Which schools suit what your child loves?

Review Readiness for life after school

Very prepared. The academic rigor of the school, along with the stress, and difficulty definitely made me more than capable to face university. Most students have developed good study habits find first year of university very easy. The school also hosted and invited many career expo/experts, so students were very well equipped with career advice.

Review Year 12 subject choices

My subjects were: English HL, Biology HL, Psychology HL, Maths AA SL, Chemistry SL and Japanese Ab Initio. I chose these subjects based on what I was good at and what I enjoyed. This was based off my previous grades and general interest. It also helped that the higher levels that I chose had some overlap- for example, some biology and psychology topics were the same, like neuroscience, so for me it was a good choice. However, I know some people strayed far away from that combination because biology and psychology HL were two subjects that were incredibly content-heavy and required a lot of memorisation. Ultimately, subject selection is all about playing to your strengths. If I could turn back time, I would've done AI SL instead of AA SL for maths. As a law student, I do not require a high level of maths. AA SL is more complex and difficult than AI SL but does not count as a "higher level" requirement. Therefore, as I didn't need AA SL as a prerequisite for my university degree, AI SL would probably have been a better option as it would be easier to get a good grade, which is what I needed. However, it is worth noting that unlike the current system that accepts students from Grade 7, when I arrived they only took Grade 10s, so I didn't have any chance to try out junior subjects that would have allowed me to make a more informed decision on what my subjects and higher levels should be.

Review Getting extra help

A benefit to QASMT is that it provides a lot of academic support. Tutoring with alumni, and peer mentoring during lunchtime and after school were all offered and encouraged. Teachers cared about the students' learning and would often give up lunchtimes and after-school hours to aid students in their education. If students weren't passing their courses, they would be required to undergo mandatory tutoring. Similarly, the school would reach out through email to students with low grades to offer help and resources.

Review Getting extra help

Very accessible. There are plenty of support systems SMT students had access to. Not only did they run peer tutoring sessions during lunchtime, but also students often visited teachers during the teacher-run tutorials during break times. Along with that teachers often host after school or before school classes to provide additional support to students. THe school also hires alumnis to share study tips, and even to teach students after school.

Review Would you recommend it?

Although there are many things that needs to be considered when selecting IB (ATAR conversions, whether you are planning to study domestic vs international), overall, I would still recommend QA to students if they enjoy working with like minded peers and work well under pressure. The teachers really have a passion for their job, and it shows through their interaction and willingness to help their students. However, I do agree that IB places too much stress on students, so therefore I only recommend the school to students that are up for the long term challenge. Other pros for the school includes the fact that the 80% of the students are also dedicated and hard-working which creates a sort of competitive/encouraging environment that is hard to find in other schools. Furthermore, there is hardly no stigma around being "nerdy" or trying hard, which is also uncommon in most high schools. As for extracurricular activities, QA does not place a huge emphasis on sports as participation for extracurricular activities is less than the average school.

Review What had the biggest impact

The school environment and constantly being surrounded by people that are also so hard-working and motivated definitely had the largest positive impact on me in terms of encouraging me to achieve my best. IB is an extremely academically demanding program, and as a result, my last final 2 years really tested my ability to time manage, balance my extracurriculars and work efficiently. These skills I feel have allowed me to find strengths and weaknesses in studying which was useful in university. Furthermore, as a result of school's emphasis on STEM, students at SMT often get the opportunity to join many university based programs, listen to specialists and attend seminars, all of which I know has inspired many students to pursue a career in STEM> Overall, my interactions with my teachers, and their willingness to always help, as well as their genuine passion for teaching has left a lasting impact on my view on ability to communicate my problems and seek help. I know the teachers at SMT has not only inspired but also challenged the students to always keep learning.