International entry requirements

United States of America

Cambridge Colleges require strong performance in standardised tests. Completion of a US High School Diploma alone is not considered suitable preparation for entry. Typically, students from the United States will demonstrate suitable preparation with a combination of AP tests and the SAT and/or ACT.  

Advanced Placement (AP)  

Typically, suitable evidence of preparation for entry would comprise: 

• a minimum of 5 Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5 in subjects related to the course applied for

and

• a high score on the SAT or ACT 

and 

• a high overall GPA in your US High School Diploma 

Applicants taking AP, SAT, and ACT tests are required to disclose all tests taken and scores achieved (including retakes). Cambridge Colleges reserve the right to contact ACT, College Board or your school to confirm your results.

Standardised tests (AP, SAT, ACT) should have been achieved within 2 years of matriculation to the University of Cambridge.  

Academic entry requirements do not need to be met at the point of application submission, though you should be on-track to fulfilling (or exceeding) minimum entry requirements by the end of your final year of High School. Pending standardised tests should be listed on the Education History section of the UCAS application. 

If you’re attending a school that offers fewer than 5 APs, you should self-enrol onto additional AP tests to meet/surpass Cambridge AP entry requirements. AP Tests can be taken without completing the relevant AP Course.  

Cambridge Colleges will take into account your individual circumstances as well as the policies of your school. You, or your school, may therefore be asked to provide further information as part of their application. 

Predicted Scores  

Admission to UK universities operate on a pre-qualification basis - offers are made in advance of applicants achieving their final grades. Offers are confirmed once an applicant's qualifications have been achieved and all conditions met. UCAS asks referees to indicate the expected test performance of an applicant via predicted grades. These predicted grades are used during the admissions process to help the University understand each applicant’s potential.  

AP Capstone 

We welcome AP Capstone and would encourage applicants to undertake AP Research and Seminar courses as it will help to develop independent study and research skills valuable for higher education. 

AP Capstone scores will not usually count towards the requirements for 5 or more scores of 5. 

Choosing AP Tests 

When choosing which AP Tests to sit for, you should check our course pages to identify close subject matches.  

For Cambridge courses that ask for Mathematics and Further Mathematics A level, we strongly prefer you to take AP Calculus BC.  

For courses that ask for Physics A level, we prefer you to take the 2 Physics C Tests - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics. 

AP Tests do not have to be completed in a single sitting to fulfil this requirement. 

SAT Score Required 

If you have taken Advanced Placement examinations or equivalent qualifications alongside the SAT, you will need to have a minimum combined score of 1,500 (Mathematics 750+) for the following courses: 

• most Science courses (Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine) 
• Economics 

For all other courses at Cambridge, you will need a minimum combined score of at least 1,460 with a score in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of at least 730. 

ACT Score Required 

If you have taken Advanced Placement examinations or equivalent qualifications alongside ACTs, you will need to have an ACT composite score of 33 out of 36 for the following courses: 

• most Science courses (Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine) 
• Economics 

For all other courses at Cambridge, you will need an ACT composite score of 32 out of 36. 

Students applying for Science courses should also achieve an ACT Science Score of at least 33.

High School Diploma GPA Requirement 

Very strong performance within the High School Diploma is expected. We encourage referees to provide statements which provide context to the GPA score within the school reference.   

Other Accepted International Qualifications 

Cambridge recognises a range of other international qualifications as suitable preparation for entry. International Baccalaureate requirements are listed on the relevant course page.  

If your US-based international school delivers another international curriculum, select the country from which the curriculum originates to check whether it is accepted and the scores required.