AICE Frequently Asked Questions by Schools & Students

1. What is AICE?

            The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) is an international Diploma that students can earn via an advanced academic curriculum and assessment program written and administered by a non-profit department (CIE) of the University of Cambridge in England. AICE program courses and examinations may be offered during grades 11 and 12 in schools worldwide registered as CIE Centers.  There is an optional pre-AICE, or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), curriculum and assessment program available for grades 9 & 10 with most subjects available at two levels (extended and core) suitable for honors or regular high school students.

2.  What are the benefits of AICE?

            AICE not only prepares students to get into a university with up to 30 hours of college credit, but it also provides them with the skills required to be successful once there.  A study done by the Director of Admissions found that AICE program graduates attending the University of Florida had an average end-of-freshman year GPA of 3.46 whereas students coming from other acceleration mechanisms such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) had an average GPA of 3.12 and 3.10 respectively.

3.  What do I have to do to earn an AICE Diploma?

            Students must pass six credits worth of examinations within a thirteen month period.  At least one examination must come from each of the three subject groups:  Mathematics & Sciences, Languages, and Arts & Humanities. Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level exams count for one credit and Advanced (A) Level exams count for two credits.

4. What is the difference between an AS and an A Level exam?

Advanced (A) Level syllabuses and exams cover approximately two years of college-level curriculum in a subject.  The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level syllabus and exam covers the first year of the two-year Advanced (A) Level curriculum.  An AS level exam counts for one credit towards the AICE Diploma. The A-Level exam counts for two credits.

5.  What syllabuses are included in the three AICE subject group areas?

            Over 40 different subject syllabuses are available.  Most subjects are offered at both the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level and Advanced (A) Level.  A complete list is available at the University of Cambridge International Examinations website: www.cie.org.uk.

6.  Do students have to earn the full AICE Diploma in order to earn college credits?

No.  Students receive General Certificate of Education (GCE) subject certificates for AS and A Level examinations passed.  Colleges award credit on a subject – by – subject basis according to grades earned on individual examinations passed.

7.  How do AICE examination grades compare with the US grading scale?

            Passing grades available on AICE exams range from A to E with A being the highest.  Performance of students below the threshold of a CIE grade of E receives a grade of U, ungraded, which is not considered as passing.  A DOE AICE program study found that a CIE grade of E most closely correlated with an Advanced Placement exam grade of 3 and a US grade of C.

8.      Do many universities give college credits for AICE exams passed?

Yes.  CIE publishes a list on their website (go to www.cie.org.uk and search for “recognition”) of US universities that have provided written statements of their AICE (which includes AS and A Levels) recognition policy.  If a university admissions counselor is unfamiliar with AICE, suggest you ask to speak to the international applications counselor.  All public universities and community colleges in Florida award up to 30 hours of college credit for AICE exams passed.