Cambridge International Education (CIE)
At its meeting on 12 December, the UCAS Board agreed tariff recommendations for Cambridge Pre-U, the new alternative to A Level, which is being offered by schools in both the state maintained and independent sector. The qualification has been developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
The tariff is used by universities in making offers to applicants, and is a way of comparing different qualifications using a common scale.
Unlike A Levels, the Cambridge Pre-U grading scale is divided into three bands: Distinction, Merit and Pass, each sub-divided into three grades (Distinction 1, Distinction 2, Distinction 3 and so on). The top grade, Distinction 1, reports achievement above the new A Level A* grade; Distinction 2 is putatively aligned to the A* at A Level, and Distinction 3 is aligned to the current Grade A. The lowest pass grade, Pass 3, is aligned to the border between E and U at A Level.
The Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects will be awarded 145 points for Distinction 2 and a Pass 3 is worth 46 points. The tariff points awarded reflect HE's views of the size and structure of the qualification. The tariff for exceptional candidates who achieve a Distinction 1 pass will be announced after the first Cambridge Pre-U examination entries have been assessed in 2010.
Dr Kevin Stannard, CIE Director, International Curriculum Development, says: ‘The intention is to differentiate more finely amongst students who would achieve an A grade at A Level, while ensuring that a pass at Cambridge Pre-U is accessible to the full range of students currently achieving an E or above at A Level. For all students, across the ability range, Cambridge Pre-U was designed specifically to develop the skills and dispositions that will secure success in higher education.'
Sixth Form students take Cambridge Principal Subjects or a combination of Cambridge Pre-U subjects and A Levels, adding in the GPR (Global Perspectives and Independent Research) component if they wish to complete the full Cambridge Pre-U Diploma. The tariff for the Cambridge Pre-U GPR component at Distinction 2 is 140 points and Pass 3 is 42 points.
The tariff for the full Cambridge Pre-U Diploma is calculated by adding together the tariff scores of the four components: three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects plus GPR. For example, students who achieve a Distinction 2 pass for the four components will score a total of 575 points.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
