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Secondly,consider whereyouwould likeyourchild togo touniversityandchoose schools that
lead most directly to the best universities in your preferred country. If you intend your child to
study in Britain, opt first for a school that offers the British curriculum, for example, even from
primary level,orone thatwillenable your child to transfer easilytoaBritish systemat secondary
level.Thirdly,consider the individual school.Language isone consideration. Ifyouwantyour
childtodevelopproficiency inPutonghua,chooseschoolswiththemostextensivePutonghua
programs,suchastheChinese International School,theCanadian International School,the
Kiangsu and Chekiang Kindergarten, and Primary School,The Independent Schools Foundation
Academy andYewChungInternational School.
International schoolsprepare students foravarietyoffinal examinations,suchastheBritish
General Certificate of Education (GCSE, taken at age 16 plus), BritishA Levels (18 plus) and the
International Baccalaureate,aswellasvariousNorthAmericangraduationdiplomas.North
American schools are also most likely to prepare students for the SAT university entrance exam.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma program is highly respected and recognized in Europe,
NorthAmericaandAustralia asa reliablemeasureofa student’s achievements.TheDiploma
program is demanding academically and it recognizes the importance of non-academic activities.
Ifyouarenotsurewhereyourchildwillcompletetheireducation,schoolsoffering theIBprogram
are recommended. Following the IB will not restrict their choice of university destination.
Bear inmind that thereare onlya limitednumber of university places inHongKong forstudents
from international schools, if you expect your child to remain in Hong Kong for tertiary education.
If I have a debenture; does that mean there won’t be a problem getting my child into school?
Havingadebenturedoesnotguaranteeaplacement,butitwillput your childhighon thepriority
list. Your child mustpas
s the Admissions test before the debenture can be considered.
WhatcanIdotoimprovemychild’schancesofbeingacceptedintoaschoolin
Hong Kong?
AllinternationalschoolsinHongKonguseEnglishastheirmediumofinstruction.Aspartof
the application procedure, they will interview the prospective student. They are looking for a
competent levelofEnglish.Ifyourchild isveryyoung,youmayconsider role-playingpriorto the
interviewtocalmtheirnerves.Askyour childquestions youwouldnotordinarilyaskthem.“How
oldareyou?”“Doyou likeyournewhome?”.Remember,theinterviewerisusuallyateacherand
will try to make the child feel at ease. They recognize that often the children are not at their best
during the interview and if you can relax your child enough to talk with them it ticks an important
box.IfyourchildisnotanativeEnglishspeaker,itwouldbeverywisetoenrollhim/herinan
English language program prior to coming to Hong Kong. Older children may be required to sit an
entrance exam and this varies from school to school.