The Cambridge AICE Program
at Gulf Coast High School
Joseph Mikulski, Principal
Dr. Deborah Cox, Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction
Chad Furman, Instructor and AICE Coordinator
What is AICE?
• The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) is an
international Diploma that students can earn via an advanced
academic curriculum. The assessment program is written and
administered by a non-profit department (CIE) of the University of
Cambridge in England.
• AICE program courses and examinations are offered during grades
10 through 12 in schools worldwide registered as CIE Centers.
• Requires a commitment of at least 5 hours per week outside of class
along with study sessions leading up to the exam
Developing successful students
Students build:
• Knowledge
• Learning skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Problem-solving
skills
Cambridge IGCSE/PreAICE students become
independent learners
Are AICE courses offered anywhere else
in Florida?
Alachua County
Bay County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Collier County
Miami-Dade County
Lee County
Palm Beach County
St. John’s County
Over 64 schools in Florida
offer the AICE Diploma
Do colleges and universities accept AICE courses
and the AICE Diploma?
• All Florida Universities award college credit
for AICE courses just as they do for AP and
IB.
• Over 450 US universities accept AS and A
Level courses including all Ivy League and Ivy
Plus universities.
Do college admissions officers think AICE
students are well prepared?
• http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-andqualifications/cambridgeadvanced/cambridge-aicediploma/recognition/
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.
• Students can earn up to 45 college credits in
Florida on a subject–by–subject basis according
to grades earned on individual examinations
passed
What do students have to do to earn an AICE
Diploma?
• See handout for FY17
• Students must pass seven credits worth of examinations.
• At least one exam must come from each of the three
subject groups:
• 1. Math and Science
• 2. Languages
• 3. Arts and Humanities
• 4. Interdisciplinary
• 5. Global Perspectives
AICE Diploma Requirements
• Seven credits to include one exam from each
subject group
• Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level exams passed
count as one credit
• Advanced (A) Level exams passed count as
two credits
What is the difference between Pre-AICE
and AICE?
• 9th grade: students may take Pre-AICE classes.
The purpose of Pre-AICE is to prepare students
with the knowledge and skills necessary to be
successful in future advanced studies courses.
Exp. Pre AICE Biology>AP/AICE Biology
• 10th, 11th and 12th grade: students can participate
in AICE classes even though they may not wish to
earn the diploma.
How are Pre-AICE and AICE
courses weighted?
• Pre-AICE courses carry the same weight
as an honors course in a student GPA.
• AICE courses carry the same weight as an
AP/DE course in a student GPA.
What are the AICE tests like?
• Formal and strict testing environment
Breadth of AS and A-Level Exam Assessment
o Cambridge assesses
o Cambridge evaluates
o Knowledge
o Essays
o Understanding
o Short written responses
o Application
o Research projects &
investigations
o Skills
o Writing, mathematics,
scientific inquiry, oral
and multimedia
presentation
o Practical and oral labs
o Multiple choice
questions
When are AICE tests given?
• AICE tests are given during the months of May/June and November.
• There are no make up dates given for students missing the test.
Cambridge tries to accommodate students in other ways.
• May 2015 testing schedule is located here:
http://www.collierschools.com/prh/curriculum/advanced%20studies.html
Building Skills across the Curriculum
• Knowledge - of historical events and their impact
on societies
• Learning skills - English - articulating ideas
clearly and accurately in writing and speaking
• Critical thinking – Science - interpreting
experimental observations and data
• Problem-solving - applying mathematical
knowledge in the context of everyday situations
The subject syllabus is
where it begins…
•
•
•
•
Aims
Assessment objectives
Description of assessment components
Curriculum content
– Including detailed summary of what candidates should
know, understand, and be able to do
• Grade descriptions
• Resource list, including texts, and much more
Colleges Want College-Ready Students
o Flexible learning processes
o Research & presentation skills
o Critical reading & thinking skills
o Advanced writing skills
o In-depth knowledge
o Problem-solving skills
o Intellectual independence
Cambridge AICE Diploma Studies Lead To
o Flexible learning processes
o Research & presentation skills
o Critical reading & thinking skills
o Advanced writing skills
o In-depth knowledge
o Problem-solving skills
o Intellectual independence
Support for teachers and students
• Cambridge syllabi
• Past exam papers, rubrics
• Examiners’ reports, results, and
analyses
• Examples of performances at
different grade levels
Excellent foundation
Cambridge IGCSE / Pre-AICE
prepares students for
• Cambridge A / AS Level
• AP
• College
• Careers
AICE Academy Goal: An AICE Diploma
o Advanced International Certificate of Education
o Study and exams at Cambridge AS and A Levels
o Subjects from five curricular areas
o Mathematics and Science
o Languages
o Arts and Humanities
o CORE: Global Perspectives AS Level
o Interdisciplinary and Skills Based
Exam Grading System Comparison
USA
Cambridge (CIE)
A
A*, A Excellent
5
B+
B
B
C
Good
4
C+
C
D
E
Satisfactory
3
D
F
G
U
Poor
2
Not passing
1
F
AP
Grading-System Comparisons
General
USA
CIE (A & AS)
FLDOE AICE AP
Excellent
A+, A
A*, A, a
7
5
Very Good
B+
B, b
6
4
Good
B
C, c
5
3
Satisfactory
C+, C
D, d
4
Passing
D
E, e
3
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Not passing
F
U
“Ungraded”
No potential college credit
0
2, 1
Commitment to Earn an AICE Diploma
o Candidate must
o Obtain at least 7 credits within 25 months
o Obtain at least 1 credit in each of 3 main curriculum groups
o Earn 1 credit of AS Global Perspectives
o Apply to Cambridge for the AICE Diploma senior year
Students must take 7 AICE courses (at the AS or A level) and pass exams in 7 total AICE
courses in order to earn an AICE Diploma. Within the diploma, a Cambridge
International AS Level examination passing score is awarded one credit and a
Cambridge International A Level examination passing score is awarded two credits.
FOR CLASSES OF 2017 & BEYOND: First four areas required
A. Math & Science
AICE Marine Science A-Level
B. Languages
AICE English Language (Spanish Language, French
Language)
C. Arts & Humanities AICE European History
AICE Media Studies
AICE English Language
D. Core:
E. Interdisciplinary
and Skills Based
AICE Global Perspectives AS (Required: Class of 2017
and beyond)
AICE Thinking Skills
AICE General Paper
AICE Global Perspectives A-Level Independent Research
Report (an optional extension of Global Perspectives)
Diploma Awarded on Basis of Credits
o A Level will count as a double credit
o AS Level will count as a single credit
A Level
(2 credits each)
AS Level
(1 credit each)
TOTAL CREDITS
3
(3x2=6)
0
6
2
(2x2=4)
2
6
1
(1x2=2)
4
6
6
6
0
Credits for Cambridge AICE Diploma
Two-stage structure
Year 1
Year 2
AS
exam
A2
exam
+
=
A Level
AS Level Pass = 1 AICE credit
One-stage structure
Year 1
Year 2
study,
no exam
A Level
exam
+
=
A Level
A Level Pass = 2 AICE credits
AICE at Gulf Coast High 2014
SAMPLE 9th Grade AICE Schedule

Pre-AICE English Language

Advanced Communications Skills (Honors) or AP Human
Geography

Pre-AICE French II or Pre-AICE Spanish II, Pre-AICE
Spanish III
AICE at Gulf Coast High 2014-2015
SAMPLE 10th Grade AICE Schedule
o Pre-AICE English Literature
o AICE Marine (Grade 10 or 11)
o AICE European
o Pre-AICE Spanish II or Spanish III or Pre-AICE French II
o Elective: AICE Thinking Skills
o 2 AICE Courses Required
AICE at Gulf Coast High 2014-2015
SAMPLE 11th Grade AICE Schedule
o AICE English Language
o AICE Marine (Grade 10 or 11)
o AICE Spanish Language or Pre-AICE French III
o Electives: AICE Thinking Skills
o 2 or 3 AICE Courses Required
AICE at Gulf Coast High 2014-2015
SAMPLE 12th Grade AICE Schedule
o AICE Global Perspectives (As or A Level)
o AICE Spanish Language or AICE French Language
o Electives: AICE Thinking Skills
o 2 or 3 AICE Courses Required
Diploma Levels of Distinction
o Cambridge AICE Diploma with Distinction
o 320-360 points
o Cambridge AICE Diploma with Merit
o 220–319 points
o Cambridge AICE Diploma at Pass Level
o 120–219 points
o Candidates not meeting AICE Diploma requirements receive
a GCE Certificate reporting their performance in GCE AS
and A Level syllabuses
Distinctions Awarded on Points Accrued
o A Level will count as a double credit
o AS Level will count as a single credit
A Level, Full Year
Double-Credit Study
AS Level, Full Year
One-Credit Study
Grade
Points
Grade
Points
A*
140
a*
N/A
A
120
a
60
B
100
b
50
C
80
c
40
D
60
d
30
E
40
e
20
AICE Diploma Advantages
o Earn Florida Bright Futures
o Academic Scholars level
o Regardless of SAT or ACT scores
o Complete 100 hours of community service
o Accrue up to 45 college credits
o May out-perform AP and IB students in college
Cambridge AICE Diploma Recipients
o Yes – Will earn Bright Futures Academic Scholars Award
o Regardless of SAT or ACT scores
o Yes – Will accumulate 100 hours of community service
o Yes – May accrue up to 45 college credits
o AND -- May also become eligible for CCPS
Advanced Studies Laureate Diploma or
Certificate and Scholarship with additional
qualifications
Recognition in the USA:
Cambridge AICE Diploma
Cambridge International Education at Gulf Coast High
Developing
successful
students