Author Topic: IGCSE English First or Second language course  (Read 2795 times)

Offline hacksteal

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IGCSE English First or Second language course
« on: September 07, 2009, 04:49:13 pm »
Hi,
I'm an International student currently studying at year 11 in an international school in Thailand following the British curriculum which uses the IGCSE course as it's main infrastructure for International students.

Before Year 10 ends we had an end of year exam and these were my results

IGCSE English Literature (CIE)
IGCSE English First Language B
Overall grade was D (don't know why, it should really be a B)

My Predictions Final of examination grade
IGCSE English literature C
IGCSE English First Language C or B


so later in the summer i spent a lot of time looking through the second language course and found it significantly easier.
I believe I could even get an A* from it.

So when term 1 opened (now i'm in year 11) i went to see the head of english and asked him about moving to do Second Language English
This was his response (may not be exact words but this was what he ment)

"Getting a C in First Language English is better than any grade in second language english (precisely better than A star"
This meant that when i've applied to university, provided that my Personal statement and all other grades and A-levels are the same, the university will chose the student who achieved C First language instead of A* second language.

I don't believe this because it's very conflicting from what a Doctoral degree tutoring institution owner told me, who had many years of experience in helping student go to top university in the UK

So my question to u guy is

Is it really true what the Head of English said?

Thanks,
Greg

Offline yinyang

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Re: IGCSE English First or Second language course
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2009, 05:37:37 pm »
believe it or not a C in first language is better than an A* in second language.
some universisties in UK might not accept an A* in second language but will accept a C or above in first language

Offline Saladin

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Re: IGCSE English First or Second language course
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 01:32:07 pm »
Yes it is becasue English First Language is like an endorsment for international students....

But do wat i did, take the english 1st lang from edexcel

and the 2nd lang from camridge, so if u do bad, then it wont rlly matter...