging and are considered the highest
high school options students can take. The
end result for all of them is an independent
document certifying that a level of
achievement higher than a high school
diploma has been reached, helping
students to apply to top universities. But
despite the similarities there are certainly
significant differences between them.
The IB is an international organisation and
it aims for its students to be globally aware,
using international resources and content.
A-levels are developed by the British
government using predominantly British
content but adapted for the international
market, and AP courses are American-
based, developed by the US organisation

College Board with predominantly
American content.
HOW DO THEY COMPARE?
SCHOOL NUMBER OF
CURRICULUM AGE EXAMS

YEAR SUBJECTS
INTERNATIONAL Year 10 / 4-5 External, 2-3
14-16
GCSE Year 11 (minimum) times a year
INTERNATIONAL Year 12 and 4-5 External, 2-3
16-18
A LEVELS Year 13 (minimum) times a year
Internal and
INTERNATIONAL
Year 12 and 6 subjects & 3
cumulative
16-18
BACCALAUREATE Year 13 papers after
two years
Varies per student
External,
AP COURSES 14-18 Grade 9-12 and is additional to
once a year
high school classes
*At CGA we do not restrict students based on age, so you will be
able to take classes based on your ability.

CURRICULA/ INTERNATIONAL GCSES AND A LEVELS
Introduction
What are
International GCSEs
and A Levels?
The International GCSEs and A Levels are the
most commonly studied curriculum around
the world. They are based on the UK high
school education system and are adapted for
a global student base. Subjects are designed
to follow a logical, structured syllabus with all
the learning goals a student should expect to
master over the course of their qualification,
clearly laid out.
Advanced Placements
How we can help

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE
This pathway is fairly

In Year 12 students move on to the A
Levels that are further broken down into
straightforward and starts in

two parts: the AS Level, called
Year 11 or earlier with students

“Advanced Subsidiary”, (usually done in
Year 12) and A2 Level (typically done in
sitting up to 6 International
Year 13). Traditionally, students take 4-5
General Certificate of Secondary

AS Level subjects and then go on to take
3-4 of those subjects at the A2 Level. If
Education (International GCSE)

you choose to take an AS Level subject
subjects. and its exams without sitting the A2
Level the next year, you won’t complete
the A Level qualification and instead
These subjects are structured as first
receive just the AS qualification. The AS
introductions to the specific topic areas that
qualification also counts towards
they cover. In certain countries, students
university entrance in New Zealand.

begin in Year 10 and sit 8-10 subjects over
the course of two years.

CIE & PEARSON EDEXCEL -
INTERNATIONAL GCSE / A-LEVEL
A student
Or jump directly to the A Level
can enrol
qualification (beginning their AS
into IGCSEs Level)
International A Levels
International International
IGCSE AS Level A2 Level
A student can enrol in one subject at AS
Level and another at IGCSE, but cannot
jump directly to the A2 Level
There are 37 subjects
offered for International
GCSE and 21 for the A
Levels. Including:
+ English Language
+ English Literature
+ Mathematics
+ Business
+ Economics
+ Biology
+ Chemistry
+ Physics
+ History
+ Psychology
+ Law
02 Curriculum
US Diploma Program
students build portfolios that
encourage reflection and
allow them to showcase their
mastery of course material.
In every course, students work in an
inquiry-based classroom with
teachers and peers to expand their
knowledge and transfer academic
concepts across different content
areas. Exploring how academics and
the world are interconnected gives
their education a new level of
relevance.
Throughout their time enrolled in the
US Diploma Program all students
build portfolios that encourage
reflection, and allow them to
showcase their mastery of course
material.
Activating ideas through immediate
application is an impactful learning
activity that drives motivation and
engagement with academic concepts.
Having the opportunity to put ideas
to work the moment they come to
mind makes challenges and
roadblocks meaningful parts of a
student’s learning process, as
opposed to insurmountable barriers.
10 CGA US DIPLOMA PROGRAM

ASSESSMENTS
AND EXAMS
The International GCSEs are
100% externally assessed
through a set of examinations at
the end of your study.
The same is true for most AS and A Level
subjects besides arts courses like Drama,
Music or Photography. There are usually two
exam dates in the year giving students
flexibility based on their schedule. Plus, this
gives students the opportunity to resit exams
if they feel they have underperformed.
During an examination series, students sit a

number of individual exams (known as
papers) for a single subject. Each paper has a
specific weighting defined in the syllabus of
every course. The weighted average of these
papers will be the student’s final grade.
Edexcel International lets students resit
certain modules within each subject, giving
multiple opportunities to get the best
possible score.
GRADING
Simply put, this means that you don’t have to
Pearson Edexcel International

get 90% of the questions correct to end up
GCSEs are awarded using the new

getting a 90% on your report card. Your
nine point grading scale (9–1),

scores are relevant to those of your peers.
introduced by the UK government to

In the AS and A2 Levels, students receive
raise standards and recognise top-

grades after their examinations at the end of
every module. Their final average grade is
performing students. As part of this

the weighted average of the modules they sit
new system, each student’s raw

during the AS and A2 portions by a
predefined weighting that you can find in
mark is scaled on a bell curve

each subject’s syllabus online. Students
against the performance of all other

receive both a percentage grade and a letter
students taking the exam. grade on their completion certificates and it
is this letter grade that is most often used in
university admissions.
NEW
OLD
SCALED
GRADING
GRADING
PERCENTAGE
STRUCTURE SCALE GRADE
The new grade 9 represents a new level of
attainment and has been introduced to
9 A*
90-100
differentiate your top performing

students.
8 A 80-89
The bottom of the grade 7 broadly aligns

with the bottom of the grade A.

7
There's greater differentiation in the
6
middle of the scale, with three new grades
6, 5 and 4 rather than two grades (B and C).

B 70-79
5
with the bottom of the grade C.
C 60-69
4

3 D 50-59
with the bottom of the grade G.
E 40-49
2
F <40
1 G <40
Unsat
U U
BENEFITS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
GCSES AND A LEVELS
1. Global recognition
International GCSE and A Levels are studied in over 10,000 schools by over a million
students in 160 countries, Over 1,400 universities worldwide recognise A Level
qualifications. They are accepted by every UK university, by 600 universities in the US
(including all the Ivy League universities) and in many other major student destinations,
such as Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands.
2. Structured curriculum
The International GCSEs and A Levels are an academically rigorous pathway with a wide
breadth and depth of content. Students begin with the International GCSEs in Year 10 and
then move on to the AS and A2 Levels. This lays the foundation for the coursework
required as they progress through.
The introductory nature of International GCSEs means that the subject matter is
relatively easy, but wide enough to prepare for the AS level, when there is a big jump in
difficulty. This is because AS Level demands you to think much more deeply about the
content and to synthesize what you have learnt to solve problems in unfamiliar
circumstances. On the other hand, most IB schools teach their own curriculum before
Year 12, so the content is not standardised.
Edexcel A Level curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet
international in approach. Edexcel students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting
passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university
and in their future careers.
3. Flexibility of subject selection

The curriculum allows students to choose up to six subjects in Year 11 based on their
interests and there are no requirements like the IB. Each school might have entry
requirements and students might choose based on what they want to study in university,
but otherwise there are no restrictions. This allows students to have a good range of
subjects depending on their interests. Plus, with a school like CGA there is no limit on the
number of subjects you can choose.
4. Exam model
The International GCSEs and A Levels are externally assessed with the option for students
to sit exams at two or three different dates during the year. As part of Edexcel’s
modularized International A Levels, students can sit exams at the end of every module
three times a year instead of one marathon set of examinations at the end of the year
covering all the year’s content. Plus, students are allowed to resit exams as well as
individual modules. All these provisions mean that you have the best opportunity to score
higher marks on your exams.
Edexcel also offers the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) which is designed to develop
learners’ critical, reflective, problem-solving and independent learning skills, and
supports students with the transition to higher education.

SHORTCOMINGS OF INTERNATIONAL
GCSES AND A LEVELS
1. Subject selection
While students have flexibility on what subjects they want to study, most schools limit
students to only 4 or 5 subjects. This means that students don't have the same breadth
of subjects like their peers in the IB or AP curriculum. This might become a deciding
factor when applying to universities. Plus, the wide range of subjects can sometimes
confuse students without a more rigid structure and requirements in place.
2. Course load
If students stick to the minimum subjects required to enter UK universities (3 A Levels),
they might not have a rigorous course load that admissions officers are looking for at US
universities. Students doing the IB or AP curriculum have to take more subjects. So if you
choose to do the A Levels, it might be best to take more than the minimum number of
subjects required. Many NZ schools allow up to 5 A Levels to be taken in Year 13 or a
combination of AS and A2 to enable that greater breadth of subjects.

CURRICULA/ INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Introduction
Understanding
the International
Baccalaureate
Programme
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme
is an internationally recognised curriculum that
aims to foster internationally-minded and well-
rounded students. Around 5,000 schools around
the world offer the programme.
The IB was first proposed in the 1960s for high
school students only. Since then it has grown into
a K-12 programme, with the Early Years
Programme (EYP), Middle Years Programme
(MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).
Advanced Placements
How we can help

The IB Diploma Programme is for students aged 16-19
and is structured as below:
DP CORE (Required for all students)
Theory of Knowledge (ToK),

Extended Essay (EE), an
Creativity, Activity and Service
where students reflect on the

independent research project
(CAS), where students participate
nature of knowledge finishing with a 4,000-word

in extracurricular activities
paper
ACADEMIC SUBJECT GROUPS
Studies in Language and

Language Acquisition Individuals and Society, eg. Business
Literature, eg. Literature,

Ab initio courses for
Management, Economics,
Language and Literature, and

beginners Geography, History, Global Politics,
Literature and Performance Language B courses for those

Philosophy, Psychology, Information
with some prior exposure to

Technology in a Global Society,
the language Anthropology and World Religions
Sciences, eg. Biology,

Mathematics The arts, eg. Dance, Music, Film,
Chemistry, Physics, Computer

Theatre and Visual Art
Science, or Design Technology
Of the six academic subject groups, students must take one class from groups 1-5. After that, they can either take a subject
from group 6, or a second subject from groups 2-5. Additionally, either 3 or 4 of a student’s chosen subjects must be taken at
Higher Level (HL), with the remainder taken at Standard Level (SL).
ASSESSMENTS
AND EXAMS
The IB Programme is different
from other international
curricula in that final scores are
a combination of internal and
external assessment.
Internal assessment often takes the form of
long-term projects such as papers, reports
and presentations. These internal
assessments usually comprise between 15
and 25% of your final IB score for that
subject, and are graded by your teachers.
Your school will later send a small, randomly
selected sample of student work to the IB for
“moderation”, a process that ensures that the
school is grading fairly.
The rest of the IB is externally assessed,
mostly in the form of final examinations. IB
exams are cumulative, which means that all
topics are assessed in one exam at the end of
your second year of study. This does create
additional pressure on students having to sit
an exam based on two years' work.

GRADING
Each academic subject is scored
out of 7, with 7 being the highest
possible score.
The assessed components of the DP Core
are scored on an A-E scale. CAS is a
Pass/Fail requirement of the IB Diploma.
Thus at the end of the IB Diploma
Programme you will receive a score out of
45, with 42 of those attributed to academic
subjects. Depending on the combination of
your scores for ToK and EE, you will receive
between 1-3 points, bringing the total
possible score to 45.

SCALED

PERCENTAGE
IB GRADE GRADE
7 97 to 100 %
6 93 to 96 %
5 84 to 92 %
4 72 to 83 %
3 61 to 71 %
2 50 to 60 %
1 Below 50 %
BENEFITS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
1. Global recognition
The IB Diploma Program is recognised by all leading universities, which instantly
puts you on the world stage and contextualises your application.
2. University Preparation
The IB Diploma is effectively a “university preparation program”, in that it teaches
you skills and ways of learning that will set you up to do well at a tertiary education
level.
After two years of practice, you will have mastered fundamental skills such as
university style report and essay writing, source citing, and how to conduct
independent research. More broadly, you’ll be an expert at time management and
self-study, due to the IB’s heavy workload.
In the IB, you are taught to think critically, which is necessary for university, where
you’ll be exposed to many different concepts, opinions, and of course, people!
3. Well-rounded
Education
One of the goals of the IB Diploma programme is to develop well-rounded students.
So they provide a wide range of subjects for students to choose from and study as
part of the curriculum. This range shows your adaptability, strength of character,
and ability to push yourself.
In the IB, students will take some subjects at higher level (HL) and some at standard
level (SL), where the former comprises 240 teaching hours, and the latter 150
teaching hours. This means you can focus more on your best three subjects (or four if
you’re extra keen), and less so on your weaker subjects.
4. Personal Development
In the IB, you grow not only as a student, but as a human. The CASE component
places emphasis on emotional and social development by getting students involved
in activities outside the classroom. It helps develop softer skills like empathy and
teamwork in students.
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
PROGRAM
1. Length of Study
The IB is no walk in the park. Think of it more as a run – but a marathon, not a sprint.
You need to be a “long distance learner” to do well in the IB. It requires consistent work and
solid performance over a two-year period. While everyone else has to be “on” for one year,
you have to be on for two.
Exams aren’t spread out, either, which means that come the end of your final year you’ll be
tested on two years, and you’ll have to have just as strong an understanding of the material
taught at the beginning of the course than at the end.
2. Heavy Workload
In the IB, not only have you got all the coursework and assignments that come with the six
mandatory subjects, but also the essays, presentations, and projects that you need to do for
the three core components: EE, TOK, and CAS.
This makes it a much more demanding and content heavy course, and it’s why being diligent
and organised is more important than being smart. You need to be able to manage your time
really well to fit in all the activities as well as keep your grades up consistently with all the
different assessments going on.
3. Less Flexibility
Even with so many subject choices, there’s less flexibility in the IB due to the compulsory
breadth of study it requires. The IB Diploma is a rigid curriculum with a six subject allowance
dispersed across six categories, or rather five if you forgo the arts category, which is about as
flexible as it gets.
Not only this, but the amount of subjects available depends on what your school offers.
Because of these factors, you have a much better chance of getting accepted into a top-ranked
university if you do really well in your school curriculum than if you do “just okay” in the IB!
CURRICULA/ ADVANCED PLACEMENTS
Introduction
Advanced
Placements
What are AP courses and why do
they matter?
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are a
set of US curricula created by College
Board to give students the opportunity
to take college-level courses and,
depending on the score a student
receives on the exam, receive college
credit.
How we can help

AP courses count towards your
weighted GPA and have an external,

Advanced Placement
standardised exam at the end of the

subjects on offer
course. include:
Depending on the score you receive (1-5), your goal

+ Computer Science
university may offer you college credit which can set
+ Calculus
you up early for particular credit-related benefits. + Physics
+ Biology
AP courses run the length of the academic school
year, with the exams hosted over the course of 2

+ Macroeconomics
weeks in early to mid-May. You can take these classes
+ Microeconomics
in any of your high school years, provided your school
+ Psychology
allows it. While most students self-study for these
+ Statistics
exams in a shorter amount of time, it is very difficult
+ World History
to comprehend the amount of material you would
+ Chemistry
need in order to get a top score on the exams.
ASSESSMENTS
AND EXAMS
AP exams are scored out of 5,
and generally speaking, colleges
and universities will offer credit
for students who score 3
(sometimes 4) and above.
However, admission rules that
apply to one university may not
apply to another.
Recommendation
The number score on AP exams aren’t
necessarily grades - think of them more as
recommendations. A score of 1 would
indicate that the CollegeBoard does not
recommend a student as qualified to receive
credit, while a 5 indicates that the
CollegeBoard would recommend that
student as qualified. But it is up to each
college or university to make that decision
based on their own requirements or
qualifications — which is why a score of 3
may be enough to receive course credits at
one university but not others.

BENEFITS OF AP COURSES
1. Boost your candidacy for college applications
Earning top scores in an AP course is the best way to demonstrate your
academic ability to colleges and stand out amongst your peers.
2. Get a head start in high school

Study college-level material early and gain exposure to the academic expectations
of college. AP courses also allow you to earn college credit and pursue more
advanced courses.
3. Take a deep-dive into areas of passion

Explore areas of interest, such as Psychology or Computer Science, and provide
a clear indication of your academic passions.
4. Challenge yourself
AP classes are rigorous and demanding, offering intellectual stimulation that you
won't get elsewhere.
SHORTCOMINGS OF AP COURSES
1. Global Recognition
The AP courses are recognised for university credit only in the US and Canada.
Unlike the IB and A Levels they do not have the same level of global recognition.
2. Scoring
A caveat here for AP: More is not always better. AP courses ask high school
students to do college-level work, so if students take too many, they may feel
overwhelmed. It's better to take fewer AP courses and do well in them than
take more AP courses and perform poorly.

WE CAN HELP
SUPPORT YOU!
No matter whether you’re
in your final years of school

or are just starting to
decide which high school
curriculum is best for you,
if you’re looking for the
support you need to get
into a top international
university, we can help!
Crimson Global Academy offers both
full-time and part-time enrolment
options, so whether you want to stay
enrolled in your current school and
supplement your core studies with
additional Pearson Edexcel
International A Levels, or you’re
looking to join a school where you
can take unlimited International A-
Levels and can accelerate your
learning far beyond your peers, we
have an option for you.
With dedicated teaching staff
averaging 20+ years of teaching
experience and a streamlined online
learning platform, CGA will give you
all the resources you need to excel in
your schooling.
And if you’re still unsure which
curriculum is best for your strengths
and interests, schedule a free one-
on-one consultation with one of our
Academic Advisors who can help set
you on the path to success.

YOUR GLOBAL
CLASSROOM
AWAITS
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an Academic Advisor
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CURRICULUM GUIDE

Choosing a Curriculum Ebook

get to your dream university?

International GCSEs and A Levels

How we can help

RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you plan to attend a world-

leading university, it’s critical

to take higher-level courses

throughout your high school

Enrolling in these classes allows you to

challenge yourself academically with a

college-level curriculum and rigorous

coursework. Further, electing to take these

classes illustrates your willingness to take

initiative, explore areas of interest, and

handle more demanding courses with

greater autonomy — all qualities that

admissions officers look for in top

Additionally, scoring well on exams can

translate into class credits or allow you to

skip introductory courses when you head

YOU TAKE TO GET

There are a number of factors

that can help you decide what

curriculum is right for you.

Choosing the qualification with the

assessment structure that best suits your

learning preferences will help you get the

grades necessary for admission into top

universities and set you up for your dream

career. Here we help you compare HSC

with the most commonly studied

international curricula - the A Levels, IB

A-Levels, IB and APs are academically

challenging and are considered the highest

high school options students can take. The

end result for all of them is an independent

document certifying that a level of

achievement higher than a high school

diploma has been reached, helping

students to apply to top universities. But

despite the similarities there are certainly

significant differences between them.

The IB is an international organisation and

it aims for its students to be globally aware,

using international resources and content.

A-levels are developed by the British

government using predominantly British

content but adapted for the international

market, and AP courses are American-

based, developed by the US organisation

HOW DO THEY COMPARE?

CURRICULUM AGE EXAMS

INTERNATIONAL Year 10 / 4-5 External, 2-3

INTERNATIONAL Year 12 and 4-5 External, 2-3

Varies per student