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Curriculum | Primary Curriculum | Secondary Curriculum 

 

At Nelson Mandela School, we integrate several curricula to accommodate the requirements of the Berlin Senate and the needs of our students. The school in general, and the German and Math Department in particular follow the Berliner Rahmenlehrpläne.

More Berliner Rahmenlehrpläne information (in German)

Lower Secondary (Middle) School (Years 7-10)

Here's some general information on the middle school years (in German), and here's an overview of the path to the year 10 exams at NMS.

 

Current year 8 classes: here's some information on the upcoming year 9 and 10 elective courses (WPU) and the form to be filled in. Please return the filled-in form to your class teacher no later than 23 June 2010.

 

The FEGA Grading System for Comprehensive Schools: What is the FEGA system, why is it used and to which subjects does it apply?

Berlin School Law requires that all comprehensive schools (Gesamtschulen) in Berlin use the FEGA system, which is essentially a system for academic differentiation. This system applies to certain subjects only. These subjects include German, English, Maths and Integrated Science. Integrated Science is later taught as three separate subjects in both years nine and ten (Physics, Chemistry and Biology). In these subjects, the students are grouped according to their needs, abilities and performance. In the other subjects (History, Geography, Ethics, Art, Music, Sport and Home Economy and Vocational Training (Arbeitslehre)) the students are taught together. French is an exception. In this subject the students are grouped according to their previous knowledge of French

The letters FEGA represent the different groups:

F-Kurs: Fortgeschrittenenkurs (Accelerated)

E-Kurs: Erweiterungskurs (Advanced)

G-Kurs: Grundkurs (Basic)

A-Kurs: Anschlusskurs (Entry level / Developing)

pdf More information on the FEGA system

pdf FEGA grades chart (in German)


Here is some information on the MSA Results 2006/2007.

pdf MSA Results 2006/2007

Upper Secondary School (Years 11-12/13)

Abitur see here (in German)

 

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)

ib-logo IB stands for ‘The International Baccalaureate Diploma’ program, offered by the 'International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)', based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of the highly motivated secondary school students. Designed as a comprehensive curriculum that allows its graduates to fulfil requirements of the various national systems of education, the IB is based on the pattern of no single country. It provides students of different linguistic, cultural, and educational back-grounds with the intellectual, social and critical perspectives necessary for the adult world. IB is the international equivalent to the German Abitur program.


All IB Diploma candidates are required to engage in the study of languages, sciences, mathematics, social studies, and literature during the final two years of their secondary schooling. This programme is a deliberate compromise between the preference for specialization in some countries and the emphasis on breadth often preferred in others. The intent is that students should learn how to learn, how to analyze, how to reach considered conclusions about people, their languages and literature, their ways in society, and the scientific forces of the environment.


IB was first launched in 1968 and has spread around the globe since. The IB Programme is recognized by leading universities in over 100 countries world wide (including Germany). More IB information from the IBO... 

 

Our IB

The fee-based IB programme has been offered at NMS since 2004. Costs are currently EUR 900 for the exams. Additionally, there are mandatory costs for IB-specific books and equipment of around EUR 750. The programme is made up of subjects from six different content areas. Our courses currently are:

  • area 1 – English or German (literature)
  • area 2 – English or German (language) (German levels ranging from native speaker to beginner)
  • area 3 – history
  • area 4 – biology, physics, chemistry
  • area 5 – mathematics high level, mathematics standard level
  • area 6 – visual arts, French, Spanish

 Students choose three of the above subjects at higher level and three at standard level. Students have some choice in making their schedule and what offered may be determined by the amount of demand, but students usually get their first choice for their schedules.

 

Our Faculty

Our faculty is international, coming from Germany, India, the USA, Canada, UK, Egypt, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and brings in experience from even more countries. This is one of the things that make the IB experience very special. Where else are you going to experience classrooms like this? Considering the future of Europe, which continues to grow, and in view of globalization, our IB programme offers students and families the opportunity to work within a multi-cultural context.

 

This benefits not only our highly mobile population, but also the local as well as our school community through the IB's CAS-programme. CAS stands for creativity, action and service. Students must take part in activities in each of these areas. This gets them involved in extracurricular projects and in life outside of school. Some of the activities are: Model United Nations (debating), Amnesty International, prefects (older students take over responsibility for younger students) and various community services projects.

 

Progress

The IB Diploma is one in which exams play a major role. Approximately two-thirds of each mark on the diploma is made up from the students' grades on the exams. The percentage of students passing the exams is 80% worldwide. We are proud to say that students at the Nelson Mandela School, after completing the total programme, have a passing rate over 95%! This allows our students to study at universities all over Europe and the world. Our graduates are pursuing their studies in the following locations:

  • United Kingdom (London, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester)
  • Netherlands (Maastricht, Rotterdam,Tilburg)
  • Germany (Heidelberg, Potsdam, Munich, Berlin)
  • Portugal (Lisbon) USA (Massachusetts)
  • Israel (Haifa)
  • China (Beijing)
  • Others (complete information not available) (Italy, Kenia, Norway)

The Future

We are planning to increase the number of courses we offer to better meet the needs of our international student body. We want to have economics to allow the students to have some choice in area 3. We think it is also important to have more electives in area 6, so we hope to make Spanish an official part of our programme. Our long-term planning includes adding business management, music and theatre arts in area 3 & 6. Due to the fact that we are a state school, this planning, of course, depends on funding from Berlin. We are grateful for their support and look forward to continuing the relationship for many years to come.

Information on individual subjects

Subject

Curriculum

Materials

All

Competence criteria

 

 

German

German language curriculum for years 7-9 (in German)

 

German IB course outline A1 2008-2010

 

German A2 standard level 2008/2010 (in German)

 

German IB course outline B

 

German syllabus for years 7-8 (in German)

English

English curriculum overview for years 7-10

 

English curriculum for years 7-10

 

English Abitur 2009 GK Semester 3 & 4

 

English Abitur 2010 GK & LK Semester 1 & 2

 

English IB-Course Outline A1, 2007-2009

 

English IB-Course Outline A1, 2008-2010 

 

 

French

French IB course outline B

Information on the DELF scolaire (internationally recognized French diploma)

Information on exchange programs:

Brigitte Sauzay Program

Voltaire Program

(all in German or French)

Physics

Physics IB diploma programme outline

 

 

Music

Music curriculum for years 7-9

 

 

Sports

Sports curriculum for years 7-10 (in German)