South Miami Senior High School What is AICE

South Miami Senior High School

What is AICE? • Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE Diploma) • An international, pre-university program developed by the University of Cambridge in England, hence “Cambridge AICE Diploma” • A curriculum designed as preparation for college and university programs • Examinations offered for over 50 years in more than 160 countries and 9, 000 schools – 67 High Schools in Florida – 12 High Schools in M-DCPS • Cambridge AICE Diploma first awarded in 1997

Cambridge AICE Pedagogy Delivery of breadth across the curriculum and depth in subject areas. An investigative approach and the use of personal initiative to solve problems Application of skills, knowledge, and understanding Ability to undertake individual projects and to work as part of a team Range of assessment techniques: research, writing, speaking, listening, practical applications in science

Cambridge AICE Diploma Requirements • Minimum of 7 credits from at least three subject groups & 100 community service hours • Compulsory course: AS Level Global Perspectives

SMSH Cambridge AICE Offering by Group Beginning 2016 -2017 School Year (TENTATIVE) 7 points or credits are required from Groups 1 -3 to attain the AICE Diploma; all satisfactory exams for AS level courses count for 1 point towards the AICE Diploma. Group 1: Math & Science • • • AICE Psychology (AS) AICE Biology AICE Environmental Management (AS) AICE Chemistry AICE Physics Group 3: Arts & Humanities • • • AICE Psychology (AS) AICE Sociology (AS) AICE History (United States, AS) AICE Environmental Management (AS) AICE Music (AS) Group 2: Languages • AICE English Language (AS) • AICE Spanish Language (AS) Group 4: Interdisciplinary & Skills-Based Subjects • AICE Thinking Skills (AS) • AICE General Paper (AS) Compulsory Course • AICE Global Perspectives (AS)

Cambridge AICE Diploma Benefits • State of Florida has adopted AICE as a graduation option in the same way as International Baccalaureate (IB) • Competitive admission/recognition to the most elite colleges and universities • 2 • Bonus points equivalent to honors and AP courses.

MORE Cambridge AICE Diploma Benefits • Earning of College Credit 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. • Earning of Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Recognizes AICE diploma recipients who also complete 100 required hours of community service with the Florida Academic Scholarship

MORE Cambridge AICE Diploma Benefits • Exposure to different methods of assessment with emphasis on higher order thinking skills and writing • International perspective necessary for tomorrow’s leaders • Students who seek AICE Diploma: Are exempt from the traditional Physical Education, Fine Art, Government & Macroeconomics, and online course graduation requirements • Academically broad-based curriculum with room and flexibility to pursue additional areas of interest and strengths

Cambridge Testing Data as of 2013 -2014 • 3, 844 Exams administered in 23 content areas • Over 2000 college credits earned (between AS and A level Exams) ü That is approximately over $1 million worth of college credit • Overall, 77% of eligible students earned a Cambridge AICE diploma (receiving Florida Academic Scholars level of Florida Bright Futures Scholarship) • Last year only 15% would have earned this scholarship without an AICE diploma due to high difficulty level of test requirements.

“One of the things we find with students who have studied Cambridge International AS and A Levels is that they have a real depth of understanding of the subject matter that they have had classes in, and a real engagement with it. ” -Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

“The study found that AICE program graduates attending the University of Florida had an average end-of-freshman 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. ” -Study by Bill Kolb, former Director of Admissions at the University of Florida

“The depth of knowledge displayed by the best A Level students makes them prime targets for America’s Ivy League universities. ” -Richard C. Levin, President, Yale University