Introduction

Curriculum Plan

American Program

At UCA we are so committed to provide a professional learning experience and expand the educational opportunities for students who need to complete their high school education. Therefore, adding the American Program stream will offer an academically comprehensive curriculum that supports the different learning styles and pace of our students.

The curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards from k to 12, supported by the latest online resources and technology integration, to allow students to achieve their full potential and to be fully prepared for the ACT and Advance Placement Exams. Our professional and in-house trained staff will guide students every step of the way in achieving their goals and in succeeding in every aspect of their learning.

The American program offers preparation to ACT & AP programs:

1. The American College Testing (ACT)

The American College Testing (ACT), is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States and one of the options given by the Jordanian Ministry of Education.

• ACT General Test

The ACT test covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. It is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States and other Arabs countries as well as more than 225 universities outside of the U.S.

The ACT is offered seven times a year in Jordan: in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July.

The ACT is offered only on Saturdays except for those with credible religious obligations, who may take the test on another day.

• ACT International Subject Tests

ACT International Subject Tests are unique, research-based assessments. Based on research and designed in partnership with the nation’s leading educators, the assessments offers a comprehensive, aligned approach to measuring student skills and knowledge.

The ACT International Subject tests are designed to be aligned to your high school curriculum. Whether you are studying the national, IB, or US Common Core, you will find a subject test that works for you and rewards you for your academic excellence.

The ACT offers subject tests in the following content areas: Biology, Chemistry, English I and English II, Math I and Math II, Physics, and U.S. History.

The Ministry of Education in Jordan has given its official approval and recognition of the ACT test and the ACT International subject test as an acceptable academic measure to be administered and used in the country, as equivalency to the Jordanian ‘Tawjihi’ exam.

2. Advanced Placement (AP)

 Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. The Advanced Placement (AP) program enables high school students to measure achievement in a particular course or area of study through standardized exams. Although these exams are the culmination of college-level work in high school-and are sometimes awarded credit by colleges for entry-level courses-they are mainly used by private schools and colleges as a means by which students prove their motivation, challenge themselves academically and engage in advanced work in a given subject.

The AP curriculum for each of the various subjects is created for the College Board by a panel of experts and college-level educators in that field of study. AP exams are administered each May at secondary schools all over the world. Tests offered range from math and science (calculus at two levels, chemistry, biology and physics), to foreign languages (e.g. French, Spanish and Italian), to world histories and social science courses (such as psychology, macro- and micro-economics and human geography). The exams are offered at the end of a year-long Advanced Placement course.

British Program

The IGCSE / GCE / IAL programmes are based on British educational systems and are recognized and endorsed by Cambridge University and London University.

It is the programme implemented in British schools and in international schools worldwide in both the Literary and Scientific streams. This programme allows students to choose the topics they wish to study from both streams according to the admissions criteria of different universities.

The programme is recognized by the Jordanian Ministry of Education and is equal to the Jordanian Tawjihi Certificate. However, the Ministry has set the minimum of a four years programme and the completion of certain mandatory subjects in order to recognize the student's certificate.

IGCSEs are widely accepted by universities and colleges as part of their entry requirements. IGCSEs are offered by Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and Oxford (AQA) examinations boards.

IGCSEs and International GCSEs are the world’s most popular international qualifications for 14- to 16-year-olds.  

The programme consists of two levels; Ordinary (O- level/ IGCSE) and International Advanced Level (IAL/ GCE).

The programme is completed in four years of study; two years at the Ordinary Level (O- level/ IGCSE) in grades 9 and 10, then another two years of International Advanced Level (IAL/ GCE) in grades 11 and 12. During the first two years of the programme, grades 9 and 10, students must successfully complete six O- level subjects and in grades 11 and 12 two full A-level courses or 1 full A-level course and 2 AS courses.

UCA has implemented the British program, Cambridge Primary (CP). The program is based on the adoption of education outputs, a clear policy framework, and a whole structure in which all teachers work together to get students to the appropriate efficiency of thinking. At UCA to provide our students a precise curriculum that aims towards academic success in IGCSE, AS and A-level, we apply high academic standards while we offer specific choices that give our students an explicit background of subjects from which to choose as they move from grade 9and 10 towards AS and A2.

From grade 9-12, all main subjects and courses are from (CIE, Edexcel and AQA,) while minor subjects have been developed in-house and are aligned both vertically and horizontally.

On completion of grade, 12 students will be meeting school graduation requirements as they meet the Jordanian Ministry of Education’s Tawjihi equivalency Requirements

National Program

UCA adapts curriculum standards applied by the Ministry of Education in Jordan. UCA provides a vertically and horizontally aligned curriculum from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

Individual Educational Plan (IEP)

Certificate Equivalency

American Program

American Program

* Options towards Tawjihi Equivalency:

Option One:

Six ACT International Subject Tests minimum score 16 out of 36, with a provided that a minimum three of them to be scientific with one mathematics (M2) for the Scientific Stream equivalency, and the overall percentage will be calculated as follow:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 75% from ACT International scores

Option Two:

Four ACT International Subject Tests + One Advanced Placement (AP), or + ACT General Test

Provided that a minimum of three of them be scientific with one mathematics for the Scientific Stream equivalency, and the overall percentage will be calculated as follow:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 50% from ACT International Subject Tests scores
• 25% from either AP OR ACT General Test

Option Three:

Two ACT International Subject Tests + Two AP’s

Provided that both AP’s must be scientific for the scientific equivalency and the overall percentage is calculated as follows:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 25% from ACT International Subject Test scores
• 50% from AP’s scores

Option Four:

Three AP’s

Provided that TWO of the AP’s must be scientific for the scientific equivalency and the overall percentage is calculated as follows:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 75% from AP’s scores​​​​​​​ 

Option Five:

Two AP’s + ACT General Test

Provided that Both AP’s must be scientific for the scientific equivalency and the overall percentage is calculated as follows:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 50% from AP’s scores
• 25% from ACT General Test

Option Six:

Two ACT International Subject Tests + One AP + ACT General Test

Provided that Both ACT International Subject Tests and the AP’s must be scientific with one Mathematics for the scientific equivalency and the overall percentage is calculated as follows:

• 25% from school scores divided evenly between grades 10, 11 and 12
• 25% ACT Subject Tests scores
• 25% from AP
• 25% from ACT General Test

Those who do not wish to calculate the school marks of grades 10, 11 &12 (which make up 25%) towards the Tawjihi Equivalency can replace them with one of the following options:

• Two exams for the ACT International Tests
• One AP Exam
• ACT General Test

* The final centennial grade for the ACT Subject Test is calculated based on the below formula:

* The final centennial grade for AP is calculated based on the below formula:

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British Program

IGCSE/IAL

The program consists of Ordinary (O- level/ IGCSE) and International Advanced Level (IAL/ GCE).

The program is completed in four years of study; two years at the Ordinary Level (O- level/ IGCSE) in grades 9 and 10, then another two years of International Advanced Level (IAL/ GCE) in grades 11 and 12. During the first two years of the program, grades 9 and 10, students must complete six O- level subjects and in grades 11 and 12 two full A-level courses or 1 full A-level course and 2 AS courses.

* Options towards Tawjihi Equivalency:

School Exams GCE/IGCSE/GCSE equivalency Ministry of Education requirements to receive an equivalency to the Jordanian Tawjihi.

1. Provide the Ministry with proof that the students have completed 12 years of schooling.
2. The student must provide proof of passing the following number of subjects:

• six O-levels and/or IGCSE/GCSE subjects
• two A-level subjects.

3. Passing grades are as follows:

• O-level/IGCSE/GCSE : A, B, C and D
• A-level/AS : A, B,C,D, and E

4. For the Arab student one of the eight subjects MUST be the Arabic language at either the O or A level. The Ministry of Education will NOT accept the subject of Arabic as a Second Language for equivalency purposes. It will consider acceptance if the student was enrolled in an English language medium school outside Jordan for the majority of his/her scholastic years. The Ministry will consider case by case to grant the equivalency
5. The Ministry of Education will consider the same subject in two levels as two separate subjects (i.e. O level Biology and A level Biology).
6. Graduates from Jordanian schools, and in addition to the subjects of the British program, must pass the three subjects from the Jordanian curriculum; Arabic, Islamic studies (for Muslim students) and General Studies during the last two scholastic years.
7. Graduates from schools outside Jordan must provide certified copies of their last three scholastic years certificates. All GCE/IGCSE certificates must be certified by the British Council Jordan
8. At the advanced level Computing is considered a science subject. Computer Studies and Information Technology are considered science subjects at the ordinary level.
9. The Ministry of Education has agreed to equate Co-ordinated Science as two subjects. Students sitting for Co-ordinated Science should not sit the exams for individual science subjects (i.e. biology, chemistry and physic) as they will not be considered as additional subjects.
10. The Ministry of Education has agreed that two AS subjects are equivalent to one A level for Tawjihi Equivalency purposes. To receive equivalency for a science subject the two AS subjects should be science subjects (i.e. AS Biology + AS Chemistry). If one AS is a science subject and the other is a literary subject (i.e. AS Math. + AS Arabic) then it equals one A level towards the literary stream. The student should check with the university they are applying to whether they require a full A level or not.
11. If after obtaining equivalency, a student wants to repeat some of the subjects to improve his/her grade, he can do that after one semester from the date of his equivalency and he can repeat up to two subjects.
12. Final centennial grade is calculated based on the below formula and according to the average of the eight subjects:

* Equivalency for the scientific stream

To gain Tawjihi equivalency in the scientific stream, the following is needed:

1. 6 passes in IGCSE or “O” level exams including:

• Two passes in science subjects
• One pass in Arabic

2. 2 passes in A level

• One full A level in Physics or Mathematics.
• The other A level may be an A level in any science or two AS’s in two sciences.
• ​​​​​​​ * Equivalency for the literary stream

To gain Tawjihi equivalency in the literary stream, the following is needed:

1. 6 passes in IGCSE or “O” level exams including:

• One pass in Mathematics
• One pass in Computer Studies/Information Technology

2. 2 passes in A level

• One full A level in Arabic
• The other A level can be one of the following options:
• A level in any literary subject
• Two AS’s in any two literary subjects
• One AS in a literary subject and one AS in a scientific subject.

National Program

College Counseling

Graduation Requirements

American Program

British Program

National Program