Welcome!

Cambridge AS and A Levels in the US:

What You Need to Know

Annetta Stroud
Assistant Director, Content and Curriculum,
AACRAO

Dr. Adina Chapman

Recognition Manager, North America, West
Cambridge Assessment International Education
Cambridge AS and A Levels in the US:
What You Need to Know

Adina Chapman, Ph.D.

Recognition Manager, North America, West
October 29, 2019
Cambridge International Structure
Cambridge Assessment International Education

A part of the University of Cambridge

 Prepare school students for life, helping

them to develop an informed curiosity
and a lasting passion for learning.

 At the heart of a global learning

community with more than 10,000
schools, including the US.

 Work in partnership with educators

worldwide, including 40 national
governments and education reform
projects.
Cambridge International in the US
The Cambridge Pathway
Comparing Education Systems
 IGCSE Foundation for College Rigor

Cambridge
IBDP
A Levels (6 subjects + CAS & EE)
(3-4 subjects) Grades 11-12
Grades 11-12

AICE Diploma AP/Cambridge

AS & A Levels Hybrids
Grades 11-12 Grades 11-12
IGCSE
O Levels
Grades 9-10
 Cambridge International
AS and A Levels

 Established and rigorous curriculum

 In-depth learning in 55+ subjects

 International outlook with local

relevance

 Students develop key skills needed

for college and beyond

AS Levels - 180 contact hours

A Levels - 360 contact hours

Cambridge Advanced Assessment Structure

 Three assessment approaches for Cambridge International AS and A Level:

 Cambridge AS and A Level Subjects
Math & Science Languages Arts & Humanities Interdisciplinary
Info & Comm. Tech Afrikaans Language (AS) Accounting Thinking Skills
Biology Arabic Art & Design General Paper (AS)
Chemistry Chinese Mandarin Business Research Report (A) (Global
Computer Science Mandarin Classical Studies Perspectives and Research
Computing English Language Design & Textiles Component 4*)
Design & Tech First Lang, Spanish (AS) Divinity  
Environ. Mgmt (AS) French Economics  
Further Math (A) German French Literature (AS)  
Marine Science Hindi Geography  
Math Marathi Hinduism  
Physical Education Portuguese Hindi Literature (AS)  
Physics Spanish History  
Psychology Tamil Islamic Studies  
  Telegu Lang. & Lit in English (AS)  
  Urdu Media Studies  
    Music  
    Portuguese Literature (AS)  
    Psychology  
    Sociology  
    Spanish Literature (AS)  
    Travel & Tourism  
Cambridge Global Perspectives
 AS & A Level Exams for 2017-18

AS Level: Top 10 Countries A Level: Top 10 Countries

1 USA 1 Pakistan
2 Pakistan 2 Mauritius
3 China 3 Malaysia
4 Mauritius 4 China
5 Malaysia 5 USA
6 India 6 Zimbabwe
7 New Zealand 7 India
8 Bangladesh 8 Brunei Darussalam
9 United Arab Emirates 9 Nepal
10 Brunei Darussalam 10 Bangladesh
Subjects Studied in the USA in 2017-18
AS Level: Top 10 Subjects
1 General Paper
2 History
3 English Language
4 Global Perspectives & Research
5 Thinking Skills
6 Literature in English
7 Marine Science
8 Psychology
9 Environmental Management
10 Spanish Language
 Curriculum Changes: What’s New?

We provide advance notice of changes to

syllabi at least a year before first teaching. 
 Visit the What’s New pages on our public
website.
 Download our Syllabus Changes guide
for full details of updated syllabuses.
 Sign up for e-Updates to keep up to date
with the syllabuses you teach.
 www.cambridgeinternational.org/new

Syllabi developed in conjunction with higher

education faculty worldwide: US, UK,
Canada, Singapore, Australia, South Africa.
 Cambridge International and Higher Education

 US is the top destination for

Cambridge students worldwide

 Over 180 institutions in the

US recognize IGCSE/O-Level
as minimum entry requirement

“The depth of knowledge displayed by the best A Level students

makes them prime targets for America’s Ivy League universities.”
– Yale University
 Comparability With the US System

 What do Cambridge grades mean?

A* Outstanding

A Excellent

B Great

C Good

D Fair

E Satisfactory

U Not passing
 US Grade - Cambridge Equivalents

USA AS Level A Level IGCSE

A+ a A* A*
A a A A
B+ b B B
B c C C
C+ d D D
C e E E
D+ n/a n/a F
D n/a n/a G
F Ungraded Ungraded Ungraded

 The true meaning of a letter grade is a standard achieved: students'

proficiency on well-defined course objectives.
 Cambridge Exam Grade Equivalencies

USA AS Level A Level AP

A+ a A* 5
A a A 5
B+ b B 4
B c C 4
C+ d D 3
C e E 3
D+ n/a n/a 1-2
D n/a n/a 1-2
F Ungraded Ungraded 1-2
 AACRAO Edge’s UK/US grade comparisons at http://edge.aacrao.org/
 College Board’s comparability studies of AP Exam scores associated with college
course grades at https://aphighered.collegeboard.org/courses-exams/scoring.
 Recommended Credit for Exam

Humanities & Sciences with

 
Others Lab

AS Level 3 credits 4 credits

A Level 6 credits 8 credits

 AACRAO College & University Journal Vol 80, No 2, Fall 2004

 WES 2014, https://wenr.wes.org/2014/02/a-guide-to-the-gce-a-level
 Cambridge International AICE Diploma

Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma

 Sample Statement of Results
 Other hidden security features are also present on official Cambridge
documentation

Upper and lower case

reporting of grades
achieved

Percentage Uniform
Mark
Watermark

Serial number
 Sample Certificate: Cambridge International
AS and A Level

Upper and Lower case

Number of subjects reporting of grades achieved

Watermark Hologram

Signature of VC of
University of Cambridge Serial number
 CIE Direct
Verify Students’ Results Online
 CIE Direct
Verify Students’ Results Online

Free online services to universities

 Email info@cambridgeinternational.org

 Apply online

www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/results/verif
ication-of-students-results/
 Recognition Database

 http://recognition.cambridgeinternational.org/
How to Add a University Statement of Recognition

 Email recognitions@cambridgeinternational.org.uk
 http://www.cambridgeinternational.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/
recognition-and-acceptance/
 Florida State University Study:
Cambridge, IB and AP Student Performance

Key Findings on Freshman GPA

 Cambridge students earn on average:

 higher GPAs than IB students.
 equivalent GPAs to AP students.

 Cambridge students’ freshmen year GPAs were statistically

higher than IB students and equivalent to AP students.

 All three groups earned higher freshman year GPA compared to

matched students who did not earn credit through an advanced
program.

*controlling for race, gender and SAT score

[1] Shaw, S., & Bailey, C. (2011). Success in the US: Are Cambridge International Assessments Good
Preparation for University Study? Journal of College Admission, (Fall 2011), 6–16.
 Florida State University Study:
Cambridge, IB and AP Student Performance

Additional Findings

 Increase in probability of undertaking:

 Study abroad
 DIS (directed individual studies)
 Research
 Honors in major
 Less likely to drop out of college than IB in
accordance with increasing numbers of credit hours
earned

[2] Shaw, S.D, Warren, J. & Gill, T. (2014). Assessing the Impact of the Cambridge International
Acceleration Program on US University Determinants of Success: a Multilevel Modelling Approach.
College and University, 89(4): 38-54
Qualities of a Cambridge Student
THANK YOU
 Thank you for joining us for today’s webinar.
We look forward to seeing you at another AACRAO
event soon!
Upcoming Conferences

Strategic Enrollment Management Conference

November 3-6, 2019
Dallas, Texas

Winter Institute for Transfer Credit of International

Educational Records
February 3-7, 2019
Arlington, Virginia

AACRAO Annual Meeting

April 5-8, 2019
New Orleans, Louisiana