How ACS Hillingdon’s IBDP Prepared Ege for University Maths

Hi, I’m Ege. I’m a Grade 12 student here at ACS Hillingdon. I’m originally from Turkey, and this is my eighth year at ACS Hillingdon.

What course are you studying and why did you choose it?

I’m doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). I’m interested in the sciences, so I chose my higher level courses as chemistry, physics, and maths. For my standard level courses, I chose Italian ab initio, English Language and Literature, and economics.

For me, the IBDP is multifaceted. I get to do a lot of the things I really enjoy and want to pursue, such as physics, but I also get to study subjects I might not have chosen on my own. For example, I don’t think I would have selected economics, but following it as part of the IBDP has shown me how interesting it is. I think the programme pushes you to step out of your comfort zone.

What skills have you developed at ACS that will be most valuable in your future?

Doing internal assessments for each class has taught me how to write in a more professional way, for example citing my sources in the correct way. Learning how to develop that academic writing style has been really helpful for the future.

How have your teachers and mentors supported your academic journey?

They’re all very approachable. If I have any questions, I just ask them. If I’m struggling with something, I can always talk to them after class or during breaks. They’re all really helpful.
I especially like my maths teacher because if I discover something or work on something outside the curriculum, I can still go to her and we talk about it. She’s genuinely interested in things beyond the course content, which I appreciate.

How have your university counsellors supported your university application process?

They supported me throughout the whole UCAS application process. I had to apply early for Cambridge, and because they take early applications, the counsellors helped me manage deadlines and made sure I didn’t miss anything.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to study mathematics at university and have applied to both Cambridge and Warwick. Maths is something I’ve always been interested in, and the school syllabus has supported that interest. I really enjoyed what we did in class, and I felt it was the right path for me.

I’m still a bit unsure about which profession I’ll go into. I think that’s something I’ll explore further at university. I know it should be something involving maths – ideally a job where I use a lot of it, like mathematical research, finance, or physics.

What have you enjoyed most about the IBDP programme?

I enjoyed both the Extended Essay (EE) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK). I did my Extended Essay in chemistry, exploring the properties of suntan oils, which I found really interesting. The IB pushes you to do things you normally wouldn’t, like writing a 4,000-word research paper. If I hadn’t been in the IB, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity.

It’s interesting because I wouldn’t have known about the science behind everyday products. The IB encouraged me to think more scientifically about things around me, and I really relished that.
TOK was also a highlight – it’s very philosophical and gets you thinking in ways you wouldn’t normally think. I found it really engaging.

How was your transition into ACS Hillingdon?

The transition wasn’t too difficult for me. A Levels are different because you study only three subjects. In Turkey, we studied around eight, and with the IB, it’s kind of the same if you include TOK and the EE. So for me, the change wasn’t too difficult.

The real challenge was the language. I didn’t speak English when I came here, so I had to learn it from scratch. The school was very supportive. I had two years of English as an Additional Language (EAL) sessions, which really helped me.

Do you have any advice for students considering the IBDP at ACS Hillingdon?

For the Extended Essay (EE), I’d definitely recommend choosing a topic that you genuinely find interesting. The same goes for your subject choices. Make sure you pick subjects you enjoy. That will make the Internal Assessment (IA) and EE process much more engaging and manageable.

What is your favourite memory from your time at ACS Hillingdon?

The field trips are definitely a highlight. A couple of years ago, we went to Wales and took part in all sorts of activities, including caving and canoeing. It was an amazing experience and one of my favourite memories from my time here.

Watch the full interview with Ege below