This week, Grade 11 will sit their Mock Exams. Grade 9 and 10 exams will be the week after.

Click here for the Grade 11 and Grades 9 and 10 Exam Schedule.

Exams are one of many types of assessment that we use at ISY to develop a fair and accurate understanding of student academic achievement levels. 

For an assessment to be effective in helping us develop a fair and accurate understanding of what each student understands, we must be clear in our purpose for the assessment. Here are four reasons why students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 sit Final Exams at ISY:

Experience: 

Our Grade 12 students are now into their final week of IB Diploma exams. I have been very impressed by how confident and composed they have been throughout the exam period. This is because they have had exam experience all through High School.

It is important that students feel confident and capable of showing what they know in an exam. To feel confident and capable in an exam, it is important for our students, with the support of their teachers, to experience exam conditions (no talking, sitting in rows, time limits, being supervised by a proctor, etc). With the support of their teachers, students will learn that they are able to show what they know in exam conditions. After the exams, teachers will help students reflect on their exam experience to develop more confidence and capability for next time.

Technique:

Like sport or playing a musical instrument, good exam technique is very important for students to be able to show what they are capable of. Students also feel more confident going into an exam if they know they have good techniques to study for and sit exams. Our teachers have studied and will share with students the following proven study techniques summarized in this Strengthening the Student Toolbox article.

• Practice testing: self-testing or taking practice tests on material to be tested in the exam.
• Distributed practice: making a schedule of study that spreads out different subjects or study activities over time.
• Interleaved practice: making a schedule of study that mixes different kinds of problems or questions in one study session.
• Self-explanation: explaining to yourself (or another person) how to use what you know to answer a question or solve a problem.

Here is a simple explanation of these proven study techniques.

Learning techniques like these will help students develop a study timetable that works for them. Teachers will also tell students what type of questions they can expect on the exams and share techniques that will help answer them.

Review

Exams provide an opportunity to review previously taught skills and knowledge that teachers have identified as important to consolidate for students to build on next year. Teachers will tell students what will be tested and how it will be tested.

Data

To develop a fair and accurate assessment of a student’s academic achievement level, teachers use data from different assessments throughout the year. As students learn to sit exams, it is important for students to understand that a Final Exam is just one important assessment that teachers gather data from to understand what their academic achievement level is. The grade on the final report card comes from assessment data gathered throughout the year, including the Final Exam.

Activities & Athletics

Here is a link to Ms.Rebekka Jensen’s Athletics and Activities Blog for up-to-date information regarding Activities and Athletics at ISY.

Upcoming Events

• May 27: Graduation
• May 28-30: Grade 9 & 10 Exams (see schedule below)
• June 3: High School Student Council Elections
• June 3: Athletics & Activities Awards
• June 2: Service Learning Awards
• June 4: Secondary School Music Performance
• June 4: Quarter 4 / Semester 2 Report Cards live on Powerschool
• June 5: Grade 11 Theory of Knowledge Exhibition
• June 5: High School Awards Assembly (with Grade 8)
• June 6: Chinthe Communities Olympiad & Last Day of School (11:30am dismissal)

Join Us for Tuesday Talks – Your Guide to University Admissions!

Are you starting to think about university applications? Join us for Tuesday Talks, a series of informative presentations designed to help students and families navigate the university admissions process.

When: Tuesdays at 5:30 PM
Where: Room 202 (D Building near the library) – this is a change of venue this week.

Each week, we’ll explore key topics, including university admissions in different countries, scholarships, and career pathways. This is a great opportunity to gain insider tips and get your questions answered!

This Tuesday, May 20 we will focus on engineering, computer science, and engineering.

ISY Legacy Page

This dedicated page showcases our rich history, key milestones, and the incredible stories that make ISY the vibrant community it is today. Take a moment to explore the page and join us in celebrating our legacy.

Let’s honor our past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future together! Visit the page here: ISY Legacy Page

Good luck, Class of 2025!

Our Seniors are about to start their final week of IB Diploma final examinations.

We have been very impressed by how calm and composed they have been over the exam period.

We wish them all the very best of luck and look forward to seeing them all at Graduation.

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