Overview of the AICE Program

What is the AICE Program?

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program is one of sixteen Florida School Choice Options available to students in grades K-12.

The AICE program is considered an international curriculum and examination program that’s modeled on the British pre-college curriculum and ‘A-Level’ exams. Florida’s public colleges and universities provide college credit for successfully passed exams. Students in Florida’s public secondary schools enrolled in AICE courses do not have to pay to take the exams.

Cambridge courses prepare students for life by helping them develop an informed curiosity and lasting passion for learning. Cambridge courses also help students become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged. Upon receiving the AICE Diploma, high school graduates will be prepared to tackle the demands of tomorrow’s world and capable of shaping a better world for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Advanced Placement (AP) and AICE? 

While the AP program provides college credit for completed AP exams, the AICE provides the opportunity to earn an international diploma where students can earn up to 30 hours of college credit taking the whole AICE curriculum. Students can earn this international diploma through AICE and is 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 Centres.  There is an optional pre-AICE, or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), curriculum and assessment program available for grades 9 and 10 with most subjects available at two levels (extended and core) suitable for honors or regular high school students.

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 at the University of Florida found that AICE program graduates attending UF had an average end of the 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.  A similar study conducted at  of Virginia found the same results.

Does earning the AICE Diploma qualify students for the Florida Bright Futures scholarships?

Yes, students who earn the AICE Diploma and complete 75 service hours during their high school careers automatically earn the Florida Bright Futures 100% tuition scholarship regardless of grade point average or college entrance examination scores.  Students completing the AICE curriculum can still earn the 100% tuition scholarship provided that a composite score of 1270 SAT or 28 ACT and 75 hours of community service  achieved otherwise, they will still receive the 75% tuition scholarship.

What do students have to do to earn an AICE Diploma?

Students must pass seven credits' worth of examinations.  At least one examination must come from each of the four subject groups:  Mathematics and Sciences, Languages, Arts & Humanities, and Interdisciplinary & Skill-Based. Students must also pass the examination for one Required Core class (Global Perspectives AS-Level).  Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level exams count for one credit. To review which AICE courses offered at Palm Beach Gardens High School qualify for each subject group, click here.

Do students have to earn the full AICE Diploma 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.

Do many universities give college credits for AICE exams passed?

Yes. All public universities and community colleges in Florida award college credit for AICE exams passed. University of Cambridge International Examinations publishes a list on their website (go to www.cie.org.uk click on the ‘Education’ link on the top, click on the sub-link called ‘Recognition’ and then select ‘Cambridge AICE’ in the  menu and click ‘Go’  to look up US universities that have provided written statements of their AICE recognition policy). If a university admissions counselor is unfamiliar with AICE, it is suggested you ask to speak to the international admissions counselor.

Click the link below for more information on the AICE Diploma.

http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-aice-diploma/

This document has been composed with the free HTML . Click here to give it a try.