▁Its ▁current ▁standard ▁curr icul um ▁for ▁the ▁lower ▁gr ades ▁( Primary ▁ 1 ▁up ▁to ▁Form ▁ 2 ▁a . k . a . ▁Gra de ▁ 8 ) ▁consists ▁of : ▁English ▁Mand arin ▁English ▁Liter ature ▁History ▁Computer ▁Science ▁Geography ▁Com b ined ▁Science ▁( integr ating ▁Bi ology , ▁Chem istry ▁and ▁Physics ) ▁Mathemat ics ▁Phys ical ▁Education ▁Art ▁D rama ▁The ▁character ▁training ▁program ▁was ▁awarded ▁first ▁prize ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁for ▁innov ation ▁in ▁curr icul um ▁by ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁Education ▁and ▁Youth ▁Services ▁of ▁Mac au . ▁It ▁was ▁also ▁awarded ▁ 3 rd ▁prize ▁by ▁the ▁International ▁School s ▁Services ▁in ▁their ▁world wide ▁competition ▁for ▁community ▁service ▁programs . ▁ ▁I GC SE ▁Program ▁The ▁International ▁General ▁Cert ificate ▁of ▁Second ary ▁Education ▁( IG C SE ) ▁is ▁an ▁English ▁language ▁curr icul um ▁offered ▁to ▁secondary ▁students ▁to ▁prepare ▁them ▁for ▁the ▁International ▁Bac cala ure ate , ▁A ▁Level ▁and ▁B TE C ▁Level ▁ 3 ▁curr icul ums . ▁It ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁older ▁G CE ▁O - Level ▁and ▁is ▁recognized ▁intern ation ally ▁as ▁being ▁equivalent ▁to ▁the ▁British ▁GC SE . ▁Stud ents ▁begin ▁studying ▁for ▁the ▁I GC SE s ▁in ▁Form ▁ 3 ▁( G rade ▁ 9 ) ▁and ▁generally ▁take ▁the ▁exam in ations ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁school ▁year ▁in ▁Form ▁ 4 ▁( G rade ▁ 1 0 ); ▁however , ▁high -