Cambridge ICE is a group award at the upper secondary level. It allows for the offering of a broad and balanced curriculum by recognising the achievements of learners who pass examinations in at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects from five different subject groups, including two different languages, mathematics and Cambridge Global Perspectives. This award provides technical and foundational access to the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), the Cambridge award that facilitates seamless access to higher education and/or entry to the workplace. Learners who enrol for support at Boston for the ICE will be counselled on subject selections based on their post-school intentions and in relation to selection requirements for the AICE. Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the University of Cambridge and has offered international school awards for over 160 years. Renowned globally, the Cambridge awards are recognised for the high standards set and the curriculum rigour.
Along with the two compulsory Boston ICE Foundations subjects*, the ICE Award consists of an additional seven (7) subjects. The subjects are categorised into five groups, and at minimum one subject must be selected from each group. Of the seven subjects, four are compulsory, namely English First Language and one of either French Foreign Language, isiZulu Second Language or Afrikaans Second Language from Group 1*, Cambridge Global Perspectives from either Groups 2 or 5, and Mathematics from Group 4. Learners must choose at least one subject in Group 3. Then, learners are able to choose two subjects from either Groups 1,2, 3, or 5 of which one must be in Group 2 or 5 depending on where the selection of Cambridge Global Perspectives was situated (see Table and ‘Helpful Hints’ below). *The eighth and ninth subjects offered in the first year of the ICE award are a unique offering by Boston. Boston ICE Foundations-A serves to provide a variety of fundamentals for on-boarding the learner into technology, study/life skills and Boston ICE Foundations-B offers preparatory Mathematics for success in the online modality and the ICE curriculum. **isiZulu Second Language is available as an IGCSE subject in the ICE award only. The learner can select this subject as an option to French Foreign Language or Afrikaans Second Language. If French Foreign Language is not chosen, at this stage Afrikaans Second Language is the only official South African language available in the next phase of learning which is the Advanced Supplementary (AS) level subjects in the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE). Boston is engaging with Cambridge to make isiZulu available at AICE level in future.
• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 2 then: must select one in Group 3, one in Group 5, and option to select one in either Group 1, 2, 3 or 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 2 then: option to select two in Group 3 and must select one in Group 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 2 then: must select one in Group 3 and option to select two in Group 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 5 then: must select one in Group 2, one in Group 3, and option to select one in either Groups 1, 2, 3 or 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 5 then: option to select two in Group 2 and must select one in Group 3.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 5 then: must select one in Group 2 and option to select two in Group 3. OR • If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 2 and Environmental Management is chosen in Group 2 then: must select one in Group 3, and one in Group 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 2 and Environmental Management is chosen in Group 3 then: must select one in Group 5 and one from either Groups 1, 2, 3 or 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 5 and Environmental Management is chosen in Group 2 then: must select one from Group 3, and option to select one from Groups 1,2,3 or 5.• If Global Perspectives is chosen in Group 5 and Environmental Management is chosen in Group 3 then: must select one in Group 2, and option to select one from Groups 1,2,3 or 5. What do I require to Pass a Subject?While the focus is on the high-stakes examination events at the exit-point of the award, i.e. the sitting of Cambridge International Examinations per subject, the following applies:The majority of subjects are graded A*, A, B, C, D, E wherein E is an outright fail.A few subjects consist of Core and Extended curriculums wherein the Extended curriculum has additional assessment requirements.• Subjects where the Core curriculum for assessment is chosen are graded C, D, E, F and G where G is an outright fail.• Subjects where the Extended curriculum for assessment is chosen are graded A*, A, B, C, D, E where E is an outright fail. HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE CAMBRIDGE ICE CERTIFICATEStudents can qualify for Cambridge ICE over two series provided they take place within a period of 13 months. This would mean from June to the following November or June; or from November to the following June or November. Students who achieve ICE in one series will receive an ICE Statement of Results and two separate IGCSE and ICE Certificates. Two series ICE students will receive a certificate for the individual subjects taken at the end of the first series and two separate IGCSE and ICE certificates at the end of the second series.
Students can qualify for Cambridge ICE over two series provided they take place within a period of 13 months. This would mean from June to the following November or June; or from November to the following June or November. Students who achieve ICE in one series will receive an ICE Statement of Results and two separate IGCSE and ICE Certificates. Two series ICE students will receive a certificate for the individual subjects taken at the end of the first series and two separate IGCSE and ICE certificates at the end of the second series.
The Cambridge curriculum develops individuals who embody the attributes of confidence, responsibility, reflection, innovation and engagement. At Boston, our approach to supporting parents/guardians who have chosen the responsibility of home schooling their children, emphasises the interrelationship between knowing, doing and being, elevating the student’s learning experience. Our supportive approach cultivates the individual’s ability to command the fundamentals of subject areas. In choosing the Cambridge curriculum, we believe learners will be exposed to the best practices of a global curriculum framed within the context of Africa.
At a minimum, candidates must turn 14 years old in the year of first enrolment, and have a Grade 7 or equivalent. Candidates 14 or older with a Grade 8 are also well placed to join the ICE award.
The Cambridge ICE award supported by at Boston is an alternative to the traditional contact public/private schooling provision and is therefore considered a part of the ‘home-schooling’ structure. To this end, please take note that as per South African policy, parents/guardians of South African candidates must fulfil the following requirements: in the instance of the ICE, i.e. learners without a Grade 9 a, parents are required to register their children as ‘home-schooled’ with the Provincial Department of Education in the province in which they reside. Boston will provide you with a registration pack and a portfolio of evidence to support the registration and required reporting on the learner’s progress in the ICE curriculum. It is very important to note that this is a legal requirement and the onus is on the parents to register their child as ‘home-schooled’. Please note that each province has a different application process. Please visit this link and follow the registration instructions from there: . For international learners (those who are not South African citizens and not resident in South Africa) the onus is on the parent/guardian to determine the legal requirements applicable in your country. It is very important to note that this is a legal requirement and the onus is on the parents to register their child as ‘home-schooled’. Please note that each province has a different application process. Please visit this link and follow the registration instructions from there: https://www.education.gov.za/Programmes/HomeEducation.aspx. For international learners (those who are not South African citizens and not resident in South Africa) the onus is on the parent/guardian to determine the legal requirements applicable in your country.
We accept enrolment from anywhere in the world for the ICE. Please be aware of time zone differences for attendance of online live tutorials: Boston is on South African Standard Time (SAST) which is the same as Central African Time (CAT). Examinations must be sat at a Cambridge registered assessment venue in your home country. You will need to source the assessment venue yourself and all fees associated herewith will be for your own account. Our fees for support services are quoted separately from the Cambridge International examination fees. This also applies to candidates in South Africa who do not wish to make use of our registered assessment venues. In the instance where you will select another venue, it is a requirement to confirm the venue before registration with Boston can be completed.
