Secondary School

In the MYP, students are encouraged to make practical connections between their learning and the real world. They develop understanding in traditional subject areas and see the relationships between them. We help our students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for success in the DP.

Spanning Grades 7 to 10, the MYP consists of eight core subjects: Language and Literature in English or Chinese, Mathematics, Science, Individuals and Societies, Language Acquisition in French, Chinese, Spanish or English, Design, Arts - Music, Drama, Visual Arts or Media (grades 9-10 only in 20-21) and Health & Physical Education. Students are also required to participate in a range of Service as Action activities. 

Research reveals that universities in the UK and USA have a high regard for IB graduates, and the skills and attitudes developed. Our students have consistently scored above the IBDP world average and in the last five years have been accepted to over 350 leading universities around the world.

Students select one subject from each of the six subject groups, and complete the core three requirements: the extended essay, theory of knowledge (TOK) and creativity, action and service (CAS). 

IB DP courses in 2020/2021 are outlined in this guide. 

Occasionally, there are a small number of students for whom the full IBDP is not the best option. These students study a reduced number of IBDP subjects and are awarded IB certificates and a CIS High School Diploma instead. The CIS Diploma is recognised by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and widely accepted by universities and other higher education institutions.

Each day for 40 minutes, students are engaged in SMART (Students Maximising Achievement Responsibility on Time). SMART sees students participating in a variety of student initiated activities that seek to encourage independence and self directed learning. Activities range from academic enrichment and support (eg meeting with subject teachers for additional help) to student led clubs and initiatives such as student council and Model United Nations.

Our house system is designed to build a strong sense of community and pride within our Grades 1 to 12 student body, and helps students develop leadership and teamwork skills. Students regularly participate in house events, and our house captains are charged with helping to foster team spirit and a sense of belonging.

Learning at CIS is not just confined to the classroom. Students participate in a range of relevant and engaging hands-on outdoor learning opportunities including field trips and field investigations which allow them to apply their learning in a real world context. Excursion Week sees students in Grades 7 to 12 travelling to countries such as Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and Canada to learn about the world’s people, cultures and humanitarian and environmental concerns first hand. Please note that all excursions have been cancelled in 20-21 due to the ongoing pandemic. 

In Secondary, students are presented with a wide range of leadership opportunities. From the traditional student council model with an active and engaged student executive committee, to sporting captains, theatrical leads and peer tutors, student leadership creates value for both the leaders themselves and our student cohort. As they develop leadership skills that are underpinned by our core values, our students are ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead of them and act as leaders both locally and internationally.

Our teachers use regular assessments through the school year to track each student’s progress. In the MYP, formative assessments monitor learning and provide ongoing feedback during a unit, while summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of a unit by comparing it to a standard or benchmark. In the DP, assessment takes the form of both internal and external assessment. All final assessment is externally assessed and moderated and leads towards the award of the Diploma.

Our open door policy ensures parents are able to meet with their child’s teachers at a mutually convenient time to discuss any concerns they may have.

CIS benchmarks student achievement (Senior Kindergarten to grade 10) against Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) standards and international school norms in an external assessment called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). Conducted up to three times a year, MAP results in Math and Literacy are also used to identify trend patterns and overall cohort progress year on year.

Each year, over 150 representatives from leading universities across the world including Australia, Europe, the UK, Canada and the US, visit CIS to meet students and provide information on possible courses. Parent workshops and information sessions on a wide variety of university related topics are offered on a regular basis each school year.