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 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. 

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 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 University of Virginia found the same results. 

3.  What is meant by AICE Graduation Option? 

            The Florida Legislature has determined the AICE Curriculum is a graduation option for students beginning with the graduating class of 2011.  Students must remain AICE students in good standing and complete all of the AICE Curriculum requirements to utilize this option.  Students failing to meet the curriculum requirements are subject to all standard graduation requirements. 

4.  Does earning the AICE Diploma qualify students for the Florida Bright Futures 100% tuition scholarship?

            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 earn the 75% tuition scholarship.

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

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

6.  What is the difference between AS and A Level exams?

            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 A Level curriculum.  An AS Level exam counts for one credit towards the AICE Diploma.  The A Level exam counts for two credits. 

7.  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. 

8.  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.

9.  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 Florida Department of Education 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.

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

            Yes. University of Cambridge International Examinations publishes a list on their website (go to www.cie.org.uk click on the ‘Recognition’ tab and then scroll down to the ‘Useful documents’ section) 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, it is suggested you ask to speak to the international admissions counselor. All public universities and community colleges in Florida award up to 30 hours of college credit for AICE exams passed.