Academic results and transcripts

Your academic achievements are a key part of your application. Specific requirements vary across institutions but in general, US universities will expect you to show:

• at least five Cambridge IGCSEs (or GCSEs)/Cambridge O Levels covering English, maths, science, a foreign language and a social science
• subjects at Cambridge International AS or A Level or the Cambridge AICE Diploma (may not be required for two-year junior and community colleges)
• some extra-curricular involvement.

You should be following at least the standard curriculum that students at your school study. For highly selective institutions, you will need to demonstrate achievement above the standard curriculum.

You can find details of universities’ academic admission criteria for Cambridge qualifications in our recognition database and on each institution’s website.

Transcripts

Your results transcript is the official list of score results that informs a university or other public body of your score results in your Cambridge exams.

Your school will need to prepare a transcript to include in your application package. This is a one-page document on your school’s official letterhead showing your detailed academic record and achievements during the last four years of secondary education. If you have changed school during this period, you should ask your previous school to also provide a transcript. Schools should submit this document directly – it will be uploaded as part of the Common Application or other application system that the university is using.

The transcript should include achieved and predicted grades from each of the last four years of secondary education (Years 9–13 or Years 9–12 in the US system). This includes all internal school grades and all your previous Cambridge examination results and/or predicted grades for qualifications you are taking this year. You do not need to convert Cambridge grades to a US-style grade point average (GPA); university admissions staff understand the meaning of the grades and will be able to assess your application using this information. If you are specifically requested to provide a GPA, a credential evaluator can be used and the university will often suggest which one to contact.

EducationUSA and the UK-US Fulbright Commission provide a sample transcript if your school needs a template to follow.

Requesting a results transcript from Cambridge International

Some institutions will require evidence of your score (exam) results directly from us, instead of your school.

If you are studying at a Cambridge school in the US, you can use the Grade Transcript Service to send your Cambridge Advanced (International AS & A Level) exam grades and Cambridge AICE Diploma status to US colleges and universities.

Transcripts cost $17 per request, per institution. This fee helps to ensure all student requests can be fulfilled expeditiously, tracked by students online, and available to colleges and universities by the dates indicated. Please note that fee waivers are not available through Cambridge.

Further information is available on the requirements for using the Grade Transcript Service

Currently this service is only available for students studying at Cambridge schools in the US.

If you are an international student applying to a US university, please check with your chosen institution(s) what arrangements are in place for verifying your Cambridge results and what evidence you need to provide. Many universities can access our secure site, Cambridge International Direct, in order to verify Cambridge International AS & A Level results.