L’OPTION INTERNATIONALE DU BACCALAUREAT

31 BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SECTIONS IN FRANCE (ONE IN THE LYCEE FRANCAIS DE SINGAPORE AND IN ATHENS OPENED IN 2013) IN 2011, 777 STUDENTS AT THE BRITISH VERSION OF THE OIB IN 2012, 878 STUDENTS IN 2013, 1013 STUDENTS

ASIBA : ASSOCIATION DES SECTIONS INTERNATIONALES BRITANNIQUES ET ANGLOPHONES WEBSITE : asiba.info/fr/ OIB HANDBOOK 5 ANNUAL MEETINGS (2 in HG / 2 in LL / 1 HOS)

- Work in collaboration with two general inspectors from the Ministry of Education : Mr Lecoq in History and Geography, and Mrs Manes- Bonnisseau in English. TWO CAMBRIDGE INSPECTORS : CLAIRE SLADDEN (HG) /CELIA O’DONOVAN (LL) - Choose the written papers (amongst the propositions sent by the teachers/examiners of the community) - Are in charge of the annual exams feedback, the examiners’ training and the changes in the curriculums

THE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE CURRICULUM THE WRITTEN PAPER : Includes the study of one work in each of the three genres : Prose, Poetry and Drama. THE ORAL EXAM : Includes the study of one Shakespeare play as well as a particular literary movement through the study of two novels and 6 poems.

THE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM DEFINED BY THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

THE EXAM IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - WRITTEN PAPER : - 4 HOURS. - COEFF. 6(L) and 4(S/ES) - IN FENELON - ORAL EXAM : - 30 MN - COEFF. 4 - IN AIX EN PROVENCE

THE EXAM IN HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY - WRITTEN PAPER : - in French or English - 4 HOURS - COEFF. 5 (ES/L) and COEFF. 4 (S) - IN FENELON - ORAL EXAM : - 15mn - COEFF. 3 (S/L) and COEFF. 4 (ES) - IN AIX EN PROVENCE

OIB HANDBOOK ( in French and English on the ASIBA website.) Detailed description of the expectancies and marking criteria FDEI (Fondation pour le Developpement de l’Enseignement International): a conference created in 2007 to promote the OIB, to inform politics and companies about the value of the OIB and to allow exchanges between sections for a better cooperation. Website: APDESI (Association des Personnels de Direction d’Etablissements à Sections internationales): created in 2010 FOR FURTHER DETAILS

OUR STUDENTS’ RESULTS IN 2011: 100% passed 94% got a mention OUR STUDENTS’ RESULTS IN 2012 : 100% passed 93% got a mention OUR STUDENTS’ RESULTS IN 2013 : 100% passed 93% got a mention OUR STUDENTS’ RESULTS IN 2014: 100% passed 92% got a mention

THE OIB : WHAT FOR?

FRENCH STUDIES : Whatever school, university, prépa the student wants to get in, the OIB is recognised as being a very demanding program and confirms a high level of English. Sur l’application Post-Bac (APB) : -Une note de LV1 coefficientée valorisant le niveau de langue dès la classe de 1ere -Une appréciation de l’établissement visant à expliciter les exigences de la section britannique

STUDIES ABROAD : - In the USA, Australia, Ireland or Canada, it depends on the universities’ admission system - In Great-Britain, the application is online through a centralised system : UCAS

Why apply to the UK? -18 British universities ranked in top 50 worldwide (6 in top 10) -Low drop-out rate (selective system) -Good student-teacher ratios -Student-centred approach -Excellent graduate opportunities

Important points to note - There is only one possibility : universities -Entry to university in the UK is selective & highly competitive - Increasing cost, however students can pay in arrears

British degrees - Bachelor’s: 3-4 years - Master’s: further 2 years - Doctorate: further 3 years

Applying to universities in the United Kingdom The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

UCAS Application: Step 1 Why do I want to study in the UK? Do I fully understand the UK university system? Have I considered what my degree will be worth, what I can do with it and where? Do I (and my family) understand the financial implications of studying in the UK? Am I prepared to live in the UK for at least three years?

Finance: tuition costs If you are a UK or EU citizen an English university will charge £9,000 per year tuition fees. So a three year degree course will cost £27,000 If you are admitted to a degree course your fees will be paid for you by the UK government You will repay the money once you have qualified and you are earning more than £21,000 per year Scottish universities do not charge EU citizens tuition fees except for English students resident in England If you are not a UK or EU citizen all universities will charge at a higher rate than £9,000

Finance Each year you will pay 9% of the money you earn above £21,000 to repay your loan For instance:  You earn £22,000 per year. You will pay 9% of £1,000, that is £90  You earn £121,000 per year. You will pay 9% of £100,000, that is £9000  A UK teacher earns on average £31,000 approx, so will pay £900 pounds per year You pay each year until the debt is repaid The repayments do not affect your credit rating (for mortgages etc)

Finance You stop repaying the debt: 1)When you have fully repaid the loan 2)If your annual income falls beneath £21,000 per year 3)If you are permanently disabled and can’t work (debt written off) 4)If you die (debt written off) 5)After 30 years Repayments are made through UK income tax

UCAS Application: Step 2 Have I thoroughly researched the course and universities to which I am about to apply Have I consulted UCAS Course Search? Have I spoken with former OIB students at the universities I am considering? Have I read any independent reviews about my chosen universities? Have I visited any of the universities? Have I a good idea of the location of my choices and the logistics of travel?

UCAS Application: Step 3 Do I fully understand the application process and key dates? Have I understood the requirements of the personal statement in my application (watch the video!) Do I know the entry requirements for my chosen courses/universities? Do I have to take any special entry tests and/or attend an interview for my chosen course/university? If so have I checked dates and considered the travel/accommodation costs? Have I consulted with my subject teachers? Am I being realistic? Will I achieve the grades required?

Entry Requirements: approximate equivalences For most selective schools such as Oxbridge, St Andrew’s,...require a minimum of 16.

UCAS application: Step 4 You can chose up to five universities You will have to have prepared a personal statement which is like a letter of motivation. Watch the video on the UCAS website and read the advice. Consult with the teacher writing your reference You will need reports from your main subject teachers You will need to pay for the applications on-line by credit card

The goal of your personal statement is to convince schools that you would be a positive addition to the course in which you are applying and to their student body. Your enthusiasm and commitment need to shine through, and you want to try and stand out from the crowd. To do so you need to think about including the following things: - what course you are applying to and why, - your situation in the international section and your series as not every school will know about the system, - your qualities as a student including examples, - extracurricular activities and their influence on you and how they will be pertinent for the course - you need to let your personality shine through, - always be positive, yet modest University Applications: Personal Statement Due Date of rough draft: May 11 th 2015

The Academic Reference - A comment on your academic achievement to date and potential - A predicted grade (overall mark in the OIB/bac)

The University Applications : The Teacher Reference Due Date: March 12th, 2014 In order to best prepare your teacher references, we ask that you provide us with some personal information. It will also be helpful to you in preparing your application reference. We ask that you put some thought into your responses which, where applicable, should be written in paragraph form, not just as lists. Name: Date of birth: Choice of degree course: Countries in which you will be applying: Universities that you are interested in and job prospects: Schools you have attended and dates of attendance: Goals for the future in terms of your education Personal qualities with examples (ex: time mgmt, leadership skills, communication skills, teamwork, caring for others, public speaking, reading, sports, …) School and extracurricular activities. This can include things such as MUN, sports, music, charitable work…Please explain the benefits that you derived from these activities. Other interests or things of importance in your life concerning your accomplishments, hardships, family…

UCAS application: step 5 For applications for Oxford, Cambridge, Medical and Veterinary schools, the application must be sent off by October 15 th at the latest You will also have to take tests in November (check on the test and location of examination centre) and if successful attend an interview in December For all other applications the deadline is January 15 th Some university courses (ie law) require you to take a test. Make sure that you know the dates and location of the tests. You can apply to UK universities and to others in any country at the same time

Additional Entrance Tests -Law: LNAT (Paris, Lyon...) -Medicine: BMAT (Paris, Lyon)/UKCAT (Paris) - Oxford (early November, Paris, Lyon): –HAT (History) –ELAT (English) –PPE/Economics & Management –Mathematics & Computer Science –Physics -Cambridge: Thinking Skills Assessment (some colleges, Cambridge) -UCL: Thinking Skills Assessment (for ESPS) - Check registration deadlines!

Interviews -Oxford -Cambridge -Medical courses - Some other universities e.g. UCL

Offers -Conditional or unconditional - Conditions usually include: –Overall bac mark: generally 12/ /20 but up to 17/20 –Individual subject requirements: generally 12/20 – 18/20 - Entry requirements reflect competition

EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION APPLICATIONS

- Students, with the help of their parents, will be expected to do all research concerning course and school choices. - Students will be responsible for providing detailed information concerning their school history, their future plans, as well as information about their interests, extracurricular activities, etc. in order to help teachers in the writing of references. - Parents will be responsible for all translating of documents, including references from French-speaking teachers, as required by specific schools. - Students will be responsible for filling in all application forms in a timely manner. - Students will be responsible for gathering all necessary information concerning entrance tests or required supporting documents.

-The school will be happy to discuss choices made with students in an attempt to finalize their decisions. -The school will provide all necessary references. -The school will be expected to give advice concerning personal statement writing. -The school will stamp all documents and their translations with the official school stamp after verification. - The school will be responsible for sending documents as required by specific universities and will make the final verification and send all UCAS applications.

UCAS application: Step 6 Wait for the replies Work hard!

QUELLE QUE SOIT L’OPTION QUE VOUS CHOISIREZ, EN FRANCE OU A L’ETRANGER, ASSUREZ-VOUS QUE C’EST LA VOIE QUI VOUS PLAIT…

’Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.’