AICE Diploma

First introduced by Cambridge in 1994, Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) provides a high-quality English-medium qualification which prepares young people for honours degree programmes. It is a ‘group’ certificate which requires the study of subjects drawn from three curriculum areas. Cambridge AICE offers students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their individual interests, abilities and future plans within an international curriculum framework.

The Cambridge AICE programme is used by schools around the globe Many colleges and universities are awarding students advanced standing and academic credit for Cambridge AICE examinations passed.

The Cambridge AICE Curriculum

The Cambridge portfolio of advanced qualifications offers a wide range of subject choice to students preparing for further study or progression to employment.

Selection from three curriculum areas

Cambridge AICE involves the selection of subjects from three curriculum areas – Mathematics and Science; Languages; Arts and Humanities from a wide range of subjects available at International Advanced (A) Level and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level. An A Level would count as a double-credit qualification and an AS Level as a full (single) credit course within the Cambridge AICE award framework. To be considered for an AICE Diploma, a candidate must earn the equivalent of six credits by passing a combination of examinations at either the full (1 credit) AS Level or double (2 credits) A Level, with at least one course coming from each of the three curriculum areas. (The equivalent of one full credit can be obtained by combining two half credits in English Language and Literature in English.) The examinations are administered in May/June and October/November sessions each year. A candidate working towards the Cambridge AICE Diploma may use up to three sessions to take the equivalent of six full credit examinations as long as they are taken within a 13-month period.

The Structure of the AS and A Level Courses leading to the AICE Diploma Award

The subject content of each A Level syllabus has been subdivided into two parts: the AS syllabus content which is expected to be covered in the first half of the course, and part 2 of the syllabus, commonly referred to as A2. This flexible approach enables students to choose between three main options:

• Take all A Level components in the same examination session at the end of the course of study, most normally the end of the second year
• Follow a staged assessment to A Level by taking the Advanced Subsidiary qualification in one examination session, and the final part of assessment in a subsequent session
• Take the AS Level only – this may be at the end of a one-year or two-year course
• The structure of the International A Level is such that co-teaching of students following both AS and A Level routes is possible.

An A Level course is probably the most in-depth and thorough preparation for university, medical college or employment that a school can give its students.

Half-credit courses

Half-credit courses in English Language and Literature in English are also available within the AICE programme.

Research project option in the Cambridge AICE Diploma

A research project offers the opportunity for students to demonstrate skills of independent study. Students may substitute the Research Project option for a full-credit course as it is a certificated AS in its own right.

The Cambridge curriculum aims to encourage the skills of independent research and investigation, the use of initiative and creativity and the application of skills and knowledge. The Research Project option in the AICE Diploma provides students with the opportunity to pursue topics in some depth in subject areas related to their studies, enabling them to demonstrate the skills which form the basis of successful future study and employment.

Students taking AS Level Research Projects are required to submit two research projects, in line with the CIE requirements stipulated.

Research project topics may be submitted in a wide range of subjects. Students submitting research projects to meet AICE Diploma requirements are expected to have followed associated syllabuses and be entered for AS or A Level examinations in those subjects. However, students are not allowed to submit Research Projects in any subject where they are also submitting coursework for either AS or A level.

A research project should be around 3000 words in length and high-scoring students will have shown evidence of study in depth. Full details can be found in the Guide to Research Projects booklet.

Grading and the Award of the Diploma

Results

For both AS and A Level examinations, candidates are graded on an alphabetical scale, A to E, with grade A indicating a top level of performance and grade E indicating a minimum passing grade. The results for examinations are sent to schools, in the form of a Statement of Results, in the middle of August for candidates who have taken the examinations in June. The results for the November examinations are sent to schools in late January. Certificates for successful candidates are normally sent to schools about six weeks after the issue of results.

Performance that meets the requirements of the group award will receive the Cambridge AICE Diploma. The Diploma will show the grades achieved by the student in each of the subjects taken in the final session, as well as the overall level of achievement and points earned in the group award. The full AICE Diploma is awarded on the basis of a points system, as shown in the table below.

In the event of a student performing poorly, it is possible to retake the AS consolidating the first part of the course before continuing to the second part of the course.

In the case of the suite of syllabuses for Languages other than English, it is not possible to carry forward marks from the AS to the A Level syllabus.

Double–Credit Study		Full–Credit Study		Half–Credit Study
Grade	Points	Grade	Points	Grade	Points
A	120	A	60	A	30
B	100	B	50	B	25
C	80	C	40	C	20
D	60	D	30	D	15
E	40	E	20	E	10

Diploma at one of three levels: Pass, Merit or Distinction on the basis of their overall AICE score, see below.

Cambridge AICE Diploma with Distinction awarded to candidates with a score in the range: 320 and above

Cambridge AICE Diploma with Merit awarded to candidates with a score in the range: 220–315 points

Cambridge AICE Diploma at Pass Level awarded to candidates with a score in the range: 120–215 points

Candidates who do not meet the requirements of the group award will receive certificates recording individual subject results.

AICE Diploma course options for the Cambridge Preparatory Academy at Federal Way High School:

Group A Mathematics and Science

Biology (AS) one credit

Biology (A) two credits

Mathematics (AS) one credit

Mathematics (A) two credits

Physics (AS) one credit

Thinking Skills (AS) one credit

Group B Languages

English Language (AS) half credit

English Language (A) one credit

French (AS) one credit

Spansih (AS) one credit

Group C Humanities

English Literature (AS) half credit

English Literature (A) one credit

History (AS) one credit

History (A) two credits

Thinking Skills (AS) one credit