WHY CHOOSE OUR HIGH SCHOOL PATHWAY?
Among our Lycées, the International Lyceum (High School) is certainly the one that opens most onto the world.
The Cambridge International High School Diploma is a globally recognized academic programme of excellence, structured across two bienniums:
The IGCSE Biennium (ages 14–16), during which students explore a wide range of foundational subjects.
The AS & A Level Biennium (ages 16–18), which leads to the Cambridge AICE Diploma, an internationally respected certificate recognized by universities and academic institutions worldwide.
The programme is designed to develop students with strong academic skills, critical thinking abilities, and an international outlook. Final diploma assessments are in English and allow direct access to both Italian and international universities.
The Cambridge AICE Diploma requires learners to study the compulsory core subject Cambridge AS Level Global Perspectives & Research, with Cambridge AS & A Level subjects drawn from three curriculum areas.
Mathematics and Sciences: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Environmental Management
Languages: English Language, English Literature, Spanish, French and other world languages
Arts and Humanities: Economics, Business, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Art & Design
There is the option to study interdisciplinary subjects.
Basic Academic Programme: 30 hours per week.
This pathway is designed for students following the standard Cambridge International High School structure from IGCSE through AS & A Level.
PHASE I – CAMBRIDGE IGCSE BIENNIUM (AGES 14–16)
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Italian* | 4 |
| English as a First Language | 4 |
| History | 1 |
| Geography | 2 |
| Global Perspectives | 2 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| Physics | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Spanish/French | 2 |
| Physical Education* | 2 |
| Sociology | 2 |
| Business | 2 |
| Music/Dance* | 2 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Subjects marked with * may be replaced with: Information Technology, International Mathematics / Further Mathematics, Languages: Spanish or French, Business Management, Economics, Digital Media, Sports Education. | |
Final IGCSE Exams: At the end of the second year, students select between 4 and 7 subjects to sit for the Cambridge IGCSE exams.
Successfully passing at least 7 exams, distributed across specified subject groups, qualifies for the Cambridge ICE Certificate.
PHASE II – CAMBRIDGE AS & A LEVEL BIENNIUM (AGES 16–18)
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Italian* | 4 |
| Language and English Literature | 4 |
| History | 1 |
| Geography | 2 |
| Global Perspectives & Research | 2 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| Physics | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Spanish/French | 2 |
| Physical Education* | 2 |
| Psychology/Sociology | 2 |
| Business/Law/Economics | 2 |
| Music/Dance* | 2 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Subjects marked with * may be replaced with: Information Technology, International Mathematics / Further Mathematics, Languages: Spanish or French, Business Management, Economics, Digital Media, Sports Education. | |
Customized pathway for international students moving to EIS Versilia.
This option is designed for students who require a more flexible academic structure while maintaining the core value of the Cambridge International High School Diploma.
Basic Academic Programme: 30 hours per week, with the possibility to extend the programme up to 40 hours per week with an additional budget upon request and approval by the Academic Department.
Students may also replace the subjects marked with an asterisk (*) with additional modules, according to their academic profile and individual needs.
PHASE I – CAMBRIDGE IGCSE BIENNIUM (AGES 14–16)
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Italian* | 4 |
| English as a First Language | 4 |
| History | 1 |
| Geography | 2 |
| Global Perspectives | 2 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| Physics | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Spanish/French | 2 |
| Physical Education* | 2 |
| Sociology | 2 |
| Business | 2 |
| Music/Dance* | 2 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Subjects marked with * may be replaced with: Information Technology, International Mathematics / Further Mathematics, Languages: Spanish or French, Business Management, Economics, Digital Media, Sports Education. | |
Final IGCSE Exams: At the end of the second year, students select between 4 and 7 subjects to sit for the Cambridge IGCSE exams.
Successfully passing at least 7 exams, distributed across specified subject groups, qualifies for the Cambridge ICE Certificate.
PHASE II – CAMBRIDGE AS & A LEVEL BIENNIUM (AGES 16–18)
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Italian* | 4 |
| Language and English Literature | 4 |
| History | 1 |
| Geography | 2 |
| Global Perspectives & Research | 2 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| Physics | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Spanish/French | 2 |
| Physical Education* | 2 |
| Psychology/Sociology | 2 |
| Business/Law/Economics | 2 |
| Music/Dance* | 2 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Subjects marked with * may be replaced with: Information Technology, International Mathematics / Further Mathematics, Languages: Spanish or French, Business Management, Economics, Digital Media, Sports Education. | |
Customized option for international students: the standard academic structure remains the same, but students may request additional modules up to a maximum total of 40 weekly hours.
Only subjects delivered as official Cambridge AS or A Level courses contribute to AICE credits. Extracurricular enrichment modules that are not part of the Cambridge curriculum do not count towards the AICE Diploma.
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
At EIS Versilia, the following subjects are offered:
- Information Technology
- Mathematics International / Further Mathematics
- Languages: Spanish or French
- Business
- Economics
- Digital Media
- Sports Education
| Programme Element | Weekly Hours |
|---|---|
| Basic Academic Programme | 30 |
| Optional Additional Modules | Up to 10 |
| Maximum Total | 40 |
| Recognition | Status |
|---|---|
| Final diploma assessments | In English |
| Access to Italian universities | Yes |
| Access to international universities | Yes |
Students following the customized pathway still work toward the same Cambridge AICE Diploma.
Credit requirements, Global Perspectives, and final diploma structure remain the same as in the standard pathway.
AICE DIPLOMA CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
To achieve the Cambridge AICE Diploma, students must earn a minimum of 7 credits from Cambridge AS Level and A Level courses.
These credits are obtained by combining:
- 6 credits from a selection of AS Level subjects (1 credit each) and A Level subjects (2 credits each)
- 1 compulsory credit from Global Perspectives
| A Levels* | AS Levels* | Global Perspectives | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
Credit values: AS Level = 1 credit | A Level = 2 credits
GRADING SCALE AND DIPLOMA AWARD
| Grade | AS Level | A Level |
|---|---|---|
| A | 60 | 120 |
| B | 50 | 100 |
| C | 40 | 80 |
| D | 30 | 60 |
| E | 20 | 40 |
| Diploma Award Level | Total Points |
|---|---|
| Distinction | ≥ 360 points |
| Merit | 250-359 points |
| Pass | 140-249 points |
| Each exam contributes points to the total score. Maximum possible score: 420 points. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything parents and students may want to know about the Cambridge pathway, AICE Diploma, and the EIS Versilia High School experience.
The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma is a globally recognized pre-university qualification based on Cambridge AS Level and A Level courses.
It prepares students aged 16–18 for university study through advanced academic subjects and internationally standardized examinations.
The program is developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education, part of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge qualifications are used in more than 160 countries and are recognized by leading universities worldwide.
The programme is designed for students aged 14 to 18, covering the IGCSE biennium (ages 14–16) and the AS & A Level biennium (ages 16–18).
The academic program is taught entirely in English.
The academic programme at EIS Versilia is structured around a core Cambridge curriculum of approximately 30 hours per week.
This includes official Cambridge courses such as IGCSE, AS Level, and A Level, depending on the student’s academic stage.
In the final two years, these courses contribute to the Cambridge AICE Diploma.
Yes. Students can personalize their academic pathway by combining core Cambridge subjects with additional enrichment modules.
EIS Versilia offers an optional extracurricular module of up to 10 additional hours per week, which can be added to the standard 30-hour academic programme, for a maximum of 40 hours in total.
These modules provide enrichment opportunities in areas such as languages, business, technology, and sports.
The extracurricular programme is designed to enhance the student experience beyond the core academic curriculum.
Students can strengthen academic skills, develop additional competencies, and build a more comprehensive educational profile that supports university applications.
At EIS Versilia, the following subjects are offered:
Information Technology
Mathematics International / Further Mathematics
Languages: Spanish or French
Business and Economics
Sports Education
With the exception of Sports Education, which is an extracurricular module, all other subjects are delivered as Cambridge AS or A Level courses and therefore contribute to AICE credits.
AICE stands for Advanced International Certificate of Education.
It represents a structured program of Cambridge AS and A Level courses combined into a single diploma.
AS Level (Advanced Subsidiary Level) represents the first stage of advanced academic study and counts as 1 credit.
A Level (Advanced Level) is a deeper academic course and counts as 2 credits toward the diploma.
Students must earn at least 7 credits from Cambridge AS Level and A Level courses.
Subjects are organized into three groups:
Mathematics and Sciences
Languages
Arts and Humanities
Students must earn credits from at least three different groups.
Mathematics and Sciences: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Environmental Management
Languages: English Language, English Literature, Spanish, French and other world languages
Arts and Humanities: Economics, Business, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Art & Design
This is a core element of the AICE Diploma.
Students analyse different perspectives on complex global issues such as sustainability, ethics, technology, and cultural identity, developing research skills, critical thinking, analysis of global issues, and academic writing.
Each exam contributes points to the total score. The maximum possible score is 420 points.
| Grade | AS Level | A Level |
|---|---|---|
| A | 60 | 120 |
| B | 50 | 100 |
| C | 40 | 80 |
| D | 30 | 60 |
| E | 20 | 40 |
Distinction: 360 points or more
Merit: 250–359 points
Pass: 140–249 points
Yes. Cambridge A Levels are among the most recognized pre-university qualifications worldwide.
Yes. A Levels are the standard qualification for admission to UK universities.
Yes. Many universities in the United States accept A Levels as a valid qualification and may award college credits for strong results.
Recognition and credit policies vary by institution, so students are strongly advised to check the specific admission requirements of the universities they are interested in.
Yes. Many universities in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland recognize A Levels.
In some countries, strong A Level results may provide university credits or allow students to skip introductory courses.
Yes. Students may transfer to EIS Versilia for their final year and complete Cambridge examinations here.
Cambridge allows greater academic specialization, subject personalization, and a global perspective to navigate an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.
The flexibility of the curriculum allows the school to respond to each student’s specific needs, nurturing individual talents and guiding them towards the achievement of their goals.
Students benefit from high quality international education in English while living in Italy, within a dynamic and international campus featuring advanced technology, sports facilities, and highly qualified academic staff.
Students develop research skills, analytical thinking, academic writing, and subject specialization.