Global Assessment Certificate Program
GAC Success Stories
Daniel Grover
Vice Principal
International Education USA
Shanghai, China
"The GAC curriculum prepares and challenges our Chinese high school students. Most importantly, unlike A-level, A.P., and I.B. courses, GAC modules present university and communicative competency skills as differentiated content. This allows both high achievement learners and struggling students to benefit. For example, when working on thesis papers, strong students can focus on rhetorical strategies while others develop clear organization and thesis statements.
Second, modules effectively promote language proficiency in a variety of contexts. Class activities and assessment reflect everything from conflicts with roommates and professors to planning and presenting formal seminars. GAC graduates begin their university studies abroad prepared for most social situations and nearly all academic assignments. In example, one of my favorite memories is of a previous student named Joan, who proudly told me that she regularly outscored her American classmates during class presentations. She smiled and said despite her accent, her research, public speaking, and presentation skills were more practiced and polished.
From a teacher and academic management perspective, GAC texts and assessments also provide welcome structure for courses. Texts have lessons, coursework, projects, and homework integrated into well-defined units. As a result, students can use the book to review lessons and prepare for assessments. New teachers can use the structure as a guide for developing their own lesson planning skills.
And finally, the ACT China team provides excellent support. Unlike other academic teams, the Regional Account Directors from the ACT China office are available to train new teachers, discuss ways to adapt course content, and ensure grading is consistent between schools. We see them every few months, and many of our staff know the GAC team by first name."
Adriana Cuella Rio
“As a teacher I can say that I have learned so many issues that can help me and my students to better understand the way ESL can help you to expand your view on life.”
“The GAC is a program that helps students to deal with their skills and to use them as tools that can be very helpful to be competitive in the working world, because they are learning how to use their skills to improve in any area of knowledge in every subject they take. Here in Oxford High School we think that GAC opens doors to a future full of success!”
Adriana Cuellar Río
GAC Director of Studies,
Oxford High School, Monterrey, Mexico
Peter Baker
“Singapore International School at Saigon South in Ho Chi Minh City adopted the GAC University Foundation Program in 2007 as the final step in the study pathway offered to our students before they go to study in international universities. ”
“My staff and I have been impressed with the GAC program and the outstanding results achieved by our students. It is a well-structured core curriculum that provides a high degree of rigor and prepares students well for the challenges of independent study and time management at university level. The variety of assessment tasks provides students with the skills required to undertake further education in an English medium university. As well, students develop strategies to work independently and in group situations. ”
“Implementing the GAC Program has been a professionally rewarding experience for my staff. There is a good level of on-going professional support available for staff. The assessment processes of double-marking by teachers and responding to moderation processes provide teachers with opportunities for professional discussion and growth. ”
“The GAC sets a high benchmark for students with 55% as the pass mark for all assignments and tests. Our students have certainly grown in their confidence and competence as students as a result of the GAC program. Similarly, my staff have grown as professionals who are highly respected by their students.”
Peter Baker, Supervisory Principal
Singapore International School, Saigon South, Vietnam
Chad Skidmore
"I have been teaching in the GAC program for three years. I have nothing but praise for the program and how it focuses on developing critical thinking skills and other skills needed to succeed in an undergraduate program. Students with a solid English foundation who complete GAC will have the skills to perform at the highest levels in any undergraduate program. I strongly believe that students with all English levels who successfully finish the GAC program will be better equipped with the skills they need to succeed at universities and workplaces.
My GAC graduates have all easily adapted to university life in the United States and Australia. Each of them has told me how the GAC program put them ahead of their peers. GAC is an especially great program for Asian students as it allows a chance for students to adapt to the western learning atmosphere. The program helps students adjust from a teacher-oriented classroom to a student-oriented classroom. Students can be creative and think critically; they become comfortable sharing their ideas and speaking in front of others. They also can learn important research skills that are essential skills for any undergraduate course. Students learn how to paraphrase, reference previous work, and add their own research to ideas. I would strongly recommend the GAC program to any high school trying to prepare students for an undergraduate program. "
Chad Skidmore
Teacher and Director of Studies
Guiyang Happy Valley International Experimental School, Guiyang, China
Tina T. Ramaroson
"I’ve been teaching GAC reading and writing for three years. I really enjoy teaching this course. The curriculum is well designed and provides tasks and assessments that help me follow students' progress. As a teacher, I can affirm that there's no greater pleasure than knowing that students have learned something useful from what I taught them.
After my short talk with a student who is currently in England, I realized the importance of what he had learned in GAC program. In group work, he was the only student able to write essays in a proper way, with good research with appropriate references, and he received good feedback from his teachers. This kind of reflection continues to motivate me to teach GAC courses."
Mahavatratiana (Tina) T. Ramaroson
Teacher, Nanchang No. 3 Middle School
Nanchang, China
Ekane Stanley Nzegge
"This is a very competitive and well-structured academic program that really prepares students for university studies. Units and tasks are well designed to meet learner’s outcomes. GAC is just an amazing program as it fosters independent learning, team building, and research skills. I do not see a better program to get high school students ready for studies at some of the best universities abroad. Students value the program when they graduate and continue their studies abroad.
The GAC program is fundamental for success at university. Students gain practical skills, learn how to communicate effectively, learn to put together presentations and deliver their speech without fear. This programs arms students with interview, note-taking, research, and independent learning skills, which are vital at college. I love the program because it is rewarding, though it is challenging for students without a solid English foundation."
Ekane Stanley Nzegge, Director of Studies
GAC Listening and Speaking and Business Teacher
Nanchang No. 3 Middle School Nanchang, China
From Our Students
Christopher Gardner, GAC Graduate, March 2019
Sarasas Ektra School, Bangkok, Thailand
"I feel especially proud to have finished this program. The things we learn here are for preparation for university, and the skills we learn are academic writing, writing proper reports with perfect formats, proper referencing, to be reliable in an academic setting, and the ability to present and think outside the box. These are the skills learned here, which other people don’t really teach. Those are the skills that will be with me through university and afterwards.
GAC is a preparation course. If you want to prepare yourself for university and don’t want to get shocked by the amount of work, GAC will perfectly prepare you for it. I can assure you your English will improve because the whole course is in English. If you want to make sure you’ll have a good time in university, GAC is your choice."
Ke Luo
GAC Graduate
“Life is composed of dreams and unknowns which are related to our actions. My goal is to study biomedical science at a university in America. The GAC offers us a very good environment where we can speak English every day, communicate with foreigners, and get acquainted with the western educational system. Your participation in class and study skills determine your final grades, which is similar to the western educational system. As Neil, my foreign teacher, said ‘When you get your school assignment, you should concentrate on finishing it first and hand it in on time. Don’t finish your tasks at the last minute.’”
“The GAC teaches many study skills of the western educational system, which is good preparation for your overseas study. Finally, I would like to thank all my GAC teachers at Guangxi University for Nationalities, who worked hard to teach the skills needed and helped me apply to universities. Thank you all!”
Ke Luo, GAC graduate
Ke Luo received offer letters from the following universities:
- Pennsylvania State University, University Park (Ranked 47th in the U.S. by U.S. News)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Ranked 64th in the U.S. by U.S. News)
- Purdue University-West Lafayette (Ranked 56th in the U.S. by U.S. News)
"My last year of high school was a time full of memories with the GAC program. The essential skills that I acquired during the year have helped me a lot when studying at university. For instance, I developed public speaking skills through oral presentations and critical thinking skills when writing research essays. I also learned how to convey my thought in the most assertive way through business and became aware of the world around me through social science.
However, the most important thing that the GAC program taught me is teamwork. Besides group projects, I developed the skill much more when working with my GAC classmates, teachers and staff as we all worked together to achieve our goal of graduation. The GAC was an intensive and challenging program. However, we supported one another in every way possible. The teachers not only provided knowledge but also went above and beyond to truly become our dear friends.
Looking back, the GAC program is the best thing that ever happened in my life. It gave me courage, the strength to push on, and the mindset of never giving up. It taught me that it is okay to rely on people, have trust in them. I believe it is a battle worth fighting."
Nguyen Xuan Mai, Vietnam
“The GAC program taught me in advance academic skills and essential study skills that are important for my future studies. The GAC also taught me about what will I learn [at] university and made me ready to face the global challenges that may exist in the future. I will recommend this program because I have gained a great number of benefits from it.”
Velusomaz, now at The University of New South Wales, Australia.