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 Open Gates Education Centre Offers the Only Internationally Accepted College Admittance Test on Koh Samui
A group of students at Open Gates Education
Centre in Bangrak have just completed their International General
Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams in preparation for
A-Levels and then continuation to university. The scores from these
exams are the only internationally recognized tests given on Koh Samui,
and Open Gates is the only school on the island licensed by University
of Cambridge to offer these tests. While most students take their
IGCSEs at the age of sixteen, many at Open Gates are able to take their
exams earlier; in fact, one of the students who just finished her IGCSE
exams at Open Gates is only twelve years old. This is a direct
reflection of Open Gates' commitment to supplying their students the
highest level of education.
In a recent interview with the Samui Express, Richard Payne, Open
Gates' upper school's principal, said, "Open Gates takes the job of
administering these tests very seriously. It was a difficult process to
obtain the permission. A representative from Cambridge, Stefanie Leong,
came to our school to ensure that we were following all their
requirements. Since then, Cambridge has returned to the island to do
random spot checks as well, and we have gotten full marks every time.
They are very pleased with how we manage their tests." Bangkok is the
nearest place for students from other schools on the island to sit
these same exams.
Before the all important IGCSEs, all Open Gates students take the
Cambridge Check-Point examinations. These tests are used to evaluate
each student's progress towards a successful sitting of the IGCSEs. The
results of these tests are used by the school as an indicator of the
student's strengths and weaknesses which can therefore be used to
fine-tune their curriculum. Again, only Open Gates offers these
tests.
On the University of Cambridges website, it reads, "Cambridge
qualifications are recognized by universities and employers worldwide.
CIE [Cambridge International Examinations] works hard to make sure that
this recognition continues. In particular, Cambridge International
A-Level qualifications are recognized by universities as proof of the
ability required to enter a degree level course – and in some
universities, Cambridge qualifications can even earn advanced credit."
Last year, the school had three of their students accepted directly
into Bangkok universities immediately after they graduated from Open
Gates.
Devoney Crossman, a Year 10 student at Open Gates and one of the
students who just complete their IGCSEs, said, "When I informed the
school last year that I wanted to take my exams early they helped me a
lot in preparing for them. They gave me, and the other test takers,
extra lessons and guidance in preparation for the exams. When it came
time to actually take the tests, I was more than ready for them, there
was nothing on the tests that I hadn't studied and prepared for thanks
to Open Gates."
As well, Open Gates Education Centre is the only Koh Samui
international school to offer schooling to children for the entire
breadth of study for the British National Curriculum. They have classes
that range from nursery to Year 11. "Our curriculum mirrors the same
curriculum used in the United Kingdom," says Mr. Payne.
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