Grade 11 and 12

Options Information
2023 – 2025
Dear Parents and Students,

Here at RAK Academy International Secondary School, we offer two pathways that will lead students
directly into the world of work or on a journey towards a university degree. Our Sixth Form students have
gone on to study at universities across the world, as well as here in the UAE. Many of our former students
return to share their successes and gratitude for their time at RAK Academy. Our staff work extremely hard
to ensure that every Sixth Form student at ISK is provided with every opportunity to be successful and in so
doing, allowing them to pursue future post-secondary endeavours of their choosing.

We will be hosting our annual Grade 10 Options evening in Term 2 on the following day:

Wednesday the 11th of January 2023 from 6.00 to 7.30pm and all Options Choice forms will need to be
returned by Monday the 23rd of January 2023.

Attendance to this Options Evening is extremely important as it will allow you as parents to gain a full
understanding of the Grade 11 and 12 pathways and subjects offered at ISK. This will allow you to help your
son/daughter make the right choices for their individual needs and aspirations.

The Grade 10 Options Evening will take place in the ISK Theatre on campus also provide you with an
opportunity to ask questions relating to your son/daughter’s option choices.

Our Sixth Form follows both the British Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate (IB) pathways, and
students are encouraged to choose the pathway which is most suited to their future aspirations, abilities
and of course, their preferred mode of study. The Sixth Form Team are well equipped to provide guidance
and support to enable students to make the right pathway choice, as well as supporting them through their
time with us.

The qualifications available to students here at ISK include:

• British A-Level
• The International Baccalaureate (IB)

RAK Academy Sixth Form students choose one of two pathways:

Pathway 1: British curriculum A-Level - undertaken over 2 years

Pathway 2: The International Baccalaureate (2-year course of study).

Please note that detailed information for each of the options offered for both Pathways 1 (British A
Level) and 2 (IB Diploma Programme) is available in the respective Options Books for each. These will be
made available on the school website for your perusal.

Students are advised to consider their choice of pathway very carefully: consultations with teachers,
parents and the Careers and University Guidance Counsellor all contribute to a final choice.
Whichever pathway students choose; the ISK Sixth Form Team will be here to support them on every step
of that journey.

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Sixth Form Entry Requirements

Pathway Minimum access requirements

Pathway 1 5 Grades of 5 or above at IGCSE in the subjects they choose
A-Levels to study (in some cases, previous study may not be required)
Pathway 2 – 5 Grades of 5 or above at IGCSE, with a 6 at IGCSE in subjects
The International Baccalaureate that are to be studied at Higher Level.

Pathway 1:
Pathway 1 will see students who have achieved a minimum of 5 Grades of 5 or above at IGCSE study for
three A-Level qualifications.

In the UK there has been a major shift in the Sixth Form curriculum with most schools only offering three A
Level subjects at Key Stage 5. Most universities offer their places based on three subjects at A level or
equivalent.

ISK Sixth Form will only offer a route equating to more than 3 A 'Levels to students who have demonstrated
outstanding results at IGCSE level.

Pathway 1 for Sixth Formers at ISK comprises full two-year A-Level courses, with graduation at the end of
Grade 12.

Students completing their high school studies at the end of Grade 12 - 2025, must achieve 2 A-Levels grades
A*-D and a minimum of 5 IGCSEs at Grade 9-3. The A-Level and IGCSE subjects must be subjects which are
approved by the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Students may wish instead to take Pathway 2:

Pathway 2:
Pathway 2 is for students who have achieved three Grades of 6 or above at IGCSE who wish to study the
International Baccalaureate. Students opting for this route will also be required to study for the full two
years at RAK Academy Sixth Form. This is a highly regarded Post 16 qualification, which will place them at
an advantage when considering the world’s very best universities. A full breakdown of this course is
available in the Pathway 2 Option Book.

Whichever pathway students choose, the ISK Sixth Form will provide support, guidance, and a wealth of
expertise from the dedicated Sixth Form team and wider Academy staff.

Student’s success is at the heart of all we do! Best wishes with your choice's

Mr Marc Groenewald
(Deputy Headteacher)

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University Advice & Careers Counselling at RAK Academy

Ras al Khaimah Academy aims to assist our students as they plan their path to university and beyond. The
university application process is both challenging and exciting.

Beginning in Grade 11 and continuing through Grade 12, we aim to provide students with careful guidance
on course selection and academic performance.

Careers Counselling
The role of the Careers Counsellor is to:
• Assist in course selection geared towards a future career.
• Invite guest speakers to talk to our students about employment and success at the workplace
during the Career Talk series.
• Show students how to research careers online through books and catalogues that are provided in
the Sixth Form.
• Provide opportunities to our students to gain work experience through internship programmes and
assist them with their applications and scholarships.

Advice on choosing your University

• Students will be supported to find out what qualifications are needed for their intended course of
study and to get into universities worldwide.
• Students will be shown how to choose a course of study and find the right university for them.
Factors such as location, university rankings, entry requirements, tuition fees, and application
deadlines, application strategies and the application cycle are considered.
• Students will be guided as to how to write personal statements and college essays in special
workshops.
• The school will Invite university representatives from all over the world to talk to students during
university fairs, webinars, or virtual meetings.

For any further enquiries about Universities, Careers, or course selection, feel free to contact
Mr. Wilson located in the Sixth Form [email protected]

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Useful Links
Ministry of Education: www.moe.gov.ae

International exams
International Baccalaureate https://www.ibo.org/
Cambridge International www.cambridgeinternational.org
Edexcel: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html
IELTS: www.ielts.org
TOEFL: www.ets.org/toefl
SAT: www.collegeboard.org

University guidance: UCAS: www.ucas.com

Common application: www.commonapp.org
Big Future: www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Unistats: www.unistats.direct.gov.uk
Top Universities www.topuniversities.com

Careers advice & support: Courses/careers: www.courses-careers.com

Careers portal: www.careers-portal.co.uk
Futurewise: www.myfuturewise.org.uk
Future Morph: www.futuremorph.org
STEM: www.wherestemcantakeyou.co.uk
Career test: www.yourfreecareertest.com

Personality Test: www.truity.com/test/300-question-personality-test

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Performance Measures
How student performance will be measured and reported

The Ministry of Education stipulates that students will be unable to graduate from Grade 12 without
achieving a minimum of two A-Levels at a D Grade or higher, this is in addition to the five IGCSEs needed in
approved subjects at a Grade 3 or higher. This will mean that students failing to achieve these grades will
be forced to repeat the year.

The Ministry of Education requirement is a minimum, students should aspire to achieving the very best
possible grades, internationally a C Grade is considered a ‘good pass’.

Students wishing to progress and attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities should look to
study three A-Level’s or opt for the IB Programme. Most universities expect students to achieve Grade B or
higher at A-Level and Grade 5 or higher at IB.

Graduation and Equivalency 2023 onwards

Please note that for students graduating from 2023 onwards the MoE criteria for graduation and
equivalency requires students to achieve 5 IGCSEs subjects Grades 9-3 including English, mathematics,
one science subject and two other subjects which are MoE approved.
Students also require two full A-Levels Grade A*-D which are MoE approved subjects.

If a student does not have 5 IGCSEs subjects Grades 9-3 including English, Mathematics, one science
subject, two other approved MoE subjects and 2 full A-levels Grades A*-D, then they can graduate from
our sixth form, but they will not gain MoE equivalency.

Post 16 Grading
Key stage 5 Key Stage 5
A-Level IB Grades
A* 7
A 6
B 5
C 4
D 3
E 2
1
Minimum pass by the MoE

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Tutor Time Discussions: how you make the best choices
It is important to make the right decision about the subjects you choose for study in Key Stage 5. You will
not be able to make changes once the courses have started, so think very carefully about what you want.

Consider subjects, combinations of subjects and the amount and type of coursework and/or independent
study that will be needed. It is often best to study a breadth of subjects.

Do not choose any subject just because you like a particular teacher, as there is no guarantee that this
member of staff will teach you. Do not pick because your friends make a choice, as you may be put in a
different class, and you must choose what is right for you – not them!

Going through the steps below with your form tutor will help you decide what will be right for you.

Stage 1 – Your Future

What are your thoughts and plans? Do you think you will go to university or straight into work? Do you have
an idea of the sort of work you eventually see yourself doing? Have you an idea of the career you want to
follow?

Filling in each of the following where you can, should help you:

After I leave school, I can see myself going:

To an
To UAE University To work
International University

The subject area(s) I want to study for my degree are:

The entry criteria for the country where I wish to attend university is:

The qualifications needed for me to go straight into work are:

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Stage 2 – Subjects from Key Stage 4
Think about how well you are progressing in your Key Stage 4 subjects. Fill in the boxes on the right of each
subject: whether you have previously studied it at IGCSE, your target grade, and how much you enjoy it – or
not! (score yourself 1 (do not enjoy) to 5 (really enjoy) and why.

Studied at Target Like

Subject Reasons
IGCSE Grade 1-5
Arabic*
**Art

Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Computer Science
DT
English Language
English Literature
French
Spanish
Geography
History
Islamic *
Maths
Physics
Psychology

Compulsory subjects for students*

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 Pathway 1 and 2 Option Choice Form
Student’s Name: Form Group:
Student’s Signature Date of Birth:

Preferred Pathway Pathway 1 Pathway 2

Please tick which pathway you wish to
follow
Only students who achieve a minimum of 5 Grade C’s at IGCSE will be allowed to study at RAK Academy in Grades 11 and 12
Pathway 1: A-Level – Subject options below
▪ Arabic**
▪ Art**
▪ Biology
▪ Business Studies
▪ Chemistry
▪ Computer Science
▪ Design and Technology
▪ English Language
▪ English Literature
▪ French
▪ Spanish
▪ Geography
▪ History
▪ Mathematics
▪ Physics
▪ Psychology

▪ You are required to choose THREE subjects from the subjects listed above.
▪ Place your subjects in order of preference in the table below.
▪ Ensure that you only choose one subject with a **.
▪ Please choose reserve subjects.
▪ Please ensure you have read and understood the MoE equivalence criteria for 2022/2023 before
choosing your course.

Subject Preferences A Level Course

1
2

3
Reserve subjects A Level Course
1
2

Pathway 2: International Baccalaureate

• You are required to choose ONE subject from each Groups 1-6.
• if you do not select Visual Art from Group 6, then please choose another subject from either Groups 2, 3 or 4.
• Please circle your subject choices.
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6
English Literature French Business Biology Mathematics Visual Art
Management
Spanish Geography Chemistry
Arabic History Physics Or another
Psychology Computer Science subject from
Design and Group 2, 3 or 4
Technology

Parent’s Name: Date:

Parent’s signature:

PLEASE COMPLETE THE SEPARATE COPY OF THIS SHEET