Counseling – British International Schools in Kurdistan

Parents:

Academic planning/support
Post-secondary planning
School-to-parent communications
School-to-work transition programs
One-on-one parent conferencing
Referral process

Students:

Teachers:

Portfolio development, providing recommendations and assisting students with the post-secondary application process
Classroom guidance lessons on post-secondary planning, study skills, career development, etc. School-to-work transition programs
Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically, classroom speaking
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success

Administrators:

Graduation and University Admission Guidance Counsellor:

BISK Secondary Counsellor will work with all seniors (grade 12th) and provide assistance with being admitted to a local university or a university abroad
BISK Secondary Counsellor will arrange visits to local universities and invite local universities to come and speak about their university to BISK seniors
BISK Secondary Counsellor will make every effort to secure scholarships for our seniors
BISK Secondary Counsellor will oversee graduation ceremonies

List of Universities in Kurdistan Region:

Public Universities

Hawler Medical University, Erbil
University of Duhok, Duhok
University of Koya, Koya
Charmo University, Chamchamal
University of Raparin, Ranya
University of Salahaddin, Erbil
Soran University, Soran
University of Sulaimani, Suliemani
Sulaimani Polytechnic University SPU,Sulaimani
University of Zakho, Zakho
Duhok Polytechnic University DPU, Duhok
Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil
University of Halabja, Halabja
University of Garmian, Kalar

Private Universities

Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaimani
American University Duhok Kurdistan, Duhok
American University in Iraq-Sulaimani, Sulaimani
Cihan University, Erbil
Dijlah College, Erbil
Ishik University, Erbil
Ishik University, Sulaimani
Cihan University, Sulaimani
BMU Lebanese French University, Erbil
University of Kurdistan Hawler, Erbil
International University of Erbil, Erbil
University of Human Development, Sulaimani
Nawroz University, Dohuk
Knowledge University, Erbil

BISK Test Coordinator

The BISK Test Coordinator oversees the preparation and administration of a proficiency exam, such as the SAT, IGCSE, AS and A Level along with the internal exams.

At BISK we have two systems:

The American System for grades 9-12

British/Cambridge system- for grades 9-13

Students are not required to take three sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) every year grade- only one per year. Other courses are the same.
For this academic year 2020/2021, Students will study Biology at grade 10, Chemistry at grade 11 and Physics at grade 12.
Students must complete all four years of required coursework prescribed in the BISK transcript.
Students in this program can take the SAT- external exam required to be admitted in any university locally or internationally.
Grades 9-12 can take the SAT 4 times a year, and the highest score will be used to apply at local or international universities.
Students will receive a British International Schools of Kurdistan diploma upon completion of 12th grade along with an official transcript both of which are required and accepted here in Kurdistan and abroad.

Students are required to take Biology, Chemistry and Physics every year grade.
Students in grades, 9-10 are required to take IGCSE and cannot be, according to the KMofE, older than 16 years old.
Students in grades 11-12 are required to pass external exams Levels AS/A level.
Students who wish to complete AS/A levels must attend grade 13 .

Please note that students can do both IGCSE or SAT exams and apply to universities. It is recommended to use one with highest score only.

About the SAT and College board

The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board.

https://www.collegeboard.org/
The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays.

Cambridge International Assessment Education

At BISK our students take the following exams:

Cambridge Primary Checkpoint is designed to assess learners at the end of Cambridge Primary. It gives valuable feedback on learners’ strengths and weaknesses before they progress to the next stage of education and provides schools with an external international benchmark for learner performance.

Cambridge Secondary Checkpoint is a flexible curriculum with integrated assessment from Cambridge Assessment International Education. They are marked by Cambridge International Examinations, and provide schools with an external international benchmark for student performance.

IGCSE stands for “International General Certificate for Secondary Education”. It’s equivalent to the GCSE, meaning it prepares the student for A-levels. It’s (normally) taken between Years 9 and 10.

Students should have minimum of five IGCSE in order to move to next level.

AS (Advanced Subsidiary) & A (Advanced) level qualifications focus on traditional study skills. They normally take two years to complete full-time in school. Students should have a minimum of three subjects in order to get A level qualification.

CIE exams start in May /June and the retakes start in October /November
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/

The main requirements to be admitted into a local or international university for any option are to:

Grading Systems:

Grading is provided after every assessment

Grades 1-11 have three end of term assessments.

Grade 12-13 have two end of term assessments.

American Grading System

British Grading System

American Grading System
A+= 98%-100% B+= 89%- %91 C+= 80% - %82 D+= 71% - 73%
A = 95%-97% B = 86%- %88 C = 77% - %79 D = 68% - 70%
A- = 92%-94% B- =83%- 85% C- = 74% - 76% D- = 60% - 67%
E = < 60%