Teens make their mark at Cambridge
TWO pupils from Ashton International College Ballito recently completed their international Cambridge examination and were placed among the top three in the world for their specific subjects. Pupils from more than 140 countries sit for the examinations.
Yadheya Govender and Racheal Taljard, along with 11 other pupils, were acknowledged by Ashton International College Ballito last week at a prize-giving ceremony for their performances.
Yadheya, 17, of Salt Rock, now in Grade 11, attained 97% for the IGCSE physical science in 2021. This placed her second internationally. She also attained 98% for IGCSE accounting and ranked first in South Africa for this subject. Yadheya wrote four other subjects in which she obtained A-symbols.
The IGCSE physical science helps students understand the technological world in which they live. They learn about the basic principles of science by theory and practical knowledge.
The IGCSE accounting introduces students to the theory and concepts of bookkeeping business and the ways in which it is used in a variety of modern
economic and business strategies.
Yadheya said this was an opportunity to compete for placement at international universities. She said she was grateful to her teachers and her parents.
“I am still undecided about what I want to study in varsity, but I was thinking of something along the line of actuarial science or accounting.”
Racheal, 17, of Ballito, currently a matric pupil, was placed third internationally with 96% for AS level English in 2021. She also wrote mathematics, where she obtained an A-symbol. Rachel will now complete the remainder of her matric on A-Level Cambridge.
Racheal said: “It is a bit hard to fathom that I came third in the world, and not just nationally or provincially, but in the world. While preparing for the exam, my aim was to pass with an A-symbol. Through the support from my teachers, we practised by working through past papers.”
Racheal said she would apply to study toward a Bachelor of Science at a university in Germany. This, she said, would give her a chance to experience different cultures from across the world.
Jenny van Buuren, the head of the senior college, said the school offered both the National Senior Certificate IEB (Independent Examination Board) exam and the CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) exam structured under the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
She said the pupils’ first sitting of the CAIE examinations started with IGSCEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), written in October of their Grade 10 year. This exam was equivalent to matric in the UK.
“The flexibility of CAIE AS/A Level over two years for grade 11 and 12 pupils is a great advantage as they are able to write and bank subjects as examinations are written.”