Year 11 Options Evening: pivotal programmes and presentations

By Anushka Binakiya

On the evening of October 6th, as the Year Elevens make their way through the final few months of MYP, the annual options evening hosted by RCHK provided students with insightful details about the IB courses.

In light of recent Covid regulations, immense efforts from teachers and staff members of RCHK finally executed a face-to-face options evening after years, educating students on opportunities for the future.

The PAC doors were opened from six to eight p.m., allowing students and parents to consult with teachers and current IB students in Years 12 and 13 about the IB courses available for the academic year commencing in August 2023. Student and teacher representatives from each course and programme in the PAC for the evening answered questions and doubts from Year Eleven students.

A productive yet highly bustling evening sparked conversations and queries from students and parents, which made it difficult for students to communicate with each teacher.

Joi Lam Chow, a Year 11 student ambitious to study business, explained, “In terms of the subjects itself, [options evening] didn't really help much because there were too many people, especially parents, who just kept and kept on asking questions.” She further suggested that there could be a “smaller version” of engaging students and parents individually in the future. 

However, Chow did appreciate the information “in terms of what the assessments for DP would be and how it would be done since they have a really clear table and such for us to reference.”  Although she mentioned that the “options evening didn't make [her] improve [her] decisions” on subject opportunities, she acknowledged that many students “gained a better understanding after the options evening.” 

Expressing gratitude, Colin Chan, another Year 11 student, thought that the evening was instead “interesting” as there were various “speeches”, and it was also “insightful” with teachers guiding students across the course. Nevertheless, he proposed that the duration of the presentations should increase as the presentations “did not give much time for full exploration of the area and listening to the speeches.” 

Year 11 Options Evening (photo by FE newsletter)

Ava Wong, another Year 11 student, communicated a different perspective: “I think the [options evening] was quite effective to a certain extent. Being able to talk to the DP students and teachers individually was extremely helpful, as I was able to ask the questions I originally had.” Wong further described that she wished to have an “opening talk or guide to clarify what kind of questions [they] could ask,”.

One common problem for those interested in a career in business is the choice to be made between Economics nd Business Studies. Topuniversities.com says it takes work to choose between IB Business and Management and IB Economics. Alan Lee, a business and management(BM)/economics teacher, pointed out that “students are curious with regards to the difference between BM and Economics”. He also pointed out that parents “were concerned whether the universities value BM as a high school subject. They were also concerned whether if their child took both subjects, will there be a lot of overlaps content wise.” 

Coming towards the final few frightening days of choosing subjects for IB that would shape their future, Wong expressed her challenges, stating “that the time given for [student] to choose [their] subjects is not enough”. Whereas Chow thought that the students do receive “plenty of time between the evening and then time to choose subjects”, however, having a “bunch of assessments that prevents [students] from thinking about [choices] limits them to conduct the necessary research.”

Wilma Shen, the coordinator for career counselling at RCHK, with regards to her experience, says, “As students will be spending the next two years studying those subjects, it is important that they know what they are getting into and whether these subject combinations will help them get into their desired universities and majors. The more information and knowledge you have beforehand, the clearer picture you will have and the better choice you will make for yourself.” 

Shen also recognised the anxiety and stress students experience because it is “an important decision that will ultimately lead to university choices and offers and the future career”. The “aim” of the evening was to “open up conversations and give parents and students an initial introduction”, but it is hoped “that this event will then spur into follow-up conversations with teachers, current DP/CP students, and alumni.” 

Bibliography

School NewsRenaissance CollegeComment