Cambridge AICE Diploma
What is AICE?
The Advanced International Certificate of Education program (AICE) is an innovative and accelerated method of academic study offered solely through the Cambridge Assessment International Education, a division of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom--an institution consistently ranked as one of the top five academic universities in the world. AICE provides a flexible, broad-based curriculum that is offered worldwide at schools and colleges in over 161 countries. For over 170 years, the prestigious University of Cambridge has been setting worldwide curriculum standards through their examinations.
Why are AICE courses and the AICE Diploma important?
American universities have responded enthusiastically to AICE. The Florida Legislature has identified AICE as a graduation option and acceleration mechanism through which students can be awarded up to 45 hours of college credit at all public universities and colleges in Florida. Students earning the AICE Diploma currently qualify for the maximum Florida Academic Scholars tuition scholarship, and students completing the curriculum (without earning the diploma) may earn the Florida Medallion Scholars tuition award.
Why should students enroll in AICE courses?
The AICE program of study offers students one of the most demanding and rigorous college preparatory programs in the world. After completing at least one course in each of three academic areas, students have the flexibility to choose a course of study that best meets their abilities and interests. Students also have the option of taking AICE courses and their subsequent exams in order to earn college credits without applying for the AICE Diploma. Regardless of the option chosen, enrollment in these rigorous courses will benefit Seminole Ridge students in the college application process.
AICE Curriculum
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. (Recently, FSU and UF were designated as preeminent research universities, which could affect the acceptance of twelve accelerated course credits.)
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 or ACT test score
- Earn the community service hours: FAS, 100; FMS, 75
AICE Diploma* and Bright Futures
Students who earn an AICE Diploma based on AICE exams taken within a twenty-five month period (three school years), 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 pass 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.
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.