Cambridge IGCSE’s : Grade 10-11

Welcome to Love2Learn’s support of home-schooled independent candidates preparing for the Cambridge International Exams IGCSE’s. We offer Cambridge IGCSE’s in the following subjects.

  • Mathematics
  • English (First Language)
  • History
  • Geography
  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • French (Only offered at IGCSE level)
  • Afrikaans (First Language)
  • Afrikaans (Second Language)
  • Computer Studies (Only offered at IGCSE level)
  • Biology (Laboratory Practicals)
  • Chemistry (+Laboratory Practicals) (Only offered at IGCSE level)
  • Physics (Laboratory Practicals)

Why a Tutor-Support Service?

Although Love2Learn Curriculum is not a correspondence school or college, but primarily a home-schooling curriculum resource provider, we have a deep and enduring passion to support home-schoolers to the highest possible degree. We would like to see these special young students succeed in their efforts to obtain an internationally recognised high-school qualification, and to make the experience as streamlined, enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Additional support is especially needed in the Cambridge International Examinations phase.

We have identified some key areas where support would be appreciated by home-schoolers/ independent candidates preparing for these examinations:

Assessments
While Love2Learn is able to provide excellent quality resources for these final high school years from IGCSE level upward, we are aware that many parents would appreciate support in terms of assessing and marking their sons’ and daughters’ IGCSE assessments and tests throughout the year. How does a mother, who although passionate about teaching and passionate about history, but has never written a Cambridge History examination, know whether or not Cambridge, with their unique marking scheme, will award an A symbol or a C symbol to her son’s essay? This is an important area where support is required.

Exam Preparation
We also believe that it is extremely important for home-schooled students to become comfortable with writing examinations under time-pressure and under strict examination conditions, so that when they are faced with this reality when sitting Cambridge exams, it is a familiar and non-threatening experience for them. As home-schoolers, we are indeed very privileged to begin this preparation in exam technique in a gentle manner, within the confines and security of a loving home. This is another important area where support is required.

Progress Tracking
Most home-schoolers (both parents and students alike) anguish over whether or not they will obtain good results in an external examination. It can place enormous pressure on a family trying to prepare for an external exam and having no idea whatsoever as to the kind of result they can expect. Cambridge International Examinations are recognised worldwide as maintaining an extremely high academic standard. “How are we tracking?” is a question frequently asked. At Love2Learn, we do not believe in discovering the answer to that question in the final examination! This is yet another area where support is required.

Personal Tutor
We know that independent candidates will feel more supported and more confident in their studies if they can contact their personal subject-tutor, should they encounter a question or section of the syllabus that they find difficult. Private tutors are extremely expensive to hire for an hour a week, with the going rate being in the region of R200/hour. These extra tuition fees mount up over the weeks and months and can become financially prohibitive. For example, a family employing a tutor once a week per subject over an academic year will spend well over R42 000 for six subjects just in weekly tuition fees alone! This is yet another area where support is desperately needed, without the associated financial burden.

Science Experiments
We receive calls frequently from families wishing to purchase laboratory equipment. However the kind of equipment that is required to gear up a home-laboratory for a Cambridge International Chemistry or Physics examination far exceeds what the average family can afford to purchase. Moreover, once the equipment is within the home, how is it used? How is speed and accuracy built up in completion of laboratory practicals without guidance? How is injury avoided when some of the chemicals used in the higher levels of Chemistry can explode if they simply come into contact with water? This too is an important area where support is required.

How does Love2Learn Address These Areas of Need?

A Unique Association!

Love2Learn is officially linked with SSB Pre-University College in Randburg, Johannesburg. A unique association has existed with Love2Learn and St. Stithians A-Level College. In January of 2008, the St. Stithians A-Level College relocated to the SSB Campus. St. Stithians A-level College (now SSB Pre-University College) has been in existence for 18 years and is a Cambridge University International Examinations Fellowship Centre.) Love2Learn home-schooled students make use of their premises in Randburg, Johannesburg to write final examinations.

Home-schoolers in South African who do not wish to travel to Johannesburg in order to write examinations may do so either in Durban or in Cape Town at the local offices of the British Council. International Love2Learn Home-schoolers similarly write their examinations at their local British Council offices.

The Love2Learn IGCSE Tutor-Support Service – Core 8 (Year 1) and Core 9 (Year 2).

If you choose to avail yourself of the Love2Learn IGCSE Tutor-Support Service for independent candidates, you will qualify for the following features and services:

Core 8 – IGCSE (Year 1)
Each Core 8 IGCSE (Year 1) student will receive a Subject Welcome Pack.

This pack contains the following:

Assessments (Tests)
Six assessments per subject, which must be completed during the first year of study of IGCSE. (IGCSE is a two-year course with the final exam being written at the end of the second year.)

When signing up for the Core 8 Love2Learn IGCSE Tutor-Support Service, you will receive notification as to which areas of the textbooks to revise prior to writing your first assessment in a given subject.

You will then receive the first assessment in hard copy via the SA Postal Service or you may elect to collect it yourself from our office in Fourways, Johannesburg. This assessment is to be completed under strict examination conditions and within the time parameters prescribed. You must submit your assessment (hard-copy only - no email assessments will be accepted) to Love2Learn IGCSE for marking. We strongly recommend that you keep a copy of the completed Assessment for your records and send it to us via registered mail. Your assessment will be marked and return-mailed to you within two weeks of receipt, with the Tutor’s comments. Together with your marked assessment you will also receive the Assessment Memorandum. This will help you determine exactly where you may have gone wrong; and further, you will be able to see the type of answers expected from Cambridge. In the case of essays, general comments will be issued by the Tutor.

Your Personal Subject Tutor
You will be allocated a Love2Learn Cambridge-trained Personal Subject-Tutor. Your Tutor’s contact details will be given to you as part of your Subject Welcome Pack; and you may contact them via telephone or e-mail. Your Tutor will endeavour to answer your e-mail within a maximum of 48 hours of receipt, (weekends excluded).

Your Tutor will also be available to speak with you over the telephone, at a prescribed time and on a prescribed day of the week. This day and time is also included in your Subject Welcome Pack. Tutors are available throughout the year, according to given term dates. Love2Learn IGCSE Tutor-Support operates according to a three-term academic calendar.
Please note that subject-tutors are only available during term dates and may, on occasion be on leave outside of these periods. Should a subject-tutor be on leave, we will notify you of the dates accordingly. You will receive the term dates for each calendar year in your Subject Welcome Pack.

Your Subject Year-Planner
You will receive a Subject Year-Planner, which will assist you in scheduling your studies over the academic year. The year planner will also explain which sections of the textbooks to cover for each of the six assessments as part of Year 1.

Subject Examination Paper Codes
Love2Learn offers Cambridge subjects only at the Extended Level (Higher Grade). You will be given the Examination Paper Codes pertaining to each subject. It is essential that you register for the correct examination paper! There are many different paper options available for IGCSE. It is important to register only for the paper for which Love2Learn has provided curriculum materials and tuition support!

Examination Registration Details
You will be given details of how to register for the Cambridge Exams, and will be advised of the location of your nearest examination centre. Please note that Examination Entry Fees are payable per subject to Cambridge themselves; and are not included in Love2Learn’s course fees as detailed in this document.

Examination Registration Deadline
Examinations are written in either May/June, or October/November of each year. You will be given the Examination Registration Deadline for each subject. Please ensure that you meet the deadline. Late entries attract late entry fees, and may be rejected altogether!

Laboratory Experiments
These do not form an automatic part of the Core 9 Love2Learn IGCSE Tutor-Support Service. You will be notified separately during IGCSE Year 2 as to the dates and fees pertaining to these laboratory practicals. You can then register for these at the appropriate time. Practicals are held in Johannesburg. Love2Learn international students may either make arrangements to attend these in South Africa or make their own arrangements to complete the practical component within their own country. South African Love2Learn students should make arrangements to attend these practicals in Johannesburg. Love2Learn will assist you in terms of providing affordable accommodation options if you reside outside of Gauteng.

IGCSE Exam Scheduling - Two options

You may elect to complete the IGCSE course in either two years or in eighteen months. We recommend the two year option in preference to the eighteen month option.

Two year option (Standard):

If you elect this option, the timing will be allocated as follows:
First 12 months – Cover the basic syllabus. *
Second 12 months – Work at the extended level and commence focused examination preparation.

18 month option:

If you elect this option, the timing will be allocated as follows:
First 12 months – Cover the basic syllabus. *
Next six months – Work at the extended level and commence condensed, focused examination preparation.

* Biology Students: Please note that students who have recently joined Love2Learn and have not completed Core 6 Biology prior to commencing IGCSE will be covering substantial new Biology syllabus material as part of the second year of IGCSE. In other words, they will not have completed the entire syllabus in the first twelve months of the course. This means that the option of completing IGCSE Biology in 18 months is not possible for a student who has not previously completed Core 6 Biology. Such students may only complete IGCSE Biology over two years.

Examination sessions are offered in May/June (registration Jan/ Feb) and October/November (registration July/Aug) each year. Examination fees per subject will be determined at the time of registration.

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