The Cambridge Pre-U was a school leaving qualification from Cambridge Assessment International Education that was an alternative to the current A-Level qualification. It was offered between 2008 and 2023 and was principally aimed at students aged 16–19, and has recognition for university entrance.^[1]

The Cambridge Pre-U was launched in 2008 by Cambridge International Examinations in order to create a qualification which would offer additional depth in subjects beyond the standard A-Level syllabus. A number of independent, grammar and comprehensive schools and sixth-form colleges have replaced A-Levels with Cambridge Pre-Us in some subjects. Over 120 schools offered Cambridge Pre-U in at least one subject and with some schools switching completely to offering solely the Pre-U.^[2]

The Cambridge Pre-U was linear, like the UK A level^[3] (the international A-level variant delivered by Cambridge International Examinations is also linear^[4]), and does not have any compulsory principal subjects as the International Baccalaureate does:^[5] students had a free choice of three such "Principal Subjects" out of 27. Additional subjects may be taken, though not incorporated into the Diploma. There were also 'short courses', consisting of one year's study, available in Modern Foreign Languages, Maths and Further Maths. Students who completed an "Independent Research Project" and a "Global Perspectives" portfolio in addition to the three "Principal Subjects" were eligible for the award of the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma.

All the 'Ivy League' universities in the USA accepted the Cambridge Pre-U for the purposes of university entrance.^[6]

Cambridge Assessment International Education has withdrawn the Cambridge Pre-U qualification for new entries. The last examination was held in June 2023, though a resit is available in June 2024.^[7]

The Guide for Schools ^[8] listed:

• English: Literature in English
• Humanities: Classical Heritage, Geography, Global Perspectives, History, Philosophy and Theology
• Languages: Classical Greek, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish
• Mathematics: Mathematics, Further Mathematics
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Social Sciences: Business and Management, Comparative Government and Politics, Economics, Psychology
• The Arts: Art and Design, Art History, Drama and Theatre, Music

In the Pre-U, each Principal Subject was graded on a three-band, nine-grade scale:

The full Pre-U Diploma was graded on the aggregate of the three Principal Subjects, the Independent Research Project, and the Global Perspectives portfolio. The two together (GPR) could also be taken as a separate subject. The Independent Research Project and the Global Perspectives portfolio were each worth exactly half of a Principal Subject; thus, their aggregate formed the equivalent of another Principal Subject. The Pre-U Diploma was graded out of 96 overall; each Principal Subject was graded out of 24, and both Global Perspectives and the Independent Research Report were graded out of 12 each. Some schools offered a mix of A-levels and Pre-U Principal Subjects. With such a mix it is still possible to earn a Pre-U Diploma.^[9]

The Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) has awarded a tariff score for Cambridge Pre-U which reflects the HE view of the qualification as very good preparation for university study. Using UCAS tariff scores as a benchmark, universities will be able to compare Cambridge Pre-U and A Level grades.^[10]

Unlike A Levels, the Cambridge Pre-U grading scale is divided into three bands: Distinction, Merit and Pass, each sub-divided into three grades (Distinction 1, Distinction 2, Distinction 3 and so on). The top grade, Distinction 1, reports achievement above and beyond the new A Level A* grade; Distinction 2 is aligned towards A* at A Level (earning a fractionally higher UCAS score), and Distinction 3 is aligned to the current Grade A. The lowest pass grade, Pass 3, is aligned to the border between E and U at A Level.

UCAS awards Principal Subjects 52 points for Distinction 3 and that a Pass 3 is worth 20 points.^[11] The tariff for exceptional candidates who achieve a Distinction 1 pass were to have been announced after the first Cambridge Pre-U examination entries were assessed;^[12] both D1 and D2 are currently awarded 56 tariff points.^[11]

UCAS has given the Global Perspectives and Research component the same tariff as a single Principal Subject.^[11] The 'short course' subjects have a separate tariff score too, for example: 22 for a Distinction 1; 20 for a Distinction 2 or 3; 6 for a Pass 3.^[11][13]

The following subjects have equivalence(s) in Cambridge International A & AS Level and/or OCR A & AS Level:^[14]

The following subjects, as of 2023, do not have equivalences in neither Cambridge International nor OCR A & AS Level examinations:^[14]

• Art History
• Italian
• Russian