BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE
Deciding what classes to take is already a tough decision for most students. The recent introduction of Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses, in addition to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, hasn’t made that decision any easier. For underclassmen, carefully crafting their schedules is key to ensuring college acceptance. But the question is, which of the two programs is more beneficial for students?
As is true for almost everything, the outcome depends on the individual. No matter what track is taken, you are going to get out of it what you put into it. Just because AICE classes work better for some people, that doesn’t mean that they will be the best option for you. With that being said, both programs are actually amazingly similar.
Both offer the same GPA boost and provide the incentive of college credit. Though, it should be noted that AICE courses are not as widely accepted as college credits as APs are. AP is by far the more popular option of the two, but AICE is catching up and the more success it has with students, the more colleges will honor these credits.
Both programs are modeled around a pre-made test that instructors have no idea what is on. AICE, however, has a primarily essay and free-response based exam format, while AP combines free response with multiple-choice sections.
Students have spoken on how they find AICE courses easier to do well in because of the writing component. So long as you can defend your position and answer the questions, you should be good. On the other hand, the same students say that AP courses can be more challenging because of the multiple-choice nature of the exams. But what it should really come down to is what course you think you want to take. Taking courses you have an interest in will increase the likelihood of you succeeding in those courses.
Don’t get too caught up in the notoriety of getting an “award” from Cambridge or College Board for taking numerous of their respective courses. In the grand scheme of things, neither look that impressive on your college application, especially when they affect your GPA the same way.
Take courses where your interests lie, whether it’s an AP course or an AICE course. Speak to the teacher of the course to get a better idea of the content covered and the structure of the class. Also, speak to students who have taken the class before and can give you an even deeper look into what you can expect.
However, there is an alternative to both AICE and AP that is noticeably easier and more similar to the conditions of college learning. That alternative is dual enrollment. Dual enrollment allows students to enroll at an accredited college or university and take college classes in addition to their high school course load.
At the end of the day, all are challenging programs that students take primarily for a GPA boost and college credit substitutions. To make a truly informed decision, speak to a guidance counselor, teachers and students on the respective programs.
Photo by Anabella Garcia
