Edexcel revamps Advanced Level curriculum
View(s):Edexcel, UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications has been providing Sri Lankan students with top-ranked examinations which follow the British national curriculum for nearly 40 years. In the last year alone, over 7,000 Sri Lankan students sat for the Edexcel examinations which are recognized by the top universities all over the world.Over the years, many reforms have been made to standardise examinations, keeping in line with the British government’s requirement that all examination boards update their curriculum every five years. Due for a change in 2013 following the previous reform in 2008, the British government, instead of a reform, changed the entire exam structure this time around, bringing into play many modifications to suit the international students.
Edexcel Assistant Vice President for the Indian Subcontinent Premila Paulraj explained that the new International Advanced Level qualification has been introduced for first teaching in September 2013 retaining the same modular structure with few changes to the subject content. Further, exams will continue to be held in both January and June sessions, ensuring that students are able to benefit from modular unit tests being offered in all subjects. Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics and Business Studies structures have been revised by integrating certain units while other key subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting and Law will remain unchanged. Some new content will be added to the Advanced Level Economics specification and all four units will be equally weighted. The Advanced Level Business Studies will be updated with an International Synoptic unit, and will be equally weighted.
She added “Students who were planning to complete their A/L examinations in either January 2014 or June 2014 can continue to do so despite the introduction of the new specification. It is also understood that the AS level units will contribute to A/L results. However, students will be allowed only one re-sit per unit.
The new curriculum will be available for teaching in September 2013 and we have already scheduled the face-to-face subject specific training session by early September this year. These trainings are absolutely free of any cost to Edexcel accredited schools,” Paulraj explained.
“Furthermore, the suite of the International Advanced Level qualification offered by Edexcelis already recognisedby over 50 top universities across the world, with more institutions accepting the qualifications on almost a daily basis, which gives students ample choice when selecting a university to pursue their higher education”. A detailed list of universities, draft specifications, sample assessment materials, mapping guides, list of available subjects and other information can be found by visiting www.edexcel.com/ial
While the International Advanced Level examinations remain unchanged, students in the UK will face several changes including a linear structure with exams being held only in June every year. Conversely, students in Sri Lanka could choose either Edexcel International Advanced Levels or GCE A Levels. For GCE A Levels changes will be introduced for first teaching in 2015 with first AS exams being held in 2016 June and A2 level exams in 2017 June.
She pointed out that currently, most schools in Sri Lanka have taken a decision to follow the international Advanced Levels.
“Edexcel has also expanded its office to a new, bigger space at the World Trade Center in Colombo in order to support its partner schools better. We believe that it is through our support system that we have been able to increase the number of students who have opted to do the Edexcel examinations and we now have a larger team and a larger office space in order to support our partners.” Paulraj added.
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