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Academic curriculum

Lower Secondary (G6-G8)

Cambridge Lower Secondary builds strong foundations in core subjects while developing critical thinking and independent learning, preparing students for IGCSE.

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Lower Secondary Overview

UIA uses the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum along with its own internally developed curriculums. Students study all the four core subjects along with Music, Art & Design, Computing, Values Education, and their choice of second language. UIA and Cambridge’s curriculums allow for teachers to utilize a variety of instructional strategies that ensure that our students learn the subject matter in a comprehensive manner.

Subjects Offered

Children engaged in crafts at a classroom table, creating colorful art with paper, glue, and stationery.
Art & Design
Art & Design
Art & Design allows learners to express themselves, fostering creativity and transferable skills. Students become critical thinkers and articulate personal responses.

Cambridge Course ID: 0073
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Person in gray hoodie using laptop, surrounded by robotic toys and boxes on a desk, focused and engaged in technology.
Computing
Computing
The computing curriculum teaches how computers function, allowing students to explore components and develop coding skills with languages like Scratch.

Cambridge Course ID: 0860
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Computing & Technology
Grade Level: 6 to 8
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English
English
Cambridge Lower Secondary English fosters a love for reading, writing, and speaking, helping learners develop skills for various audiences and purposes.

Cambridge Course ID: 0861
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: English, Language Arts
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Teacher explaining prisms and pyramids with diagrams on a whiteboard in a classroom setting.
Mathematics
Mathematics
Maths helps us to think analytically and have better reasoning abilities. Our Primary and Lower Secondary mathematics curriculum encourages life-long enthusiasm for analytical and rational thinking.

Cambridge Course ID: 1112/0862
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Mathematics
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Child writing in notebook at a desk with pencil case nearby, focused on homework in a classroom setting.
Foreign Language
Foreign Languages
The UIA language curricula offer foundational skills in French, Hindi, Japanese, and Kokugo, helping students understand each language's structure and cultural context.

Cambridge Course ID: N/A
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Languages
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Guitar lesson with a tutor guiding a young student on acoustic guitar playing in a classroom setting.
Music
Music
Music boosts creativity and confidence, allowing learners to express themselves and understand the value of communication with musicians and audiences.

Cambridge Course ID: 0078
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Children playing a competitive soccer match on a green field near the goal under a sunny sky.
Physical Education
Physical Education
Physical education is essential for a balanced curriculum. Regular exercise boosts health and academic performance, laying the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle.

Cambridge Course ID: 0081
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Physical Education, Health & Fitness, Well-being
Grade Level: 6 to 8
Scientist in a lab coat examines a test tube, wearing gloves for safety in a laboratory setting.
Science
Science
Our exciting new primary science curriculum helps learners develop a life-long curiosity about the natural world and enables them to seek scientific explanations to the phenomena around them.

Cambridge Course ID: 1113/0893
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Science
Grade Level: 6 to 8
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Humanities
Humanities
The UIA social studies curriculum enables learners to connect with the past, understand societal functions, and appreciate both uniqueness and commonalities.

Cambridge Course ID: N/A
Division: Lower Secondary
Subject Areas: Humanities/Social Studies
Grade Level: 6 to 8
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Wellbeing
Wellbeing

Cambridge Primary Wellbeing promotes a holistic approach, encouraging learners to actively engage in their own wellbeing and build positive relationships.

Cambridge Course ID: N/A

Division: Lower Secondary

Subject Areas: Special Subject Area, Health & Fitness, Well-being

Grade Level: 6 to 8

Learning Areas

Core Academic Learning

  • Build strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and scientific understanding
  • Develop analytical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills
  • Prepare students for academic progression to Cambridge IGCSE
  • Clear communication and comprehension
  • Logical and mathematical reasoning
  • Develop global awareness, cultural understanding, and international mindedness
  • Critical thinking through multiple viewpoints
  • Strengthen communication skills across languages and contexts
  • Encourage research, inquiry, and evaluation of global issues
  • Understand human societies, environments, and historical change
  • Strengthen research, interpretation, and reflective thinking
  • Cause-and-effect thinking in human and environmental contexts
  • Encourage originality and critical evaluation of ideas and work
  • Promote physical fitness, coordination, and healthy lifestyles
  • Build confidence, resilience, and personal responsibility
  • Social skills and collaboration
  • Personal growth and self-discipline

Weekly Schedule

(Lower Secondary)
  • 08:30
  • School Begins
  • 08:50 - 09:40
  • Period 1
  • 09:40 - 10:30
  • Period 2
  • 10:30 - 10:40
  • Recess Break
  • 10:40 - 11:30
  • Period 3
  • 11:30 - 12:20
  • Outdoor Play
  • 12:20 - 13:00
  • Lunch
  • 13:00 - 13:50
  • Period 5
  • 13:50 - 14:40
  • Period 6
  • 14:40- 15:30
  • Period 7
  • 15:30
  • Dispersal

Resources That Support Learning

Assessment

We offer a range of optional assessments to help you accurately measure students’ potential and progress.
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Classroom Support

We provide high-quality resources to help you plan and deliver the programme.
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Lower Secondary Resources

We work with a range of publishers to produce high-quality textbooks and resources to support our core subjects.
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Assessment

Accurately measuring a student’s potential and progress can transform learning and help you make informed decisions about individual learners, their educational needs and where to focus your teaching efforts.

Many of our schools use the Cambridge Lower Secondary testing structure to assess learner performance and report progress to students and parents. Our assessments are optional, so you can use them in any combination to suit your context, culture and ethos.

Provide feedback: Classroom assessment

We encourage you to assess some subjects in the classroom through discussion, observation and lesson outputs. We provide Assessment guidance to help you give formative feedback on the skills you want learners to develop so that they can reflect on, and improve their performance.
  • Available for Art & Design, Digital Literacy, Music and PE.
  • Feedback on ‘what went well’ and how students can improve further.
  • Help students to reflect on and improve their performance.
  • Use throughout the year.

Monitor progress: Cambridge Progression Tests

Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests are internal assessments that help you to check learners’ knowledge, skills and understanding. Available for our core subjects, English as a first or second language, mathematics and science, progression tests are marked by teachers in your school and available for stages 7, 8 and 9.
  • Provide detailed information about learner performance.
  • Compare strengths and weaknesses of individuals and groups.
  • Come with clear guidance, standards and mark schemes.
  • Updated annually (from 2022 onwards).
  • Download from our secure Cambridge Lower Secondary support site.
  • Use any time, ideally at the end of the school year.
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Check achievement: Cambridge Checkpoint

Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint monitors individual and group performance at the end of the primary programme. These external tests are marked by Cambridge International to give you extra confidence in the feedback you receive and share with parents.
  • Available for English as a first or second language, maths, science and Cambridge Global Perspectives.
  • See how learners are performing against an international benchmark, and in comparison to the rest of their class.
  • Easily monitor group and individual performance.
  • Schools receive a diagnostic feedback report and learners receive a Statement of achievement.
  • Two exam series available: May or October.
  • Use at the end of the Cambridge Lower Secondary programme (Stage 9).
Learn More