The SAT and the ACT are standardised tests used by several US universities to evaluate candidates during the admissions process. Both the SAT and the ACT are taken in Year 12/Grade 11 and can be taken more than once for students who wish to improve their scores. They are only required for students who are applying to universities in the United States which require the SAT or the ACT as part of their admissions criteria. The SAT also has a precursor, the PSAT/NMSQT (usually taken by interested students in Grade 10/Year 11). The SAT and ACT offer multiple international testing dates throughout the academic year. Students interested in taking those examinations can do so at various testing sites in Dubai.

The SAT and the ACT both offer free online test preparation materials and tutorials. Preparation for the SAT and ACT is individualized, with some students opting for long term (over one year) of preparation and others opting for one month-long intensive preparation. There are for-fee companies in Dubai who help prepare students for both tests, at different costs, such as Kaplan, A List, IvyWise and Princeton Review.

Further Information:

College Board – a non-profit organization who administers the SAT. Discover more here.

ACT – a non-profit organization who administers the ACT. Discover more here.

UNIFROG is the Career and University platform that we use at Sunmarke School. It’s an impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices for their future pathways. There is a repository of career lessons, information on pathways, universities around the world, CV builder, Personality Tests and links to MOOCs (online courses). UNIFROG is particularly useful for students in their last four years of study but can be accessed and used by all students in the Secondary.

Find out more information for students on UNIFROG here and a  UNIFROG Overview here.

The acquisition of skills that will allow our students to thrive in the world beyond school is of paramount importance.  At Sunmarke, we ask our students in Year 10 and 12 to actively participate in work experience programs during the final week of Term 3.   For our Year 12 IBCP students, work experience is an integral part of their curriculum.

We work with our parent community and other links to companies to create meaningful work experiences for our students in a variety of industry sectors.

Companies who participate in our Workplace Internships programme are listed below.

Banking:

– Citibank

Investment Banking:

– JP Morgan Chase
– Goldman Sachs

Consulting:

– Deloitte
– McKinsey & Company
– Delta Partners Business Consultancy
– PWC

Healthcare:

– Saudi German Hospital
– New York Dental Studio
– Kings College Hospital
– Emirates Specialty Hospital

Hotels & Hospitality:

– Jumeirah Group
– Atlantis Hotel
– Grand Hyatt Creek
– Zabeel House Hotel
– Movenpick JLT

Construction:

– GBH Construction

Health & Fitness:

– Johnson & Johnson
– Tribe Fit
– Emirates Golf Club
– Sustainable City Equestrian Club

Technology:

– IBM
– Microsoft Finance
– Help AG Dubai
– Vision Valley

Venture Capital:

– LAZARD Fund Managers
– Detec Space Contracting

E- Commerce:

– Lightspeed

Online Recruitment:

– Bayt

Retail:

– Aurea Puig Fashion

Real Estate:

– Tabani Real Estate
– MAG Properties
– Time Properties

Law:

– Hadef & Partners

Aviation:

– Fly Dubai

Energy/ Engineering:

– SVS Energi

Automotive:

– Pro Fix International
– Exotic Cars
– Super Fix Garage

Media/TV/ Press/ Production:

– First and Ten
– E7awi

Veterinary Services:

– Paws and Relax
– Umm Sequim Vet Center
– European Veterinary Center

Sunmarke students achieve their first choice university destinations that include the UK Russell Group and other top US universities. We encourage our students to follow their passions and experience the exciting opportunities that the world has to offer.

For a full list of our leaver destinations, click here.

Sunmarke provides in-depth one on one university guidance to students through our Career and Well Being Counseling office, our Heads of Year and our Head of Sixth Form. University guidance starts as early as Year 9 as students begin to select their GCSE options. In Year 11 and beyond, each Sunmarke student receives one to one counselling on course options and available pathways Post-18. In Year 12 and 13, students are regularly guided on the university application process.

Parents are invited to join our SunRise sessions dedicated to informing our parent community on the different aspects of applying to universities around the world. We are dedicated to ensuring our students and parents remain well prepared for the different university admissions procedures and pathways around the world.
Our tailored programme of learning includes researching courses, writing personal statements, practising for aptitude tests and interviews, holding mock interviews and completing applications. We also host admissions teams from world-leading universities each year, giving you a unique opportunity to find out more about their courses and expectations.

If Oxford, Cambridge or the American Ivy Leagues are in your sights, we have a specialist team to advise you.
Our UNIFROG platform has an extensive university search option, covering universities in many parts of the world including Europe, Canada, UK, US, Australasia and the Middle East.

USEFUL LINKS

University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) – UK
Provides information to all types of users interested in studying in the UK. Visit UCAS here.

Higher Education – Education USA (sponsored by US State Department)
Provides information on studying in the United States, including information on visas and financing a US education. Click here for more information.

Students interested in studying in the US apply via a variety of portals, including but not limited to:

• Individual universities (such as MIT and the University of California system)

For the Common App, click here.

For the Coalition App, click here.

Higher Education – Canada
Students in Canada apply to universities individually. In the province of Ontario, there is a unified portal called OUAC.

Some general information for international students interested in studying in Canada can be found here.

University Fairs

We hold several University Fairs in-house to give our students the unique opportunity of speaking with the admissions teams from globally leading higher education institutions. We also host visits from US and other international universities where they can learn more about their courses, entry requirements and expectations.

Sunmarke’s Alumni LinkedIn page allows us to keep in touch with our ex-students easily and to keep up-to-date with what they have been are doing, where life has taken them after leaving us and, more importantly, it allows you to keep in touch with each other.

Visit Sunmarke’s Alumni page here. 

Think and Thrive is our very special event linking innovators and business leaders in our region with savvy Sunmarke students. A student moderated event, Think and Thrive allows our students to ask our guests about their pathway to success in a unique, studio-style setting. Guest speakers so far include:

• Ishwar Chugani, CEO and Managing Director of Giordana Fashions
• Virgin Radio DJ Brent Black
• Managing Partner of Venture Souq, Ms. Sonia Weymuller

Careers education, information, advice and guidance is an essential part of the support we offer to students at Sunmarke School. Effective careers support can help to prepare young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. It can help them to make decisions and manage transitions as learners and workers.

As options for young people become more varied and complex, it is vital that we support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their future. As a result, the careers guidance has a whole-school remit designed to complement the rest of the school curriculum. This policy sets out how career activities are delivered at school and explain what stakeholders can expect from the careers guidance.

Aims and Objectives

The careers guidance aims to:

• Encourage students to be ambitious, broaden their horizons and explore their own career aspirations throughout their life at school
• Ensure student’s readiness to take their next step in their learning or career

The objectives for the careers guidance are as follows:

• Helping students to understand the changing world of work
• Facilitating meaningful encounters with employers for all students
• Supporting positive transitions Post-16 and Post-18
• Enabling students to develop the research skills to find out about opportunities
• helping students to develop the skills, attitudes and qualities to make a successful transition into the world of work
• Encouraging participation in continued learning, including further and higher education
• Supporting inclusion, challenging stereotyping and promoting equality of opportunity
• Contributing to strategies for raising achievement, particularly by increasing motivation