FAQ’s
- VSA FAQ’s
- Cambridge Curriculum FAQ’s
- IGCSE Specific FAQ’s
Vidyashilp Academy is situated at Govindapura, Behind Yelahanka Air Force Base, Yelahanka, Bengaluru North. Our new campus is set in the heart of nature and designed to foster an environment of learning and collaboration. You can find us on the map here.
VSA’s curriculum is designed according to the guidelines set by the ICSE and IGCSE (Cambridge International Examinations) Boards of Education. It is tailored to be is highly experiential, contextual, activity-oriented and based on multifaceted, multidisciplinary teaching approaches.
We follow a common school-based curriculum up to Grade 6. After this, students have the opportunity to select either the IGCSE program or to continue with the ICSE curriculum for their secondary education.
All the information you need can be found on our admissions page. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to help!
We welcome you to explore the VSA campus. We have set aside Wednesdays for our regular campus visits. To ensure you have a spot, register for a campus tour at:https://vidyashilpacademy.edu.in/the-vsa-edge/new-campus-tour/ Your visit experience is important to us.
At VSA, we have cultivated an environment where our kids have plenty of chances to enjoy sports. For our older students, we have an exciting line-up of offerings: football, basketball, and cricket, all available for both boys and girls. Each sport comes with its own professional coach to guide and inspire our young athletes.
To discover more about our sports offerings, head over to:https://vidyashilpacademy.edu.in/arenas-of-inspiration/sports/.
Our school operates from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. We are here to ensure your child’s productive day in a supportive learning environment.
We have partnered with a specialized external service providers to ensure efficient and safe commuting for our students. Your child’s well-being is our priority.
Our new campus boasts an impressive area of 20 acres, providing plenty of space for our students to learn, play, and grow in a nurturing environment.
We take your child’s safety seriously. Our measures include trained security personnel conducting regular rounds and supporting staff on campus. To enhance security, we have strategically placed CCTVs in specific areas. Most importantly, our student-friendly staff is always ready to help, ensuring a vigilant and approachable environment.
While both VSA and VSS are part of the Vidyashilp Education Group, they are not identical. Think of them as sister concerns, each with its own distinct identity. From curriculum and campus setup to fee structure and the range of activities, they have their own unique features.
For more in-depth details about VSS, we recommend reaching out to them directly (contact information will be provided on request). If you’re curious about VSA, feel free to explore our website for comprehensive information or reach out to us directly for more details.
We are here to empower your child’s academic journey, and that includes preparing them for competitive exams. Our approach includes guidance and resources to help students excel.
At VSA, we provide a dynamic language learning experience. The medium of instruction and the primary language are English. From Grade 1 to 6, Kannada is a compulsory subject, which continues up to Grade 10. Additionally, your child can choose between Hindi and French until Grade 5. Starting in Grade 6, the language options narrow down to English and Kannada.
At VSA, we are dedicated to shaping our students for success, whether they’re aiming for universities abroad or in India.
Our College Counsellor offers personalized support, aiding students in making informed choices. We assist in creating impactful recommendation letters that highlight their strengths. Furthermore, our campus becomes a hub for learning as representatives from numerous universities visit, providing valuable insights. We also encourage exploration beyond our grounds with college-fair opportunities. Engaging career days featuring guest speakers inspire students to envision their paths. To refine college applications, we provide workshops for crafting compelling essays and personal statements.
We are affiliated with University of Cambridge International Examinations for the “International” General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE, AS and A-Level) course as a registered Cambridge International Centre. This accreditation allows us to teach and examine student in the Cambridge International Examinations. As a Cambridge school the efficacy of our curriculum and examinations are regularly evaluated by the Cambridge organization to maintain course and examination alignment.
Admissions for VSA students are based on their past performance and “teachers” feedback. Admissions for students from other schools are based on written assessment for the subjects a child wishes to study.
School starts the first week of June (June 2, 2025 for IG10 and the new batch of AS level, Mid-June for A levels) and ends the last week of March 2026 for all students.
VSA internal examinations dates
| IG8 | IG9 | IG10 | AS | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July- August | Test | Test | Exam | Test | Test |
| September | Exam | Exam | Exam | Exam | Exam |
| January | Test | Test | Exam | Exam | Exam |
| March | Exam | Exam | Board exams | Exam | Exam |
The Cambridge and ICSE academic calendars are the same. School begins June 2, 2025, and ends the last week of March 2026. School is out for most Indian holidays, with approximately two weeks off during the Winter holiday.
Our Cambridge past results have been excellent. We have been able to get world and India toppers in many subjects.
VSA has been ranked as #2 in Karnataka and #4 in India by Education world this year. We would like to believe we are amongst the top International Schools in the country as we are going all out to work for “students” welfare and success.
We have a number of activities which come under the COE (Centers of Experience, “Engagement” & “Exploration”). We do offer opportunities for Internships, Leadership experiences, Volunteer work etc. Student organized events and clubs are also encouraged.
Students who are falling behind may voluntarily meet with their subject teacher or be referred to meet with their subject teacher. Teachers are available during their free time to help students.
Our students have gone to various Universities all over the world in countries like India, USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, Netherland, and Ireland. To name a few: California School of Technology (Cal Tech.), L.S.E., Universities of California, Oxford, Case Western Reserve University, University California Los Angeles and University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign.
Students take either 7 or 8 or 9 subjects. This results in some of them having free slots which could be utilized to build their profile by engaging in meaningful activities and clubs or getting doubts clarified with teachers. IGCSE students share the same lunchtime and activity time as their batchmates in ICSE.
Annual trips which are organized for the students are more of immersive experiences which also offer development of core values as well as leadership opportunities.
Students have been participating in WSC, various ideations, Mathematics competitions by University of Waterloo (Fermat), IOQM, Olympiads and Duke of Edinburgh “awards”
The easy or difficulty of any course has to do with each child’s acumen in a given course. Some courses might have more homework and need a more disciplined approach to study.
Students have 15 days after selection and enrolment in a course to decide if they want to remain in that course or seek a course change. After the 15 day trial period is over students may not change their course.
We provide a step-by-step process for helping students prepare for university. Each student will have a college and career plan. The Headmaster, Counselors and teachers will lead a variety of seminar/meetings providing timely information and support to students. There will be grade level, small group and individual student meetings to review “students” college goals.
Each university has varying requirements. These requirements also vary by country. Once students understand which country’s university, they want to pursue then we will work with them to make sure their coursework is adequate for entrance into that university. We encourage all students to take college preparatory courses in the four core classes of Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies beyond that we align college interest with college entrance requirements.
We explicitly teach the course following the Cambridge syllabus. We hold internal exams using past exam papers and use the exam result to prepare the upcoming lessons. The course is spread out over the school year and there is course exam preparation prior to the external examinations.
Starting your child in pre-IGCSE in Grade 8 provides an excellent opportunity to prepare students for the type of teaching and learning necessary to perform at a high level in the grade 9 IGCSE and later AS/A Level courses in grade 11 and 12.
- ICSE relies more on rote learning but IGCSE is more about applying the learned skills. The main difference lies in the way the students are taught and assessed.
- The students of IGCSE should be more thorough in understanding the concepts that even if questions are based on a mix of chapters or require applying the knowledge gained, students should be able to adequately answer. There are multiple past papers for each subject covering course theory, practical application and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ).
- A student of IGCSE is able to build all the different attributes of a Cambridge learner like Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
- IGCSE gives students more flexibility than ICSE with more subjects to choose from, more ways to learn and more ways to succeed. There are options for science and Math to choose between Core and Extended.
- In ICSE, when you drop Sciences, you need to drop all sciences, however, for IGCSE, one can choose which science one wants to continue with.
In IGCSE, English and Mathematics are mandatory. Students need to take a minimum of 7 subjects. Only one subject in each cluster may be chosen.
| Cluster | Subjects Offered | Subject Chosen |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English (Compulsory) | English |
| 2 | Hindi, French | |
| 3 | Mathematics (Compulsory) | Mathematics |
| 4 | Physics, Environment Management | |
| 5 | Chemistry, Geography | |
| 6 | Biology | |
| 7 | Economics | |
| 8 | Computer, Sociology, English Literature | |
| 9 | History, Business studies, Art & Design | |
| 10 | Cambridge Global Perspectives |
VSA offers the following IGCSE subjects but if we do not have a minimum of 3 students for a subject, we will not be able to offer it.
- Additional Mathematics (0606)
- Art & Design (0400)
- Biology (0610)
- Business (Now 0450 and from 2027 to 0264)
- Chemistry (0620)
- Computer Science (0478)
- Economics (0455)
- English – First Language (0500)
- English – Literature in English (0475)
- Environmental Management (0680)
- French – Foreign Language (0520)
- Geography (0460)
- Global Perspectives (0457)
- Hindi as a Second Language (0549)
- History (0470)
- Mathematics (0580)
- Physics (0625)
- Sociology (0495)
Students who wish to take up French, should have learned the basics in lower classes. Additional Math is offered to students in Grade 9 who have maintained a certain level throughout the year and also clear the entrance exam that is given
It is interdisciplinary in nature. The syllabus gives learners the opportunity to develop the skills they need to face global challenges in a connected and information-rich world and to think about how best to live in a sustainable way. These challenges include how to cope with changes that will have an impact on their life chances and choices and how to gain a sense of their own active place in the world. Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives encourages learners to think about and explore solutions to significant global issues, consider significant global issues from different perspectives, work collaboratively and individually and to apply their knowledge in different contexts. To support learners in facing these challenges, Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives develops a range of skills, including:
- researching, analyzing and evaluating information
- developing and justifying a line of reasoning
- reflecting on processes and on own learning
- communicating information and reasoning
- collaborating to achieve a common outcome.
The Cambridge IGCSE™ Environmental Management (EVM) syllabus creates interest and enthusiasm about the environment, and helps students gain essential skills to progress to further study or employment, gain an interest in environmental issues that affect the individual, the community and the wider world, communicate effectively and clearly, using appropriate terminology and scientific conventions, practical fieldwork, promoting safe
working practices and with consideration for habitats and organisms, develops understanding of scientific data and evidence to solve problems and make decisions, understanding of climate change and have the knowledge and skills required to address climate related challenges at local, national and global levels, interest in environmental management through the
discovery of strategies, their impacts and ability to manage climate change that could inspire further study.
Environmental Management (0680)
- Rocks and minerals and their exploitation
- Energy and the environment
- Agriculture and the environment
- Water and its management
- Oceans and fisheries
- Managing natural hazards
- The atmosphere and human activities
- Human population
- Natural ecosystems and human activities.