📚 What Courses Does Cambridge Offer? | 剑桥开设哪些课程？
Cambridge qualifications are recognised and respected across the global education community. Cambridge provides a complete and diverse school curriculum for children and young people aged 5 to 19, and the pathway is designed so that learners move smoothly from one stage to the next. This article focuses on the learning routes available to students aged 14 to 19 - the stages that lead, after successful assessment, to qualifications that allow students to apply for undergraduate degrees at universities in many countries.
剑桥资格证书在全球教育界有口皆碑。我们为5至19岁的儿童和青少年提供了一套完整、多元的学校课程，各阶段之间衔接顺畅。本文将重点介绍14至19岁年龄段的学习路径——顺利完成相关评估后，学生即具备向多国大学提交本科申请的资格。
1. Cambridge Course Portfolio at a Glance | 剑桥课程体系总览
The Cambridge curriculum is not a single qualification but a family of programmes. It begins with Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary, continues through Cambridge Upper Secondary, where Cambridge IGCSE sits, and ends with Cambridge Advanced, where Cambridge International AS & A Level sits. Each stage has its own syllabus, assessment and certificate.
剑桥课程并不是单一的一种资格证书，而是一个课程家族。它从剑桥小学课程（Cambridge Primary）和剑桥初中课程（Cambridge Lower Secondary）开始，经过以剑桥国际IGCSE为核心的剑桥高中基础阶段（Cambridge Upper Secondary），最后到达以剑桥国际AS与A Level为核心的剑桥高中高级阶段（Cambridge Advanced）。每个阶段都有自己的教学大纲、评估方式和证书。
Two features stay constant across the whole portfolio. First, schools, not Cambridge, decide which subjects to teach. Second, every subject is assessed and certificated separately, so students can build a combination that matches their strengths and their plans.
纵观整个课程体系，有两个特点始终不变。第一，开设哪些科目由学校自主决定，而非由剑桥统一规定。第二，每门科目单独评估、单独颁发证书，因此学生可以组合出最符合自身优势和未来规划的科目方案。
2. Who the Cambridge Pathway Serves: Ages 5 to 19 | 剑桥课程面向谁：5至19岁
The Cambridge Pathway is designed for learners aged 5 to 19 and is used by schools in many countries around the world. At the younger end, the emphasis is on building literacy, numeracy, scientific curiosity and confidence in English. At the older end, the emphasis shifts towards academic depth, independent research and preparation for university study.
剑桥路径面向5至19岁的学习者，被世界许多国家的学校采用。在低龄阶段，重点在于培养读写、计算、科学好奇心以及英语表达的自信；到了高年级阶段，重点则转向学科深度、独立研究能力以及大学学习的准备。
The 14 to 19 phase is the part most families ask about, because it is the phase that produces the qualifications universities actually read. In this phase students normally take Cambridge IGCSE at around 14 to 16, then Cambridge International AS & A Level at around 16 to 19.
家长询问最多的是14至19岁这一阶段，因为正是这一阶段产出的资格证书会被大学真正审阅。在这一阶段，学生通常在14至16岁学习剑桥国际IGCSE，在16至19岁学习剑桥国际AS与A Level。
3. The Four Stages and What They Lead To | 四个阶段及其升学方向
It helps to see the pathway as four connected stages rather than four separate products. Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary build the foundation. Cambridge Upper Secondary, built around Cambridge IGCSE, provides breadth and a first set of formal grades. Cambridge Advanced, built around Cambridge International AS & A Level, provides the depth that university admissions tutors look for.
把剑桥路径理解为四个相互衔接的阶段，比理解为四个彼此独立的产品更有帮助。剑桥小学与初中课程打下基础；以剑桥国际IGCSE为核心的剑桥高中基础阶段提供知识广度与第一套正式成绩；以剑桥国际AS与A Level为核心的剑桥高中高级阶段则提供大学招生官所看重的学科深度。
| Stage 阶段 | Typical age 常见年龄 | Main qualification 主要资格 |
| Cambridge Primary | 5-11 | Cambridge Primary Checkpoint |
| Cambridge Lower Secondary | 11-14 | Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint |
| Cambridge Upper Secondary | 14-16 | Cambridge IGCSE |
| Cambridge Advanced | 16-19 | Cambridge International AS & A Level |
Students do not have to enter at stage one. Many international schools join the pathway at IGCSE or at A Level, and Cambridge qualifications are designed to stand on their own at each point.
学生并不必须从第一阶段开始。许多国际学校是在IGCSE阶段或A Level阶段才加入剑桥路径的，而剑桥的每一类资格证书都被设计为可以独立成立。
4. Cambridge International IGCSE: The Core of Ages 14-16 | 剑桥国际IGCSE：14至16岁的核心课程
Cambridge International IGCSE is one of the most widely taken international qualifications for students aged 14 to 16. It encourages a learner-centred, enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning, with deliberate emphasis on creative thinking, research skills and problem-solving techniques. Those skills are precisely what later stages demand, which is why IGCSE is treated as preparation for Cambridge International A Level, Advanced Placement (AP) in the United States, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
剑桥国际IGCSE是14至16岁学生中广受欢迎的国际课程之一。它鼓励以学习者为中心、以探究为驱动的教学模式，着重培养创造性思维、研究能力和解决问题的技巧。这些能力正是后续阶段所需要的，因此IGCSE被视为通往剑桥国际A Level、美国大学先修课程（AP）以及国际文凭IBDP的扎实根基。
IGCSE is not a single examination but a framework. A school can build its own combination of subjects, and each subject is certificated individually. That structure is what makes IGCSE work in very different national contexts, from bilingual schools to schools following a national curriculum alongside an international one.
IGCSE并不是一场单一的考试，而是一套框架。学校可以自行搭配科目组合，每门科目单独颁发证书。正是这种结构，使IGCSE能够在差异极大的不同国家环境中运转，从双语学校到同时兼顾本国课程与国际课程的学校都能适用。
5. IGCSE Subject Choice: Over 70 Subjects and 30+ Languages | IGCSE科目选择：70余门科目与30余种语言
IGCSE offers more than 70 subjects, including over 30 language courses, and the range is deliberate: it allows schools to cater for students of different abilities and different interests within the same qualification. A student strong in mathematics can take Additional Mathematics; a student heading for medicine can take Biology, Chemistry and Physics together; a student with a first language other than English can usually take a first-language course as well as English as a second language.
IGCSE提供超过70门科目，其中涵盖30余种语言课程。这样的覆盖面是有意为之的：它让学校能够在同一资格证书框架内，满足不同学习水平和不同兴趣方向学生的需要。数学强的学生可以加修进阶数学；志在医学的学生可以同时学习生物、化学和物理；母语非英语的学生通常既可以选英语作为第二语言，也可以选自己的母语课程。
Languages: more than 30 courses, including first-language options and modern foreign languages. 语言类：30余门课程，包括母语课程与现代外语。
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and combined or coordinated science routes. 科学类：生物、化学、物理以及组合科学路线。
Mathematics: Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. 数学类：数学与进阶数学。
Humanities and social sciences: History, Geography, Economics, Global Perspectives and more. 人文与社会科学：历史、地理、经济、全球视野等。
Creative, technical and vocational subjects: Art and Design, Music, Computer Science, Business Studies, and many others. 创意、技术与职业类：艺术与设计、音乐、计算机科学、商务等。
Because every subject carries its own certificate, a student who is exceptionally strong in one area is not held back by weaker performance in another, and a student who needs to consolidate the basics can do so without losing credit elsewhere.
由于每门科目单独颁发证书，某一领域特别突出的学生不会因为其他领域的表现而被拖累；需要巩固基础的学生也可以在某一门科目上稳步推进，而不影响其他科目的成绩记录。
6. IGCSE Assessment and the A* to G Grade Scale | IGCSE的评估方式与A*至G等级制
Cambridge IGCSE qualifications are equivalent in standard to the GCSE taken in the United Kingdom. Grades run from A* down to G, with A* the highest, and U used to indicate 'ungraded' - that is, a result below the minimum standard required for a grade.
剑桥IGCSE资格证书与英国本土的GCSE处于同等水平。成绩采用A*至G的等级制，其中A*为最优，U则表示"未评级"，即未达到获得等级所需的最低标准。
Grade scale 等级序列：A* > A > B > C > D > E > F > G > U
In practice, many students and schools treat a grade C or above in a subject as evidence that the student is ready for that subject at A Level, and a grade A* or A as evidence of strong readiness. Universities and sixth-form colleges may set their own thresholds, so it is always worth checking the entry requirements of the specific institution.
在实际操作中，许多学生和学校会把某门科目取得C及以上视为学生已具备在该科目继续学习A Level的资格，而A*或A则代表准备得相当扎实。大学和高中部各自可能设定不同的门槛，因此始终应当查阅具体院校的入学要求。
To explore more detailed information and the full list of Cambridge International IGCSE subjects, visit: www.cie.org.uk/igcse
想获取更详尽的信息和完整的剑桥国际IGCSE科目列表，请浏览：www.cie.org.uk/igcse
7. How IGCSE Compares with GCSE | IGCSE与GCSE的对比
The most common question about IGCSE concerns comparison. Cambridge states clearly that Cambridge IGCSE is equivalent in standard to UK GCSE, and universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, the United States and elsewhere routinely accept it. What differs is not the level but the design: IGCSE was written for an international audience, so the syllabuses avoid assuming a single national context and often include a stronger international or global dimension.
关于IGCSE最常见的问题就是比较。剑桥明确说明，剑桥IGCSE与英国GCSE处于同等水平，英国、澳大利亚、加拿大、美国等地的大学普遍接受这一资格。区别不在于水平高低，而在于设计取向：IGCSE是为国际学生群体编写的，因此教学大纲不会预设某一个国家的具体背景，往往包含更强的国际化与全球视野维度。
| Feature 项目 | Cambridge IGCSE | UK GCSE |
| Standard 水平 | Equivalent 同等 | Equivalent 同等 |
| Grade scale 等级制 | A* to G, U 未评级 | 9 to 1, or A* to G on legacy scales |
| Designed for 面向 | International schools 国际学校 | UK schools 英国本土学校 |
| Certification 证书 | Per subject 每科单独 | Per subject 每科单独 |
The key point for families is that an IGCSE result travels well. It can be presented to schools in one country and to universities in another without needing conversion or explanation.
对家庭而言，关键点是IGCSE成绩具有很好的通用性。它可以同时用于向一个国家的学校申请、向另一个国家的大学申请，而不需要额外换算或解释。
8. Cambridge International AS & A Level: Structure and Duration | 剑桥国际AS与A Level：结构与学制
Cambridge International A Level qualifications have a history of more than 50 years and are widely regarded as a passport to higher education. A strong set of Cambridge International A Level results works like a key: it opens the door to leading universities across the English-speaking world and well beyond it.
剑桥国际A Level资格拥有超过50年的历史，被广泛视为高等教育的"通行证"。一份出色的剑桥国际A Level成绩就像一把钥匙，能为你打开全球英语国家乃至更广范围内顶尖大学的大门。
The qualification has two components: Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS Level) and Cambridge International Advanced Level (A Level). The full course usually lasts two years and offers flexible configuration. Schools may choose which subjects to offer from a list of more than 50.
剑桥国际A Level由剑桥国际高级附属水准（AS Level）和剑桥国际高级水准（A Level）两部分组成。完整课程通常持续两年，并提供灵活的配置方案。学校可以从50多门科目中自主选择开设哪些科目。
Cambridge International AS Level covers half of the content of the corresponding A Level course and can be completed within one year. Schools may teach it either as a stand-alone qualification or as a stage on the way to the full A Level. Students can also combine AS Level with other A Level subjects to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding.
剑桥国际AS Level涵盖相应A Level课程内容的一半，可在一年内完成。学校既可以将其作为独立资格来教授，也可以将其作为通往完整A Level资格的一个阶段。学生还可以将AS Level与其他A Level科目组合，从而拓宽知识面、深化理解。
9. Choosing Subjects at A Level: 50+ Options | A Level的科目选择：50多门选项
The choice at A Level is narrower than at IGCSE, and that narrowing is the point. Most students take three or four subjects, and the aim is depth rather than coverage. Typical combinations include Mathematics with Further Mathematics and Physics for engineering; Biology with Chemistry and Mathematics for medicine; and Economics with Mathematics and a humanities subject for business or law.
A Level阶段的科目选择比IGCSE更聚焦，而这种聚焦正是要点所在。多数学生选三门或四门科目，目标是深度而非广度。常见组合包括：工程方向选择数学、进阶数学与物理；医学方向选择生物、化学与数学；商科或法律方向选择经济、数学与一门人文学科。
Mathematics and sciences: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology. 数学与科学：数学、进阶数学、物理、化学、生物。
Humanities: History, Geography, Economics, Business, Psychology, Sociology. 人文社科：历史、地理、经济、商务、心理学、社会学。
Languages: English Language, English Literature, and numerous modern and classical languages. 语言：英语语言、英语文学以及多种现代与古典语言。
Creative and technical: Art and Design, Music, Computer Science, Design and Technology. 创意与技术：艺术与设计、音乐、计算机科学、设计与技术。
A practical rule is to check the entry requirements of the intended university course first, then work backwards to the A Level subjects, then to the IGCSE subjects that feed them.
一条实用原则是：先查目标大学专业的入学要求，再倒推需要哪些A Level科目，最后倒推到为这些科目打基础的IGCSE选科。
10. A Level Grades, UCAS Recognition and University Entry | A Level成绩、UCAS认可与大学申请
Cambridge International AS and A Level are both recognised by UCAS and by many UK and international universities, and they are equivalent to the UK AS and A Level qualifications. Grades for A Level run from A* to E, with A* the highest. AS Level does not carry an A* grade. In both cases U indicates 'ungraded'.
剑桥国际AS和A Level均获得UCAS以及众多英国和国际大学的认可，与英国本土的AS和A Level资格具有同等效力。A Level的成绩等级为A*至E（A*最优），AS Level不设A*等级。两者中U均代表"未评级"。
A Level 成绩等级：A* > A > B > C > D > E > U
AS Level 成绩等级：A > B > C > D > E > U（无A*）
In the UK application system, AS and A Level grades are converted into UCAS Tariff points, which universities use alongside their own entry requirements. Outside the UK, universities typically publish requirements in terms of grades in specific subjects - for example, A* A A in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics - so the subject combination matters as much as the overall grades.
在英国申请体系中，AS与A Level成绩会被折算为UCAS积分，大学会结合自身的入学要求一并考量。在英国以外，大学通常按具体科目的等级来公布要求——例如数学、进阶数学与物理要求A* A A——因此科目组合的重要性不亚于总体等级。
For more information and the full list of Cambridge International A Level subjects, visit: www.cie.org.uk/alevel
如需了解更多信息和完整的剑桥国际A Level科目列表，请访问：www.cie.org.uk/alevel
11. Qualifications for Ages 14-19 and Undergraduate Applications | 14至19岁的资格证书与本科申请
This is the practical outcome of the whole pathway. A student who completes Cambridge IGCSE at 14 to 16 and Cambridge International AS & A Level at 16 to 19, and who successfully completes the associated assessments, holds qualifications that can be submitted in undergraduate applications to universities in many countries.
这正是整套课程体系的落点。学生在14至16岁完成剑桥国际IGCSE，在16至19岁完成剑桥国际AS与A Level，并顺利完成相关评估后，即持有可用于向多国大学提交本科申请的资格证书。
That reach matters in a world where families move between countries and where students increasingly apply to more than one system at once. A single set of Cambridge results can be used for a UCAS application in the UK, a direct application in Canada or Australia, and a holistic review application in the United States, without being rewritten or retaken.
在一个家庭常在不同国家之间流动、学生越来越多同时申请多个体系的世界里，这种通用性非常重要。同一套剑桥成绩可以用于英国的UCAS申请、加拿大或澳大利亚的直接申请，以及美国的整体评估式申请，无需重考或重新换算。
12. Choosing the Right Route: Practical Advice | 选择适合路线：实用建议
Start from the destination, not from the timetable. Find out what the intended university courses require, then check which A Level subjects satisfy those requirements, then check whether the school actually offers them at IGCSE and A Level. A subject that cannot be continued is worth less than one that can.
从目标出发，而不是从课程表出发。先弄清目标大学专业的要求，再确认哪些A Level科目能满足这些要求，然后确认学校在IGCSE和A Level阶段是否都确实开设这些科目。一门无法延续学习的科目，价值低于一门能够持续深入学习的科目。
Keep breadth at IGCSE, then specialise at A Level. 在IGCSE阶段保持广度，在A Level阶段专注深度。
Check grade thresholds, not just subject lists. 不仅要看科目清单，也要看成绩门槛。
Use AS Level as a checkpoint if the school offers it. 如果学校提供AS Level，可以把它当作一次检验节点。
Confirm the qualification is accepted by each target university, in writing if possible. 尽量以书面形式确认目标大学接受该资格证书。
Cambridge offers a complete and diverse curriculum for learners aged 5 to 19, and the 14 to 19 stages - IGCSE, then AS and A Level - are the ones that convert classroom work into university offers. Understanding how the stages fit together is the first step towards choosing well.
剑桥为5至19岁的学习者提供了一套完整、多元的课程，其中14至19岁阶段——先IGCSE，后AS与A Level——正是把课堂学习转化为大学录取的关键环节。理解各阶段之间如何衔接，是做出正确选择的第一步。
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