Common Q&A

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 9, 10, 11, and 12 in worldwide schools registered as CIE Centers.  (Please note that AICE Diploma candidates must complete their exams within a three-year period.)

AICE advanced level courses are equivalent to those of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB). Furthermore, graduating with the AICE Diploma makes students more competitive in the college application process.  Passing a number of AICE exams can lead to advanced standing at the college level.  (Florida's public colleges and universities provide up to forty-five (45) college credit hours for successfully passed AICE, AP and IB exams.) In Palm Beach County School District, students taking AICE courses and their subsequent examinations will earn a 6.0 weighted GPA for each course.

The Florida  Legislature has determined that 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.  For example, AICE Diploma students may currently waive HOPE and the online course requirements set by the DOE if they qualify for the diploma by the completion of their junior year.

Yes, currently, students who earn the AICE Diploma and complete 100 service hours during their high school careers automatically earn the current Florida Academic Scholars tuition scholarship, regardless of grade point average and/or college entrance examination scores.

Students must pass seven credits worth of examinations. At least one examination must come from each of the subject groups: Mathematics & Sciences, Languages, and Arts & Humanities, and CORE (Global Perspectives & Research AS), with an optional category: Interdisciplinary Skills. Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level exams count for one credit and Advanced (A) Level exams counts for an additional credits if the course is taught AS one year and A the second year. If, after taking the exams, a student fails to earn seven credits but has completed the seven classes, he may still qualify for the Florida Medallion Scholarship as long as he has the appropriate GPA, the required SAT/ACT test scores and the required community service hours.

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 he AICE Diploma. The A Level exam counts for an additional credit. *Note - a max of TWO points may be taken from one syllabus. An AS course one year, and then the A level the next year will equal only TWO points total.

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.

Yes. University of Cambridge International Examinations publishes a list on its website 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, CIE suggests that 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 and AP exams passed. You may also contact Mrs. Saunders, who will arrange to have CIE contact the university regarding the recognition.

Yes, all three programs are well established in the education community and in universities around the country. Both AICE (AS and A Level), IB, and AP are accepted at universities around the world. The main difference between AICE and IB is the flexibility of the AICE Diploma. Students have the freedom to create their own educational experience within the three AICE curriculum areas.