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FAQs
Frequent Asked Questions
For English-Chinese bilingual programme for Grades 1-6.
What subjects do you teach in Chinese?
Besides daily Chinese language and literary lessons, Art, Music and Physical Education will also be taught in Chinese. There will also be Integrated Chinese lessons which include speech and drama, cultural elements and reading programmes. English will be the primary medium during Mathematics and Science lessons.
Can my child in Grade 4 at an English medium school attend the bilingual programme?
While students can join the Invictus Bilingual programme without Chinese foundation in Grade 1, the curriculum that comes after is rigorous. Children will be assessed to possess the minimum Chinese skills before they are enrolled into the programme to ensure they can excel in their daily rigorous learning. They will also be required to attend supplementary Chinese classes after school to bridge the gap, at an additional cost of $40 per hour + GST.
What curriculum will you be following?
We will be using the International Primary School (IPC) curriculum. Mathematics will be following Singapore Mathematics curriculum. English will be following UK English. The Chinese language will be taught in simplified Chinese.
How many teachers are there in a classroom?
There will be 1 teacher at any time in a classroom.
Will the school offer extra Chinese support to those who need it?
Chinese supplementary lessons are only mandatory for children who do not meet the grade requirements, additional costs apply. ($40 per hour + GST)
Grade 2 - 4: 2 times per week for 1 hour each
Grade 5 - 6: 3 times per week for 1 hour each
Where will the children play?
The students will have access to our specially designed playground and selected outdoor space.
Will the children have their own swimming pool and PE like the Dempsey campus?
Students will have access to the public swimming pool and outdoor fields near the school.
What ECAs do you offer? Do you offer coding?
We plan to have a list of interesting ECAs for students to choose from, including coding. For children whose Chinese level does not meet the grade requirement, supplementary Chinese lessons take priority over the other ECAs.
What is the Chinese language entry requirement for the bilingual programme?
Chinese Admission Requirement for Grade 1 to Grade 6
| Requirement | Chinese | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | No requirement | |
| Grade 2 | Passed YCT Level 1 |
Entry test administered. Children who do not meet the requirement will attend extra lessons after school hours (additional cost to be borne by parents). |
| Grade 3 | Passed YCT Level 2 | |
| Grade 4 | Passed YCT Level 2 | |
| Grade 5 | Passed YCT Level 3 | |
| *Grade 6 | Passed YCT Level 3 |
Is this "YCT" administered by the school as part of the assessment? Can applicants take the test outside of school and qualify without the assessment?
The Youth Chinese Test (YCT) is an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency. It assesses young foreign students' abilities to use Chinese in their daily and school life. Students who have attained the required level should present their certificate as documentary proof. For students who do not have the certification, our school will conduct the assessment.
Durations for the tests:
YCT 1 - 35 mins
YCT 2 - 50 mins
YCT 3 - 55 mins
It says that "Children who do not meet the requirement will attend extra lessonsafter school hours", does this mean that Invictus will accept all children? i.e. Children can join Grade 5 with no chinese experience but will have to take extra lessons?
We highly recommend students to have a good Chinese foundation before they join our rigorous bilingual programme, especially for the higher grades. Students who do not meet the requirement will have to attend after school supplementary lessons. These students need to have a strong interest to learn Chinese and a willingness to work hard to achieve the required standard. Parental support is also essential for these children to close the gap.
How much are the after school supplementary lessons?
The cost is $40 per hour + GST. For Grade 2 to 4, there will be 2 one-hour lessons per week. For Grade 5 and 6, there will be 3 one-hour lessons per week.
In addition to YCT assessment for Chinese, what other assessments will my child have to take?
We will access the student’s English and Mathematics skills to ensure they meet our requirement for each specific grade.
How much is the assessment cost?
Students who have attained the YCT required level should present their certificate as documentary proof, and pay $200 assessment for English and Mathematics. We will conduct the YCT assessment free of charge for students who do not have the certification. However, there will be a fee of $20-$40 at the end of each academic year for the certified test.
You mentioned there is no Chinese experience required for Grade 1.Will you still assess the students?
Yes, we will still administer YCT assessment for those who have prior experience in learning Chinese but have not taken the test.
Will their Chinese grades/level on the end of year assessment determine a student's eligibility to progress to the next grade?
The end of year assessment serves to inform us the students level of attainment. If they do not meet the criteria, we will look at different ways of helping them, depending on the area that they are lacking. Those with a big gap might be required to attend additional classes from 3 to 4 pm.
Can parents opt for additional lessons? Will the lessons be one-on-one or in a group setting?
The lessons come in a package and it would not be necessary for parents to opt for additional lessons. Lessons will be conducted in a group setting, not one-on-one.
Our school day is 8:30am to 3pm, with ECAs from 3pm to 4pm. Should parents sign up for ECAs,will the additional lessons replace ECAs or take place after the ECA?
The additional lessons will be from 3 to 4 pm. These take priority over the other ECAs. Parents can sign up for ECAs that are offered on the days that the students are not required to attend supplementary Chinese lessons.
