Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten students are accepted starting from the age of  3 years and 6 months.

NVIS is authorized by the IBO organization, and can offer its three academic programs; the Primary Years Programme (PYP), The Middle Years Programme (MYP), The Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-Related Programme (CP).

NVIS is also accredited from “AdvancED” for the American Diploma and offers classes starting for grade 9.

IB World Schools are subject to a strict accreditation process monitored by IB, ensuring that schools provide a high quality education. Teaching methods and curriculums are research-based and draw from the best educational practices around the world. An IB education:

     1-Focusses on learners

     2-Develops effective approaches to teaching and learning

     3-Works within global contexts

     4-Explores significant content and provides students with a broad and balanced education

The IB program is not solely about academics; it also challenges students to enhance their personal growth. IB aspires to help schools develop well-rounded students with strong character and a global mindset. IB students often indicate that they have gained excellent time-management skills and other critical attitudes needed for academic and personal success.
     The IB program increases understanding of languages and cultures and explores globally significant ideas and issues in each subject area. Subjects are not taught in isolation. IB classes are interdisciplinary and connect learning across the curriculum. The IB program is a liberal arts approach to education. Students must study two languages, math, science, individuals and societies, and the arts. There is both depth and breadth.
     A unique part of the IB program is the requirement of three core courses for full diploma status: the theory of knowledge (TOK) course, the extended essay (EE) research project, and the creativity, action and service (CAS) component.
     Through the TOK course on critical thinking, students make connections across traditional disciplines and explore the nature of knowledge. They inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.
     In the EE, students undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more academic disciplines. And through CAS, students enhance their personal and interpersonal development. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Action seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. The service aspect offers an avenue for new learning that supports academic development.
 

A student who completes the full Diploma award takes six academic subjects, three at the Higher Level and three at the Standard Level. At a minimum, their choice must include two languages, a humanities, a mathematics and a science course. In addition, there are three further components to complete; these are Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and community service work towards the Creativity, Action, and Service learning outcomes.

During the course of their studies the students will be guided whether they will complete American courses with internal examinations towards their High School Diploma (American Diploma), or whether they will sit external IB examinations in individual subjects to obtain IB Certificates in addition to the High School Diploma.

The IGCSE tends to be more theoretical. There are still experiments/practicals, and students are much more guided by their teachers. The IGCSE has a strong emphasis on learning by practice to an extent that can be called repetitive. Drills are a strong emphasis and tests usually consist of a mix of formally conducted orals and written exams, with less liberty and definitely less support for more artistic students. IGCSE students are better versed in exams and other ‘formal’ ways of testing, and are usually more competitive, especially in more structured areas such as sciences.

The IB, on the other hand, focuses on each student’s interests. This is not too say that IGCSE does not offer any course selection, because they do, but the IB to be better in this regard as the curriculum is a lot more practical. IB students are required to be holistic; as participation in extracurricular activities that involve physical, creative, and humanitarian work, personal projects and Extended Essays (EE) in which students spend almost a year working on a topic of their own interest with very little restriction, and has less guidance and much more independence, and a battery of practical tests that require innovation and cohesive teamwork as well as individual skills, are all part of the curriculum. IB students are encouraged to have diverse talents that develop them independently over the course of the program. They are more social, much more open-minded, flexible, independent, and capable. The IB emphasizes on time-management and independence in the sen