What are the main reasons why parents/students choose ISKL?

• ISKL is the oldest and largest U.S. accredited international school in Malaysia.
• We offer a dynamic curriculum from prep reception through grade 12.
• We have the most extensive International Baccalaureate program in Kuala Lumpur.
• Out graduates have outstanding college and university acceptance rates.
• We offer a wide variety of challenging university level/advanced placement courses.
• We offer English as a Second Language support services.
• We offer special needs support for children with mild learning disabilities.
• Children at ISKL learn in a nurturing environment with a friendly and caring school climate.
• We have an outstanding teaching faculty with an average of 11 years of teaching experience.
• We are equipped with cutting edge technology.
• We have a diverse student body of approximately 50 nationalities.
• We offer a dynamic and exciting co-curricular program e.g. IASAS sports competitions with other premier international schools throughout South East Asia, Cultural Convention, Model United Nations, student exchanges with other international schools in the South East Asian region, Malaysia Week in the middle school and an extensive array of intramural sports and clubs in the elementary school.  Strong emphasis on theater, music and the fine arts.
• ISKL is a non-profit, parent governed school.

At ISKL learning is fun!

What kind of testing is required and why?
The testing of incoming students varies depending on what kind of school system they are coming from.  The most common testing is for math and foreign language level placement at high school and for ESL screening for students where English is not their first language. 

Testing/screening serves two purposes.  One is for the placement of your child in the appropriate class and the other is to ensure ISKL is able to provide the services your child needs to be successful.

Can my child live with a friend or relative while attending ISKL?
ISKL policy states students must be in full-time residence with at least one parent or a legal guardian while in attendance.

Can students enroll at any time during the year?
Students can enroll at anytime of the year, but it is advisable to do a pre-registration to ensure space availability.  High school students are required to register a minimum of 20 school days prior to the end of a semester.

In what area of town do most ex-pats reside?
The majority of our ex-pat families choose to reside near the main campus, i.e. in the Ampang residential areas.  However, we also have many families who have chosen to reside further away, in areas such as Mont Kiara, Bangsar, Damansara Heights, Kenny Hills and Jalan Duta.

Do you have a bus service or do I need to provide transportation for my child?
Bus services are available to and from Petaling Jaya, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Damansara Utama and Bandar Utama, Bangsar, Damansara Heights, Mont Kiara, Kenny Hills, Taman Duta, Gurney, Kg. Datuk Keramat, Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Hilir, Jalan Ampang, Ukay Heights, Ampang Jaya, Sri Ukay, Hillview, Wangsa Maju and Bukit Antarabangsa.

Are after school activities offered at ISKL?
ISKL offers a wide-variety of after school activities at all grade levels.

Is there a bus service for students involved in after-school activities?
Yes, both campuses provide busing for students involved in after school activities.

How long before I arrive in Kuala Lumpur should I register my child?
As soon as possible, ideally the moment you decide to move to Malaysia. Enrollment in all school divisions is running at or near capacity with limited spaces available for new students.

How is the school year structured?
The school year contains two semesters:

• mid August to mid December
• 1st week of January to 1st week of June

What are the holidays?
Summer vacation – approximately the second week in June through the first week in August
Christmas vacation - 3 weeks
Spring break - 1 week

ISKL also observes major Malaysian holidays.

What hours is school in session?
Early childhood programs run from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Prep senior (kindergarten) to grade 5 runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Middle school and high school run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Are boarding facilities available for students?
ISKL does not provide boarding facilities.  All students are required to reside with their parent or a legal guardian while in attendance.

Does the school have a dress code?
ISKL has school uniforms and observes a dress code that varies slightly at each division.  Occasionally there are tag days where students are allowed to dress according to a particular theme. 

How is grade placement determined?
Many factors go into placement of students.  Some of the main ones are included below.

Elementary and Middle School
The following factors are considered when a student is transferring from another school or school system:

• Number of years in school
• Chronological age
• Results on entrance or standardized tests
• Past school records
• Evidence of maturity

A student entering 1st grade must be 6 years of age by October 1 of the year of entrance. A prospective 1st grade student should have completed one school year of kindergarten in a program similar to that of ISKL.

Students enrolling from an American or similar school will be placed in the same grade or grade next in sequence after the grade completed.

Students coming from schools with different calendars will be placed in the age appropriate grade.  This means students will repeat a semester when transferring from a system with a January-December calendar.

High School
Students are eligible for entrance into the 9th grade upon completion of eight years of school not including Kindergarten or its equivalent.

To be eligible for grade 10, a student must have successfully completed more than 5 credits.

To be eligible for grade 11, a student must have successfully completed 10 credits.

To be eligible for grade 12, a student must have successfully completed 16 credits and be able to graduate in one year.

A credit (as defined by ISKL criteria) is determined as follows:

• One credit - Successful completion of one course lasting the full academic year (two semesters) with an average of 200 minutes of instructional time per week.
• ½ credit - Successful completion of a course lasting for one semester.  (It can also indicate a year long class that has met an average for 100-200 minutes a week.)

All English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) high school applicants are required to demonstrate their functional knowledge of English before admission into the regular ESL program is granted.

After admission, a student must successfully complete and receive credit for two semesters at ISKL in order to be graduated (pass 5 subjects per semester, one of which must be English).

For specific questions regarding placement and/or transfer of credit, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@iskl.edu.my

Below are some sample grade equivalents from various countries as compared to ISKL:

ISKL	Sweden	Korea	India	Australia
PrepJr		Kind	Kind 1	Pre-School
PrepSr (K)		Kind	Kind 2	Kind
1	Grade 1	Primary 1	Standard 1	Year 1
2	Grade 2	Primary 2	Standard 2	Year 2
3	Grade 3	Primary 3	Standard 3	Year 3
4	Grade 4	Primary 4	Standard 4	Year 4
5	Grade 5	Primary 5	Standard 5	Year 5
6	Grade 6	Primary 6	Standard 6	Year 6
7	Grade 7	Jr. High 1	Standard 7	Year 7
8	Grade 8	Jr. High 2	Standard 8	Year 8
9	Grade 9	Jr. High 3	Standard 9	Year 9
10	GR 10-GYM	HS 1	Standard 10	Year 10
11	GR 11-GYM	HS 2	Pre U 1	Year 11
12	GR 12-GYM	HS 3	Pre U 2	Year 12

ISKL	New Zealand	Malaysia	Philippines	British
PrepJr	Kind	Pre-School		Reception
PrepSr (K)	Year 1	Standard 1	Pre-K	Year 1
1	Year 2	Standard 2	Kind	Year 2
2	Year 3	Standard 3	Primary 1	Year 3
3	Year 4	Standard 4	Primary 2	Year 4
4	Year 5	Standard 5	Primary 3	Year 5
5	Year 6	Standard 6	Primary 4	Year 6
6	Year 7	Form 1	Primary 5	Year 7
7	Year 8	Form 2	Primary 6	Year 8
8	Year 9	Form 3	HS YR 1	Year 9
9	Year 10	Form 4	HS YR 2	Year 10
10	Year 11	Form 5 (SPM)	HS YR 3	Year 11
11	Year 12	Lower 6	HS YR 4	Year 12
12	Year 13	Upper 6 (A Levels)		Year 13