What is it and why have many schools adopted it?
The Cambridge Pre-U was launched in 2008 and is an equivalent course to the A Level studied in the final two years of school. It aims to offer more depth than the A Level and prepare students more appropriately for university. Cambridge International Examinations cite the following benefits of the Pre-U qualification:
- develops open-minded and independent thinkers
- stimulates a deeper understanding of subject, which facilitates a better transition into university level study
- encourages problem solving, critical thinking, collaborative working and independent learning
- promotes an international outlook and cross-cultural awareness
Many schools have now replaced A Levels with the Pre-U in some subjects (but not necessarily all); famously, Winchester College was the first school to introduce Pre-U across the board. Some schools allow students to take a combination of A Level and Cambridge Pre-U courses.
Other schools that offer the Cambridge Pre-U include: Charterhouse School, Westminster School, Oundle School, Shrewsbury School, Rugby School and Eton College, to name but a few.
How does it work?
The Pre-U is a linear two-year programme, which means there are no modules during the course. This offers teachers the opportunity to decide on the order, pace and depth of teaching and helps students to see subjects as a whole, rather than isolated modules, and prevents them missing links between topics.
The Pre-U diploma is made up of three parts:
- ‘Principal subjects’: two-year courses in specific subjects, like A Levels. Students choose three but can replace up to two with A levels.
- ‘Short courses’: one-year courses to ‘broaden learning’. These do not affect your overall result.
- ‘Global Perspectives and Research’ or ‘GPR’ – a two-year course, with a year spent developing research and thinking skills, followed by a year-long research project in the second year. Students choose from five broad themes: ethics, economics, environment, technology, and politics and culture.
There are around 25 Principal Subjects available. Each subject is only examined at the end of the two-year course.
How is it graded?
The qualification is divided into three sections, D (Distinction), M (Merit), and P (Pass), and then further split into grades of 1, 2, or 3. Students are given a grade for each of their principal subjects and for their GPR.
|
Band |
Grade |
A level equivalence |
|
Distinction |
D1 |
Above A* |
|
D2 |
A* |
|
|
D3 |
A |
|
|
Merit |
M1 |
A/B |
|
M2 |
B |
|
|
M3 |
C |
|
|
Pass |
P1 |
C/D |
|
P2 |
D |
|
|
P3 |
E |
Do universities recognise the Pre-U?
Yes. Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, Global Perspectives and Research section, and short courses all have UCAS points in the same way that A Levels do. The Cambridge Pre-U is also well known in US, Canadian and European universities.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Pre-U?
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
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