The document provides information about studying the Cambridge International A Level qualification at BVIS and the benefits it provides. It discusses how A Levels prepare students well for university by developing critical thinking, research, and comprehension skills similar to top universities. It also notes that BVIS graduates have been accepted into top universities worldwide and often secure excellent placements. The document encourages seeking official sources of information when researching universities and applications rather than relying solely on education agents/consultants.

1. udy g
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2. rna о A vel
Qu ica о
The Cambridge International A Level is a traditional route for students
wishing to progress to the world’s major English-speaking universities.
Students develop a deep understanding of subjects, as well as
independent learning and constructive thinking skills – abilities which
universities value highly.
y A vels Qu ica о?
International A Levels provide breadth of study in Year 12 before
specialisation in Year 13. This provides a deep understanding of chosen
subjects, enabling students to prepare for specific university courses and
career pathways. A Levels emphasise and develop critical thinking,
advanced comprehension and research skills; academic expectations are
high and close to those experienced in top universities. Therefore, the
qualification has a proven reputation for being excellent preparation for
universities around the world, employment and life.
udy g A d w h A vels
The International A Levels qualification is accepted worldwide, and
therefore many leading schools in the world offer this qualification – for
example, the famous St. Paul’s School in London. In Australia, Japan, and
the USA, which are the most popular university destinations amongst
BVIS graduates, all reputable universities accept and welcome
Cambridge International AS and A Levels, including all top universities
like the Universities of Columbia, Melbourne, Sydney, Melbourne as well
as the LSE and Imperial. Many universities including Oxford, Cambridge,
Harvard, Yale, MIT and Stanford often prefer strong A Level applicants to
other students.
I c 't ¾ eve I maÞ to my fi t oice unive y
¾ca e y requirem re pre y gh for оe
top ls for my u e
Cambridge International A Level syllabuses have been developed
with the help of some of the world’s leading universities - including
the University of Cambridge, Harvard and MIT.
Vuоg K L n, BVIS umn 2014
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3. Some parents consider sending their child aboard 1-4 years before their
graduation. The reasons that parents quote for their decision are varied –
for example, some parents believe that this would help their child to get
used to the country in which they will be studying, and will improve their
chances of being accepted at their desired university.
However, research studies show that moving schools is very stressful for
children and significantly affects their academic performance and
happiness. It is very difficult for a teenager to join a well-established class
in a new school where other children may or may not welcome your child,
which puts a lot of pressure on your child. It is much easier for your child
to start their university studies together with other freshmen who all are
in the same position and it is much easier to connect and make friends.
Moving countries is a great challenge for young adults, but for teenagers
it's much harder.
As a young adult, student is more mature and it is easier for him or her to
move countries, deal with separation anxiety, and adapt to a new
environment, because older students are emotionally, intellectually, and
physically better equipped for dealing with the stress that comes with it.
Adolescence is a challenging time for young people and their families. A
teen is going through rapid physical and emotional changes, dealing with
new social and psychological issues unlike anything experienced before.
Any additional external change, like relocation, puts your child at risk of
experiencing agitation, depression, and feelings of insecurity, amongst
many other risks of trauma, because they are often unable to cope with
challenges of leaving their friends and family behind and adapting in a
new culture.
These are just a selection of irreversible risks that you are exposing your
child to when moving them abroad before they are old enough to cope
with it. BVIS graduates, on the other hand, who moved abroad after
achieving their A Levels at the school, not only secured excellent
university placements but also report to be well prepared for their
university studies and life abroad.
g g igh ur ods d l rо n c ¾
very auma c for ag s
E e, Live rоg
Mov g Y r d
A d Prematurely
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4. d y y r p Þc ed to nd y to
udy a d?
When I was 13, my parents decided to send me to study in an
English-speaking country because they thought that moving abroad at a
young age would make it easier for me to get accustomed to a new
culture, and that living abroad will considerably improve my English. In
2002, there were hardly any good international or bilingual schools in
Vietnam for my parents to choose from, so to achieve these goals, going
abroad was the only choice at the time.
at was y r p nce mov g a d as a ag ?
At the beginning I was very excited about the idea of going abroad;
however, the first few months turned out to be the worst experience I had
ever had. I went from being very happy and confident living in Vietnam to
being anxious, stressed and very unhappy when moving abroad. I was in
a new environment, had to make my own decisions, do everything
myself, learn new things by myself, and all of this while badly missing my
family and friends. I am lucky that I am such a strong and resilient person,
but many other international students fall into depression or develop
anxiety disorders.
Ngoc went abroad at the age of 13 and graduated from St Mary’s
College in Moraga, California with a degree in Business Administra-
tion. After graduation she worked at Macy’s as a Sales Manager for 2
years. She came back to Vietnam in 2013, and two years later Ngoc
joined BVIS as our Translator and Copywriting Officer. We asked Ngoc
to share with us her thoughts on her experience studying and living
abroad for 11 years.
r ew w h
Ngoc Nguy

5. at nges d y have to face y re re?
When I moved abroad, initially I really struggled with my English, and
therefore I felt extremely isolated, lonely and abandoned. Even though I
knew that my parents sent me abroad to give me better opportunities in
life, but it was very hard. As a 13 year old girl I found myself not only living
in a new country, but also living in a new home, learning a new language
and being unable to express myself, on top of all other issues every
teenager has to deal with - it was too much to take in. After the first 2
months, my English started to improve and I began to make some friends,
but just a couple of years later I had to face another problem. When I
turned 15, I badly needed guidance and advice of my parents, yet being
so far away and not being able to speak to them in person on a daily basis
had created an emotional distance between us. A strong contributing
factor was also the Western culture that I was being exposed to, which
doesn’t value close family relations as much as we Vietnamese families do.
d y k y r p maÞ a ght Þc iо n ng
y a d at at age?
I understand why my parents sent me abroad and it certainly gained
some very valuable experience from living abroad for a number of years.
However, I wish my parents let me graduate from high school here, and
then send me abroad to study at a university there. It would probably
have given me the same benefits in terms of my English and learning
about a different culture, but I would have been better prepared for
dealing with anxieties of living away from my family and friends. My
experience of studying abroad made me more independent and
open-minded, which is great, but I sometimes wish that I could be more
Vietnamese. It was culture shock for me to move back to Vietnam after
growing up abroad from the age of 13, and I felt more like an outcast here
than a happy Vietnamese person returning home after a long absence. I
didn’t have any connection with my mom because we have such different
mindsets now, which made me very upset, and it took me a long time to
fit back in here, in my own birth country.
at ad ce uld y give to p o e ng
a ut n ng ir dren a d?
If you are thinking of sending your child abroad, please wait until they are
old enough to be on their own and mentally prepared. Please remember
that teenagers need structure, not the freedom to do whatever they want
without parental guidance. Nowadays, parents have the luxury of
sending their children to an international school, where your children are
being taught in English and Vietnamese. They study with teachers who
come from English-speaking countries, and therefore are getting used to
Western culture gradually. Most importantly, talk to your child before
sending them abroad–after all it is their lives that you are deciding on.
y w ld to spêk to Ngoc a ut r p nce
nfiÞnce, p ase ema r to r ge a e ng or
ask r y ques оs y might have:
ngocanhnguyen@bvisvietnam.com

6. et Our umni
y þel at gradua ng from BVIS prep ed y
 for y r acaÞmic d work c îr?
Yes it did. I do not have to spend a year for Foundation because I already
have a foundation for some of my course’s subjects, such as Accounting or
Management, from A Levels subjects I have studied at BVIS. Therefore, I can
understand the lectures and prepare for my tutorials easily.
y þel at gradua ng from BVIS prep ed y
 for y r acaÞmic d work c îr?
I was lucky enough to be in an environment with high quality teachers and
facilities that assisted me in my study. I want to give credits especially to my
form teachers, who had been helping me patiently when I was making my
way to university.
y þel at gradua ng from BVIS prep ed y
 for y r acaÞmic d work c îr?
Yes BVIS has actually prepared me very well for those two sections above
but also for my social life through the preparation programme for study
abroad, such as cooking skills, financial management skills, laundry
logistics and similar tasks.
Nguy Phuоg Anh Phung
studying Bachelor of Commerce,
University of Melbourne, Australia
Vuоg K L n
studying Food Marketing and Nutrition,
Newcastle University, UK
Minh Vu
studying Hospitality Management,
EmiratesAcademyofHospitalityManagement,Dubai

7. BVIS Gradua s:
UNIVERSITYPLACEMENTS&OFFERS
Our 2016 Off s Received M :
While USA universities issue their offers after April, our Year 13 students
have already received offers from the following distinguished universities
in March:
• University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Glion Institute, Switzerland
• University of Virginia, USA
• Durham University, UK
• University of Southern California, USA
• Sheffield Hallam University, UK
• Nottingham Trent University, UK
• Birmingham University, UK
• Bath University, UK
Our 2015 Gradua s:
• International Relations – Tokyo International University, Japan
• Hospitality Management – Emirates Academy of Hospitality
Management, Dubai
• Economics and Finance – RMIT, Vietnam
• Psychology and Management – Kaplan Higher Education Academy,
Singapore
• Business Administration - RMIT, Vietnam
Our 2014 Gradua s:
• Accounts and Finance - Australian National University, Australia
• Hospitality Management - De Anza College, San Francisco, USA
• Psychology - Santa Monica College, USA
• Social Studies and Media - Ritsumeikan University, Japan
• Hospitality Management - Cesar Ritz College, Switzerland
• Food Nutrition and Marketing - Newcastle University, UK
• Architecture - Fullerton College, USA
• Art - LaSalle College, Singapore
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Curtin University, Singapore
• Business Management - Durham University, UK
orÞr to ¾ o I am today, acaÞmic ly, I'm
gra ful for great ort every du at BVIS
Tam , BVIS umn 2015
In 2015 A Level exams, two BVIS students achieved a joint Best in
Vietnam in Business Studies, and another student was awarded an
Outstanding Achievement in Economics.
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8. e C Y
t Ad ce?
There are a number of very helpful, official information sources that you
should consult when thinking and planning your child’s university studies:
• To find out more about university recognition of the International A
Levels qualification, please visit: www.cie.org.uk/recognition
• Speak to you Head of Secondary Mr Simon Graves, who will be happy
to discuss your plans and options with you to help you making the right
choice for your child
• For further guidance on the American universities application procedures
please visit:www.savethestudent.org/study-abroad/america
• To find out more about the Australia universities application proce-
dures please visit: www.uac.edu.au or www.studyinastraclia.gov.au/
global/apply-to-study
• For information on the UK universities UCAS application system
please visit: www.ucas.com/parents
• To find out the world rank of your shortlisted universities
pleasegoto:www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings
Please be aware that most university agents and education consultants
receive commission payments from universities they work with. This
means that their advice is not as independent as it may appear to be,
and may be severely biased towards certain countries and universities.
We are aware of many cases where parents received incorrect
information from these sources.
Therefore we have also employed an experienced BVIS University
Counsellor who will join the school in August 2016 and will assist our
students with their career choices and university applications, and provide
independent guidance to families thinking about studying abroad.