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Which syllabus my son should choose - Local or Cambridge

My son is in an International School, when he goes to Grade 9 we have to select whether he wants to do his O/L's following Local syllabus GCE O/L or Cambridge exams. I am a bit confused as the school follows the Local - Sri Lankan English Medium syllabus until grade 9 and then only he will be transferred to the Cambridge syllabus in Grade 9 to do his Cambridge exams in 2 years. Will it be a bit difficult to him to get adopted to the Cambridge syllabus and do the Cambridge exams. What do you think? Please advice whether I have to go for the Local Syllabus and if he studies local syllabus (O/L & A/L) incase if he goes abroad will that qualification be accepted?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Comments

Comment author woman

I've seen this system being carried by many international schools in Colombo and honestly l do not think there will be any issue with that. So no need to worry about it

Comment author woman

My opinion is better go ahead with local syllabus as he already followed it upto grade 9. Cuz Cambridge syllabus is really tough when compare to local syllabus.
Your son will be confused as your son follows local syllabus and do not worry about local qualifications. You can apply for any country with local OL and AL certificates.
If u need more information contact me 076 0439597

Comment author woman

This would depend on students ability to grasp lessons as well. The context in Cambridge o/l can be extensive however most local schools (private) gives the opportunity of switching at grade 10. If the student is able to catch up and follow go for it. But if it is a challenge better continue with locals. For instance some do local o/l and then proceed with London o/l in less than 6 months.

Comment author woman

If you wish to continue the education in Sri Lanka, it is better to go on the same path, O/L, A/L and University. Due to the prevailing situation it is better that send him for the international examinations system. So If he needs to change the path, please change in to the Cambridge syllabus asap. Because both curriculums contains same core subjects but in a different weights for each subject. Mostly local syllabus is more weight than Cambridge. 2 years, enough for that. Cambridge less weighted but going deep in the particular point. I think it is the best way to learn any subject. London A/L also not hard to study like our A/L streams. Now the government and private universities are in Sri Lanka accepting the Cambridge A/L results for entering to the university.

Comment author woman

In my opinion, there is no major difference between Local & Cambridge OL math syllabus. Your son was in grade 8. If he is good in maths or a hard worker, he will be able to understand new concepts in Cambridge easily. Our Local AL's is recognised by foreign Universities. Furthermore, if you are already decided to send him abroad after ALs, it is better to start Cambridge now itself.

Comment author woman

This would depend on student's ability and his capacity to grasp lessons as well. If he can do proper Cambridge do Cambridge syllabus otherwise if it is hard to do Cambridge change the path to local syllabus. our local O/L & A/L accepted in abroad. Please identify his skills and move to the best path he wants to continue

Comment author woman

If your child is scoring above 80 then he/she will be able to catchup with the Cambridge syllabus.
Yes both, Cambridge and Local is accepted abroad.
Talk to your kid as well. His opinion also matters

Comment author woman

In my opinion there is much advanced in Cambridge studies than local studies. But if he is very familiar with English language and quickly pickup everything I think he can go with Cambridge subjects.

Comment author woman

Please do contact me to discuss matters pertaining to your child’s educational needs. Thank you! - Prof. Immanuel Jebamony PhD (USA) Tel: +94775252323

Comment author woman

My advice is to allow the child to decide whether to follow the Cambridge syllabus or the local syllabus, whichever he feels comfortable with. When it comes to the issue of getting admission to a university in UK, Canada, USA, Australia or NZ, they will not ask for a IELTS band score if the student has the Cambridge A/L. Sri Lankan A/L is highly recognised all over the world because of its very high standard, irrespective of whether it has been done in Sinhala, Tamil or English Medium. With local A/L, one will be asked to produce IELTS certificate to enter a university to study in the English medium.

Comment author woman

If the child is getting above average marks for the subjects, he can follow Cambridge Syllabus with no problem. However you need to find out that this particular school have trained teachers who can teach International Syllabuses, specially all science subjects syllabuses have changed starting from 2023 examination year onwards. As for university intakes, students who sit for international examinations do not have to do a separate English qualification exam, however if the student do Local examinations they do have to sit for IELTS or an equivalent English qualification exam before going to a university abroad

Comment author woman

Dear parent,

it is better to talk to the child and find out his future goals or ambition. Whether he wants to live in Sri Lanka or foreign country.

If the child follows the Cambridge syllabus he won't be able to enter a local university

If the child follows the local syllabus he can enter any university in the world

Degrees given in local universities are accepted all over the world

What ever syllabus he follows he can catch up because it is prepared to the level of the child's brain level. At the beginning child may be little weak but can catch up by hard working.

The thing is we have to focus our future ambition and select the syllabus according to that

Comment author woman

Dear Student,
This is right time to change your stream, no problem you can follow well Cambridge syllabus.

Anyway if you do local syllabus, it is also acceptable in foreign universities.

Best wishes,

Comment author woman

Our local syllabus is recognized in most of the foreign uni's due to the higher performance levels of our students at their exams in the past. Hence the stream will not effect the entry to any Uni as long as the child performs at our local exams. When addressing the matter of English Language ability, you could get him/her to follow the Cambridge English Language exams parallel to the local stream (if it is decided to follow the local stream) At the local Cambridge Principles (Skills for Life (Pvt) Ltd, No 01,36th Lane, Colombo 08.) or Gateway up to B1 or B2 level which will equal to the IELTS parallel marking scores that are standardized as per European Standard levels. This way you can remove the Language Proficiency Gap. This way the child is free to decide the transfer at grade 9 without issues. All the best!

Comment author woman

It is better to continue the local syllabus if he was doing that upto now switching to Cambridge syllabus may have a bit of confusions but all depends on how he adopt to the new change

Comment author woman

I think this is right time to change your stream, no problem you can follow well Cambridge syllabus if you wish.

However, keep in mind that the local syllabus in which you study is also accepted in foreign universities.

Comment author woman

I think Cambridge syllabus is the best option because when he go to abroad It will be easy for him

Comment author woman

As for moving to do the London syllabus if the student is competent in English it won’t be an issue.
As for the local A/level, yes it’s accepted in any foreign country for admission.

Comment author woman

My opinion is to do Local syllabus, then your child will be able to gain local or foreign higher studies as well as good job, problem is you have to select which field or stream will suitable for him because every thing depend on child mind capacity and will power, not the local or foreign education curriculum. Other thing do not force him, allow to choose.

Comment author woman

There are many students who follow the local syllabus and shift to either Cambridge or Edexcel syllabus. If your son has no issue with the usage of the English language sometimes shifting to a different syllabus won't be an issue. Further, always ask your son about his preference, because it is him who has to follow. The basic subject backgrounds are a bit similar in the local and Cambridge syllabus the way they are structured is different. This might confuse students sometimes. The students who shift from local O/L to either Cambridge or Edexcel syllabus are perfectly doing fine as per my knowledge. The international recognition is high for the Cambridge syllabus compared to the Local syllabus, but that won't be a barrier to your son at all if he decided to follow local O/L at all. Always think from the student's point of view and get a decision.

Comment author woman

No, Sri Lankan Syllabus wonna work to Follow. The syllabus Cambridge is necessary for your child to be followed. If you want your child to follow the higher studies abroad, follow the syllabus of Cambridge

Comment author woman

It will not hard to shift the syllabus into Cambridge. In Cambridge syllabus u can choose 5 subjects and tires which he comfortable with.

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