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Issue 29

Cambridge qualifications are same standard as UK equivalents – UK NARIC

01/09/2016

An independent study by UK NARIC, the UK’s national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills, has found Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level to be “globally relevant and robust qualifications” comparable to those taken by students in UK schools.

Cambridge International AS & A Level was found to demonstrate overall comparability to UK A Level standard, and Cambridge IGCSE to UK GCSE standard.

Leading universities around the world already accept Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level as equivalent to UK GCSE and AS & A Levels. However the study gives reassurance that recent reforms to UK qualifications will not affect the university recognition of Cambridge qualifications.

UK NARIC concluded that changes to UK A Level “are not felt to have an impact on the overall comparability of Cambridge International AS & A Level”. Indeed, the linear assessment methods of Cambridge International AS & Level are highlighted in the report as demonstrating “closer alignment” to reformed A Level.

We also asked UK NARIC to review our Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level Global Perspectives qualifications. At all levels, the Global Perspectives programmes were found to develop students’ ability to research independently, work collaboratively with others across cultures, critically analyse, and self-reflect. At Cambridge International AS & A Level in particular, Global Perspectives was found to develop skills that are “particularly relevant for higher education internationally.”