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PATHWAYS To GRADUATION

 At Hong Kong Academy we believe that each student has their own strengths that will guide them in their pathways to individual excellence. To that end, we offer multiple pathways for students to graduate from HKA. 

 As a student begins to think about their pathway and course options, we encourage them to consider who they are, what they care about, what their strengths are, what fuels their interests, and what inspires them. They should be reflecting on who they are as a learner and individual. A key part of the decision-making process is post-graduation plans; some universities have specific course requirements for school entrance or for specific programmes within the university and a student will want to keep these in mind as they select their intended courses of study.

The pathways to graduation in Grades 11 and 12 allow for choice. The choices that a student makes and how they approach their studies will have an impact on their life after graduating from HKA. Having good approaches to learning skills, such as self-management, will become increasingly important. Staying involved with activities, sports and hobbies outside of school is also an important consideration, as this will provide opportunities to maintain balance in the final two years of Secondary School. 

Triple Diploma Programme

All Hong Kong Academy students graduate with the HKA Diploma and Global Citizens Diploma, the majority also complete the IB Diploma. This unique combination of triple credentials gives our students a distinct advantage when applying to their chosen universities and career pathways.

HKA Diploma

The HKA Diploma is a credit-based credential that students earn over the course of four years; Grades 9 through 12. In Grades 9 and 10, students earn credits based on their semester grades in every IB MYP course, and must meet programme requirements in each subject area in order to earn these credits. In Grades 11 and 12, students have the flexibility to select IB DP level or High School level courses in each subject area, and students can opt to complete a work experience placement to gain valuable practical experience in an area of possible future employment. The credit requirements are set in alignment with North American university entrance requirements and accreditation standards, and HKA graduates can use their HKA Diploma to apply to post-secondary institutions. Students joining HKA from Grades 9 to 11 will have their transcript reviewed and are eligible for transfer credits. 

Global Citizens Diploma (GCD)

Global Citizen Diploma ( GCD) is an internationally recognised portfolio-based credential dedicated to nurturing academic rigour, global understanding, community engagement and intercultural communication. GCD allows students to showcase up to 16 elements of global citizenship through the development of a multimedia portfolio which they build during Grades 9 through 12. Through intentional reflection, students develop a better understanding of who they are and what they value: the GCD portfolio provides a rich source of documentation of a student's learning experiences which they can draw upon when applying to university and the world of work. GCD is a requirement for graduation and HKA is the only school in Hong Kong to offer it.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)

The IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a two-year programme designed to prepare students for study at universities around the world. Widely recognised as the most rigorous of high school programmes it is one of the reasons our students are highly sought after by leading universities. Working closely with our university counsellors and their families, students are required to select a combination of six courses for study, three of which are pursued at standard level (SL) and three at higher level (HL). They must also complete the IB DP Core which includes:
Extended Essay, an independent, self-directed piece of research culminating in a 4,000 word essay paper. It requires approximately 40 hours of work, including three mandatory reflection sessions and a final viva voce interview with a supervisor. It is externally assessed and designed to develop critical thinking, academic writing, and research skills necessary for university success.

  • Extended Essay, an independent, self-directed piece of research culminating in a 4,000 word essay paper. It requires approximately 40 hours of work, including three mandatory reflection sessions and a final viva voce interview with a supervisor. It is externally assessed and designed to develop critical thinking, academic writing, and research skills necessary for university success.
  • Theory of Knowledge, an interdisciplinary course that challenges students to reflect upon the nature of knowledge by exploring how we know what we claim to know. TOK encourages critical thinking across different disciplines through the analysis of how knowledge is constructed, justified and evaluated and helps students move beyond memorizing facts to understand the reliability, biases, and cultural contexts of knowledge in everyday life. TOK is assessed through a 1,600 word essay and exhibition.
  • Creativity, Activity and Service, a set of self-directed opportunities identified and created by students to enhance their personal development over a period of 18 months. Students must document their reflections and evidence of achievement to demonstrate they have met seven specific learning outcomes.

Courses at SL and HL differ in amount of content, types of assessments and hours of instruction. Students' work is assessed and moderated externally against established, standardised criteria and students often receive university credits for their IB Higher Level courses.

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