What's the deal with AICE courses?

Sup everyone, I've been hearing a lot about these AICE courses and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on them. Like, how rigorous are they compared to AP or IB? Do colleges view them favorably?

Absolutely! AICE courses are part of the Advanced International Certificate of Education program, which is an internationally recognized curriculum and examination system. This program is overseen by the University of Cambridge in England, so it has a robust academic reputation globally.

Just like AP and IB courses, AICE courses are considered rigorous and advanced coursework that colleges generally look upon favorably. Similar to AP and IB courses, AICE exams are scored on a scale, with A being the highest grade and E being the lowest passing grade.

The main difference between AICE and AP/IB courses is the flexibility of the curriculum. AICE offers a more flexible curriculum that allows students to pick and choose the courses they wish to take within certain disciplines, and it is more internationally focused.

However, it's important to note that not all universities are as familiar with AICE as they are with AP and IB, due to AICE being less common in the US. Therefore, if you are considering AICE, ensure that your prospective colleges recognize and value the AICE program, which you can usually find on their admissions webpages.

From a rigor standpoint, AICE, AP, and IB are all seen as rigorous coursework. They each have a different focus and style, so the perceived difficulty can vary from student to student. For example, while AP classes tend to be more subject-specific and focused, AICE and IB have a more holistic approach, striving to develop well-rounded students. As with all rigorous courses, balancing your workload in AICE will be important to ensure you're not overwhelming yourself while still demonstrating to colleges that you're seeking out challenging coursework.