Cambridge Pre-U EXPLAINED
The Cambridge Pre-U has been designed by Cambridge Assessment International Examinations, a department of the University of Cambridge, to provide students with the knowledge, skills and in-depth understanding needed for university entrance. Although it is a relatively new qualification, the Pre-U is already
recognised by universities, education providers and employers across the world. We provide an overview of this challenging academic programme.
The Pre-U is a relatively new qualification, having been introduced in 2008. As with the International GCSE (IGCSE), the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the main awarding body. Now a decade old, the CIE reported a 46 per cent increase in exam entries for the Principal Subjects in 2017. The Pre-U is linear, which means that it does not have any modular exams during the course. This allows teachers to decide on the order, pace and depth of teaching most appropriate to their students. There are 25 Principal Subjects available to study. Each subject is only examined at the end of the two-year course. This is intended to give teachers the flexibility to prepare students without the pressure of continuous assessment. According to the CIE, students start to see the subject as a whole, instead of studying isolated modules and missing the links between them.
Principal Subjects are the equivalent of A Levels. Students can take up to four Principal Subjects, or they can take them in combination with A Levels.
The CIE also offers a one-year Short Course. Nine
such courses are available, mainly in modern languages and maths. Designed to allow students to continue with their studies in the first year of sixth form, they offer an advanced qualification for application to university.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND RESEARCH The Pre-U Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) prepares students for the independent thinking they will need at university. Students choose from five broad themes: ethics, economics, environment, technology, and politics and culture.
The GPR is taught as two successive one-year courses. Global Perspectives develops research and thinking skills during the first year, preparing students for an extended writing project in the second year.
The GPR can be taken alongside three Principal Subjects or as a standalone qualification alongside A Levels. According to the CIE, the Pre-U is underpinned by a clear set of educational aims:
• Encouraging the development of well-informed, open and independent-minded individuals
• Promoting deep understanding through subject specialisation, with a depth and rigour appropriate to progression to higher education
• Helping learners to acquire specific skills of problem-
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