They have A-levels or IB along with APID. thats all. And no they are not non-americans, they are immigrants or very talented ppl offered a seat by the american embassies of their countries to study in MIT, and since nobody in the right mind would turn that down, there are a lot of foreigners in MIT. This is an excerpt of what it required, and what it says about GCE A Levels.
I have to repeat that it is not a must to do AP or APID. The original thing can be found on:
http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/advanced_placement_international_exams/index.shtmlInternational Examination Credit
Please note that international examination policies currently listed on this page apply specifically to the class of 2013, entering MIT in fall 2009. Policies may change for subsequent classes, including the admitted class of 2014.
NOTE: If you receive credit for a specific MIT subject and subsequently register for the same subject, the credit originally awarded is void.
G.C.E. "A" Level
Listed below are current policies on how G.C.E. “A” Level credit is recognized based on the exam subject and resulting grade. Note that credit for A-level work cannot be applied to an MIT academic record until the official G.C.E certificates are presented to the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming. Unofficial reports will not be accepted in lieu of official certificates. If you will not receive your official certificates until later in the academic year, please notify UAAP when you arrive on campus.
See below for specific information on receiving credit in the following areas:
* Biology: No credit is given for A-level Biology. To receive credit for 12 units of 7.012, 7.013, or 7.014, Introductory Biology, you must pass the Biology Advanced Standing Examination administered during Orientation
* Chemistry: No credit is given for A-Level Chemistry. To receive credit for 12 units of 5.111, Principles of Chemical Science, students must pass the Advanced Placement (Advanced Standing) exam administered during freshman orientation.
* Computer Science: No credit is given for A-level computer science examinations.
* Mathematics: For a grade of "A" or "B" in A-Level Mathematics, credit will be given for 12 units of subject 18.01, Calculus I. For grades lower than B, no credit is given.
* Physics: For a grade of "A" in A-Level Physics, credit will be given for 12 units of subject 8.01, Physics I, and you may enroll in subject 8.02 or 8.022 (Physics II). For grades lower than A, no credit is given.
* Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences: For a grade of "A" on applicable humanities-related A-Level examinations, credit will be given for 9 general elective units. Note that credit earned from G.C.E “A” Levels does not satisfy any part of the HASS Requirement. For grades lower than A, no credit is given.