GCE  ||  AICE

GCE A-level Requests 

International A-levels are based on the well-established and internationally recognized A-level examinations, which are the most widely used qualification for entry to British universities. A-level examinations are typically taken by students two years after O-level or IGCSE examinations. International A-level syllabuses are offered in numerous  academic subject areas. In some subject areas (such as geography and history) the provision includes a range of options tailored to candidates in specific parts of the world. In addition, a wide range of language and other syllabuses to meet specific local needs is offered especially for candidates in certain countries.

Students are required to submit official GCE A-level results (not just a student's photocopy) and to meet with the appropriate W&L department head.  No grade below C is considered.  They occasionally bring syllabi or examples of written work and are often asked for additional information by the faculty.  Some students use W&L's advanced standing examination policy to jump a course or two and then have the lower-level credit recorded after completion of a higher level course.  Others convince the departments to award degree credit outright.  Most typically, the credit awarded is one or two terms at the introductory level.

As an example, a recently enrolled student presented Advanced Level results in Spanish, mathematics, physics and chemistry.  His Spanish enabled him to exempt the General Education requirement in language through our own placement test. He took Spanish 208(3), Introduccion a la literatura espanola, did well and was given credit for Spanish 162(3), Intermediate Spanish II, credit most other exempting students didn't get.  Similarly, he jumped to Mathematics 102(3), Calculus II, and after completion was awarded Mathematics 101(3), Calculus I. His physics and chemistry abilities seem even better.  He has been awarded outright credit equivalent to Physics 111(3), 112(3), 113(1), and 114(1), General Physics and laboratories (calculus-based), and Chemistry 111(4), General Chemistry, and 112(4), Aqueous Inorganic Quantitative Chemistry.

Other students have received degree credit in English literature, history, sociology, accounting, etc.  No credit has been awarded for AS-, AO- or O-level results.

Transcripts should always be sent directly to:

AICE Examination Results

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) is an international pre-university curriculum and examination system, administering its first examinations in 1996.

The AICE program has the following aims: to provide a broad and balanced pre-university qualification; to encourage good teaching practice and curriculum development; to promote tolerance and understanding through courses of international relevance taught in English; to provide professional assessment of students' performance and establish objective, internationally recognized standards of attainment.

AICE is a 'group' certificate, awarded on the basis of a broad and balanced curriculum of five full-credit courses or their equivalent. Each full-credit course represents at least 200 hours of specialized subject teaching. Full-credit courses are offered in a wide range of academic subjects, and there are also half-credit courses which represent at least 100 hours of teaching time. It is not compulsory for students to follow the full five-subject program; individual subjects can be taken.

Because few US universities have developed policies and no AICE students have requested credit at Washington and Lee, W&L will consider syllabi and results on a case-by-case basis, both for admission and for placement or credit.

For further information on any aspect of AICE, please contact:

Cambridge International Examinations
1 Hills Road
Cambridge CB1 2EU United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1223 553553
Fax: +44 1223 553558
e-mail: international@ucles.org.uk

Official records should always be sent directly to :