Cambridge AICE Exams and College Credits

Both Cambridge AS and A Levels are considered college level courses of study, and students passing these examinations with a Cambridge grade of E or higher may receive college credit or advanced standing based on their scores from universities throughout the United States and all public universities and colleges in Florida.  

Please note that each US university sets its own policy and students are advised to directly contact the admissions office at the university of interest to learn its credit by examination policy for GCE / International AS and A Levels which are also known as “Cambridge AICE” exams. College credit is typically awarded based on each subject and examination grade earned. 

AICE Diploma and Bright Futures 

Students who earn an AICE Diploma based on AICE exams taken within a twenty-five month period, complete 100 hours of community service, and submit their Florida Financial Aid Applications by their high school graduation date, will automatically earn the Florida Academic Scholars award. 

Completion of the AICE curriculum would require students to complete seven AICE courses and to take the examinations for each course. This course of study, along with the required SAT or ACT score and the community service hours, will grant the students the Florida Medallion Scholarship. The current Florida Bright Futures Brochure is linked here.  

The AICE curriculum is defined as follows: 
Complete a minimum of seven AICE credits* identified by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in three academic areas as follows: 

• One credit from Group 1 – Mathematics and Sciences
• One credit from Group 2 – Languages
• One credit from Group 3 – Arts and Humanities
• One credit in AS Global Perspectives and Research

In order to be credited with fulfilling the AICE curriculum, students must take 7 AICE courses and each of the corresponding AICE examinations in a 25 month period (3 school years) that may include 9th, 10th, and 11th grade or 10th, 11th, and 12th grade.

AICE Curriculum (without earning the ADIP) and Bright Futures

The Florida Legislature is authorized each year to change eligibility and funding requirements.  Florida law recognizes Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) curriculum as a method of qualifying for a Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) or Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.  To qualify for a Bright Futures award utilizing the AICE curriculum option, students must satisfy the following requirements: 

• Complete the AICE curriculum requirements as determined by the Florida Department of Education
• Meet the appropriate SAT (1330) or ACT (29) test score
• Earn the community service hours: FAS – 100, FMS - 75

AICE Courses at WHS

The current Cambridge AICE Diploma involves the selection of subjects from three curriculum areas – Mathematics and Science; Languages; Arts and Humanities. These areas form a wide range of subjects available at International Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level and Advanced (A) Level.

An A Level counts as a second credit qualification and an AS Level as a single credit course within the Cambridge AICE Diploma award framework. To be considered for an AICE Diploma, a candidate must earn the equivalent of seven credits by passing a combination of examinations at either the AS Level or double (two credits) A Level, with at least one course coming from each of the three curriculum areas and the AICE Core, AS Global Perspectives and Research. 

Timeline

• Students must pass 7 AICE Examinations in 25 months, but can complete the program either their Junior or Senior year.

Curriculum Areas

• Core Course (Required):  AS Global Perspectives and Research (10th-12th grade ONLY)
• Group 1 (Mathematics and Science):  AS Mathematics, AS Environmental Management,  AS and A Level Marine Science , AS and A Level Psychology
• Group 2 (Languages):  AS English Language, AS Spanish Language, AS French Language 
• Group 3 (Arts and Humanities):  AS and A Level Digital Media Design: Photography, AS Business, AS and A Level Classical Studies, AS and A Level Literature in English, AS European History, AS and A Level Media Studies,  AS and A Level Psychology,  AS and A Level Sociology, AS Travel and Tourism,  AS and A Level U.S. History, AS Environmental Management, AS and A Level Psychology
• Group 4  (Interdisciplinary and Skills-based Subjects): A Level Global Perspectives and Research, AS and A Level Thinking Skills, General Paper (Only two elective courses from Group 4 may count toward the AICE Diploma, UNLESS A Level Thinking skills and A Level Global Perspectives which which count for 3) 

The suggested course of study for incoming freshmen is General Paper (which meets the English I requirement for graduation) along with an AICE elective like AS International History, AS Classical Studies, or A Thinking Skills.  
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The examinations are administered in April/May/June and October/November sessions each year. A candidate working towards the Cambridge AICE Diploma may use up to five sessions to take the equivalent of seven full credit examinations as long as they are taken within a 25-month period. Students may opt to begin their program in either their freshmen or sophomore year. 
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*Please note! Students who earn an AICE Diploma or attempt the required courses are exempt from the state of Florida's Virtual Class requirement and Personal Fitness requirement; however, if a student has not met the requirements by senior year, these requirements will NOT be waived by Wellington Community High School because many of the AICE exams are administered after the graduation date. A senior may, however, opt to graduate under the 18-credit College Preparatory program in order to remain exempt from Physical Education and the online Virtual School requirement. Once the candidate takes the required exams, the transcript will be changed to reflect the 24-credit diploma option.