How NTK Academic Group prepares students for exam success
In the past three years, NTK Academic Group has helped more than 80 IBDP students achieve full scores (a total of 45 marks), with a further 200 getting a 7 in various subjects. What is the secret behind it?
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NTK Academic Group’s Achievement on IBDP Tuition
As students approach the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) or other final school exams which pave the way to further education, most can benefit from extra tuition to help them navigate through the confusion of syllabus changes and stricter marking schemes.
Typically, these sessions cover all the key aspects of the relevant curriculum, elucidating and reinforcing as and where necessary. But ideally, they will also do more by providing insights and practical tips on everything from study techniques and essay writing to exam strategies, time management and independent learning skills in order for students to achieve the best possible results.
NTK’s teachers, many of whom have advanced degrees from renowned universities like Oxford, Cambridge and the Ivy League, are among the best in their fields. This ensures that students receive high-quality instruction and support from a knowledgeable and experienced team.
A wide range of subjects is on offer, not just for the IBDP curriculum, but also for the IGCSE, GCE A-Levels and the standardised university admissions tests often required of candidates applying from international schools and boarding schools.
As a result, NTK has helped more than 80 students achieve full scores (a total of 45 marks) in the IBDP over the past three years, with a further 200 getting a 7 in various subjects.
“Whether for group courses using proprietary materials developed by IBDP experts or for tailor-made private lessons, our teachers have a wealth of resources to make sure they are effective,” Dr Wade Ling, Vice Principal (Chinese) says. “They receive regular briefings and training to ensure they are always up to date with changes in the curriculum. And we have education service officers who communicate directly with students and parents to understand their needs.”
“Many students come to NTK for support in multiple subjects because they usually require help in more than one area,” Dr. Ling says. “We provide comprehensive progress updates in each subject, help to identify areas where they may need additional support, and offer insights into their overall academic performance.”
If a new student has previously struggled in any particular subject, the first step may be a diagnostic assessment to gauge how things stand. Once that is done, it is easier to pinpoint and address the main challenges.
Effective Study Tips and Techniques for IBDP
Along the way, NTK’s professional educators make a point of covering the curriculum, but also pass on useful study tips and handy techniques to remember when the time comes to sit exams.
IBDP English
For instance, the IBDP English Paper 1 requires students to write analytical commentaries on previously unseen non-literary texts. The written response requires not only in-depth explanations of various literary, stylistic and structural devices, but also a lucid evaluation of the contexts of production, such as text type and purpose, alongside contexts of reception, which capitalises on how the target audience reacts to the non-literary text.
“All linguistic and stylistic features need to be evaluated based on authorial choice and its subsequent impact on the reader,” says Dr Linus Chan, Academic Head (English and Humanities).
Similarly, in order to succeed in IBDP English Paper 2, which calls for a comparative analytical essay on two previously studied literary texts, students must carefully compare and contrast characters, conflicts, themes, symbols, motifs, allegories, and conventions.
IBDP Chinese
The Chinese Language paper also places strong emphasis on essay writing skills, such as structure planning, argumentative devices, and common expressions, sentence structures and vocabulary used in commentaries.
Students would also be reminded about the need for careful question selection and the value of looking over high-scoring past papers to get a good feel for recent trends and what the examiners want to see.
IBDP Science Subjects and Economics
“The new syllabi for IBDP physics, biology and chemistry are set to commence in the fall, so students must be prepared for more demanding curricula,” says Jimmy Chan, Academic Co-head (Mathematics, Science and Economics). “They will have to demonstrate knowledge of concepts including quantum physics and neural signalling, besides evaluating empirical data, patterns and predictions that necessitate the use of specific skills, techniques and methodologies.”
New challenges can also be expected in future IBDP economics papers which will require precision and careful time management. Candidates must provide evidence to support their arguments and make sure to avoid common mistakes, Chan notes.
IBDP Mathematics
“For instance, if you’re a student preparing for the IBDP mathematics exam, it’s important to use your graphic display calculator properly in the calculator-allowed sections,” says Derek Yim, Academic Co-head (Mathematics, Science and Economics). “While you may be able to solve some questions algebraically, it will take longer and be riskier.”
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