The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
at ACG Schools
An introduction
What are the University of Cambridge International qualifications?
The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE – www.cie.org.uk) is part of
Cambridge University, England.
CIE provides international courses, examinations and
qualifications to over 170 different countries. In New Zealand, over 40 schools are members of
the Association of Cambridge Schools in New Zealand (www.acsnz.org.nz).
The qualifications offered are:
IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education)
ƒ The qualification is usually taken at Year 11
ƒ At ACG high schools, subjects are normally arranged in 5 groups: Maths, English
Language, Literature (English), plus three options e.g. Pure Science, languages, drama,
music, art
ƒ Year 11 students would normally gain between three and six IGCSE certificates at the
end of the year, depending on their academic background and English language ability
ƒ Extension classes at ACG Parnell College sit IGCSE in Science and Mathematics at
Year 10 and prepare for the Spanish examination in June the following year
ƒ Extension classes at ACG Senior College sit AS Mathematics in Year 11.
AS (Advanced subsidiary)
ƒ The examinations are normally sat at Year 12 or Year 13
ƒ Recommended teaching time is 170 hours per subject per year
ƒ Students may do a mixture of IGCSE, AS and full A levels to suit
ƒ In Year 13, most students take a mixture of AS and A2 courses.
A level (A2)
ƒ Good students may take three (or exceptionally four) x A2 courses in Year 13
ƒ Students at ACG Senior College may also elect to write Research Projects or Thinking
Skills, or attend some University of Auckland (eg Mathematics, Classical Studies, and
Spanish) courses during Year 13.
Why CIE?
ƒ FLEXIBILITY: Students may choose the level of their study to suit their ability
(core/extension, or AS/A2). Hence they can achieve BREADTH (eg eight AS
subjects) or DEPTH (three or four A levels) or a combination of the two (eg two A
levels and four AS levels) over the two years of Year 12 and Year 13
ƒ RIGOUR: demanding courses that stretch able students
ƒ INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARKING: International qualifications that benchmark
students’ results against the best in the world
ƒ PORTABILITY: It is a qualification recognised for entry to tertiary study at
universities around the world.
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Examinations and Grading
CIE exams usually consist of two or three papers. Exam duration can vary between 45 minutes
and three hours. Results are expressed as grades and percentages. An eight point scale of
grades is used: A to G for IGCSE.
For AS and A level there are five passing grades. Grades with approximate percentages are as
follows: A (80% plus), B (70-79%), C (60-69%), D (50-59%) and E (40-49%).
Moderation is rigorous. Results are internationally benchmarked.
Teacher Professional Development
Professional development opportunities for teachers are provided by CIE. Each year expert
teachers (usually examiners/chief examiners from CIE) from around the world run workshops in
New Zealand for teachers. These workshops are usually held at ACG Senior College.
What do students need for Entrance to University?
CIE qualifications are recognised by all universities in New Zealand:
ƒ Numeracy: grade D or better at IGCSE Maths; Literacy: grade E or better at AS level
English Language or Literature (English)
ƒ General requirement: A minimum of 3 grade Ds and 120 points on the UCAS
(University and Colleges Admissions Service) tariff. (eg four Ds, or three Cs, or BCD
at AS level)
Good grades at AS level can gain immediate entry to university.
Good grades at A level can result in credits at universities, e.g. Yale University and other
universities in the United States award credit for Grades A and B.
UCAS Points Tariff:
Grades
%
AS
A
80% +
60 points
B
70-79%
50 points
C
60-69%
40 points
D
50-59%
30 points
E
40-49%
20 points
A level
120 points
100 points
80 points
60 points
40 points
What results have been achieved by ACG high schools so far?
In 2002, ACG students* took the Top Three Prizes nationally in the IGCSE examinations.
In 2003, two ACG students* were ranked Top in the World in their subjects in IGCSE
examinations.
Over 50% of the Year 12 students at ACG Senior College satisfied the NZ university entry
requirements of 120 points, three AS grade Ds and AS English E or better.
All four ACG high schools were awarded recognition as Top Cambridge Centres:
ƒ ACG New Zealand International College
ƒ ACG Parnell College
ƒ ACG Senior College
ƒ ACG Strathallan College
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This means that ACG high schools had students that were ranked in the “top five” in one or
more IGCSE or A/AS Level subjects in New Zealand.
In 2004, two ACG students* were ranked Top in the World in their subjects in A/AS
examinations.
Nineteen ACG students* were Top in New Zealand in their subjects in IGCSE and A/AS
examinations.
Four New Zealand teachers were invited to Cambridge to take part in the marking process,
including a Chemistry teacher from ACG.
In 2005, ACG students excelled in the CIE results. Eleven Top in the World awards were given
to ten ACG Senior College students*, whereas twenty-eight Top in New Zealand awards were
given to ACG Senior College and ACG Strathallan College students* in their subjects in IGCSE
and A/AS examinations.
In 2006, Five ACG students* were awarded Top in the World and ten were awarded Top in
New Zealand in their subjects in A/AS examinations. This was the third time an ACG Senior
College student was awarded Top in the World in A Level Painting.
In 2007, Eleven ACG students* were awarded Top in the World and nine were awarded Top
in New Zealand in their subjects in IGCSE, AS and A examinations. As in the past three years,
an ACG Senior College student was awarded Top in the World in A Level Painting. ACG
Senior College had more top students in both categories than any other college in New
Zealand.
In 2008, Five ACG students* were awarded Top in the World and nine were awarded Top in
New Zealand in their subjects in IGCSE, AS and A examinations. This was the first year that
Year 11 students of ACG Parnell College sat the CIE examinations. The results were very
pleasing. An ACG Parnell College student was awarded Top in the World in IGCSE Combined
Science.
In 2009, ACG students achieved a combined total of 26 CIE Awards, more than any other New
Zealand school, and all the more remarkable when one considers the relative size of each
College’s senior school. Eleven ACG students* were awarded Top in the world, fourteen were
awarded Top in New Zealand and two were awarded High Achievement in Cambridge
International AS and A Levels. All ACG Schools received A Level pass rates of over 90%.
In 2010, ACG students achieved a combined total of 32 CIE Awards. Once again, more than
any other New Zealand school, and all the more remarkable when one considers the relative
size of each College’s senior school. Eleven ACG students* were awarded Top in the world,
fourteen were awarded Top in New Zealand and one was awarded High Achievement in
Cambridge International AS Level. This year, for the first time Best Across awards were
issued to learners who have attained the first, second and third highest cumulative total
standard marks over a set number of subjects. Six ACG students were awarded first, second
and third places in New Zealand for Best Across Three, Four and Five subjects in AS and A
Levels.
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* Appendix
IGCSE
1st prize
2nd prize
3rd prize
IGCSE
Art & Design
Co-ordinated Sciences
AS/A Levels
Art & Design
Psychology
O Level
Music
Spanish Language
IGCSE
Drama
Business Studies
Design & Technology
First Language English
AS/A Levels
Art & Design: Painting
Art & Design: Photography
Art & Design: Printmaking
Business Studies
Classical Studies
Geography
History
History of Art
Law
Literature (English)
IGCSE
Accounting
Chemistry
Literature (English)
First Language English
AS Level
First Language English
Literature (English)
Music
Psychology
A Level
Art & Design: Painting
Last modified 24/02/2011
Top in New Zealand - 2002
Students
Tui Peters
Sarah Loh
Pia Andreassen
Top in the World - 2003
Students
Rebecca Hay
Patrick Kenny
Top in the World - 2004
Students
Zahra Zaiton
Timothy John Williams
Top in New Zealand - 2004
Students
Isla Crystal Mawera Karetai
Allyse Davies
Students
Kristina Letetia Francis Cavit
Allyse Davies
Chanel Hargrave
Allyse Davies
Students
Zahra Zaiton
Kelly Anne Geddes
Hsui Chi Joy Chang
Charles Gillard
Mark Andrew Taylor
Thomas Hugh Wright
Thomas Hugh Wright
Veronica Crockford-Pound
Sandra Shu Kwa Chau
Thomas Hugh Wright
Top in the World - 2005
Students
Lee Myong Ro
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
Frances Ann Clark and Du Jia
Frances Ann Clark
Students
Jessica Anne O’Connell
Ksenia Kovaleva
Emma Joyce King
Phoebe Isabel Roberston Molloy
Students
Guan Wei
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
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Psychology
O Level
Spanish Language
IGCSE
Accounting
Art & Design
Chemistry
Literature (English)
First Language English
Physics
AS Level
Art & Design: Graphic
Design
Art & Design: Painting
Art & Design: Photography
Art & Design: Printmaking
Classical Studies
English Language
Literature (English)
Music
Psychology
Spanish Language
Thinking Skills
A Level
Art & Design: Graphic
Design
Art & Design: Painting
Art & Design: Photography
Art & Design: Printmaking
Business Studies
Literature (English)
Mathematics
Psychology
AS Level
Business Studies
Classical Studies
Design & Technology
Mathematics
Mathematics
A Level
Art & Design
AS Level
Art & Design: Photography
Art & Design: Printmaking
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Nicola Jane Ring
Top in New Zealand - 2005
Students
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
Students
Lee Myong Ro
Lu Shi Yun
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
Frances Ann Clark and Du Jia
Frances Ann Clark
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
Students
Chen, Qinxin and Alex Popham
ACG Senior College
Agnes So
Nathan Charles Fenney
Jasper Jack Cooper
Grace Josephine Maria Couper
Jessica Anne O’Connell
Ksenia Kovaleva
Emma Joyce King
Phoebe Isabel Roberston Molloy
Allyse Davies
Robin William Kelly
Students
Sophie Louise Joyce
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
Guan Wei
Isobel Rose Scheltmann Dryburgh
Asia Nepia
Charlotte Yutong Yan
Jasper Jack Cooper
Hong Jae Beom
Nicola Jane Ring
Top in the World - 2006
Students
Christopher Stephen Dunlop
Frances Ann Clark
Melissa Brinsden
Na-Ryung Stella Lee
Sally Zhu
Students
Alex Popham
Top in New Zealand - 2006
Students
Leigh Elizabeth Van Duyn
Alexandra Grace Van Der Loos
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
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Biology
Chemistry
Psychology
Thinking Skills
Thinking Skills
A Level
Accounting
Art & Design: Graphic
Design
Mathematics
IGCSE
Design & Technology
AS Level
Art & Design
English Language
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
A Level
Art & Design
History
Thinking Skills
IGCSE
Art & Design
AS Level
Art & Design: Photography
Geography
Psychology
A Level
Art & Design: Photography
Economics
Literature in English
Physics
Psychology
IGCSE
Art & Design
Combined Science
AS Level
Business Studies
Design & Technology
Language and Literature in
English
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Bonnia Liu
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
Monica Ashley Davis
Martin Boulanger
Daniel Baruch Bar-On
Students
Kevin Lee
Alex Popham
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
Jonathan Edward Conder
Top in the World -2007
Students
Silpa Rup
Students
Yu- Cheng Jeffery Lu
Antony Vlug
Jun Seop Han
Mark Burrell
Hsin- I Angel Chang
Hye- Jung Flora Kwon
Chih-Han Tseng
Students
Kezia Milne
Frances Ann Clark
Christopher Church
Top in New Zealand -2007
Students
Sophie Chan-Andreassend
Students
Robin Murphy
Alexander J.C. Smith
Laura Kranz
Students
Miranda Davidson
Cecily Liu
Frances Ann Clack
Nicholas Geoffrey Willis Simmons
David Perl
Top in the World -2008
Students
Bo Kyoung Son
George Francis Dawson
Students
Edwin Dolbel
Rebecca Morter
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Parnell College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan
Christopher Graddon
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Strathallan
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
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IGCSE
Business Studies
History
AS Level
Art & Design (Photography)
Art & Design (Photography)
Psychology
A Level
Art & Design
Chemistry
History
Psychology
IGCSE
Biology
Geography
Physical Education
AS Level
Art & Design
Classical Studies
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
A Level
Chemistry
Thinking Skills
IGCSE
Foreign Language Spanish
AS Level
Accounting
Applied ICT
Art & Design (Photography)
Economics
Economics
Language and Literature in
English
Music
Psychology
Spanish Language
A Level
Art & Design (Photography)
Design & Technology
Psychology
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Top in New Zealand -2008
Students
Morgan Guinness
Alex Campbell
Students
Sharna Colebourne
Ethan Davidson
Elsje Marteke Wille
Students
Yu-Cheng Jeffery Lu
Angel Hsin-I Chang
Natasha Houghton
Laura Kranz
Top in the World -2009
Students
Amy (Yue) Xiao
Harry Clarke Alexander
Oliver Simon Brown
Students
Vito Nicholas
Taylor Matthews
Catherine Hsiao-Wei Hsu
Jung Shaan Lee
Yeun Joo (Liz) Yoo
Oliver Simon Brown
Students
Xinrui Qin
Mark Burrell
Top in New Zealand -2009
Students
Oliver Simon Brown
Students
Justin Cragg
Samantha Wakefield
Sam Aislabie
Chih-Han Tseng
Tian Jennie Yao
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Strathallan
ACG Strtathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Parnell College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Parnell College
ACG Colleges
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Parnell College
ACG Colleges
ACG Strathallan
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
Sebastian Norton
ACG Senior College
Elliot Hurst
Yeun Joo (Liz) Yoo
Scarlett Olasope
Students
Martin Graham
Silpa Rup
Kylah Drake
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Strathallan
ACG Strathallan
ACG Senior College
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High Achievement in Cambridge International - 2009
AS Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Japanese Language
Elisabeth Davis
ACG Senior College
A Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Art & Design (Printmaking)
Emma Weeber
ACG Senior College
Top in the World -2010
IGCSE
Students
ACG Colleges
History
Wyoming Paul
ACG Parnell College
Literature (English)
Alexander Ducat
ACG Senior College
Mathematics
Wei Wu
ACG Parnell College
Mathematics
Yung Chuen Koh
ACG Strathallan
AS Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Art and Design
Eun Bi (Mary) Chang
ACG Senior College
General Paper
Taylor Matthews
ACG Senior College
Literature in English
Catherine Hsiao-Wei Hsu
ACG Senior College
Physical Education
Oliver Simon Brown
ACG Parnell College
A Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Art and Design
Vito Nicholas
ACG Senior College
Business Studies
Gaia Church
ACG Strathallan
Psychology
Elisabeth Davis
ACG Senior College
Top in New Zealand -2010
IGCSE
Students
ACG Colleges
Art and Design
Eleanor Broome
ACG Strathallan
First Language English
Eleanor Broome
ACG Strathallan
AS Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Art and Design
Alisha Wheeler
ACG Strathallan
Chemistry
Amy (Yue) Xiao
ACG Senior College
Economics
Sharanya Sankaran
ACG Parnell College
History of Art
Edith Caroline Rosa Offner
ACG Senior College
Language and Literature in
Henry Fintan Witcomb Cahill
ACG Senior College
English
Music
Ray Hsiu-Juei Chang
ACG Senior College
Physics
Amy (Yue) Xiao
ACG Senior College
Psychology
Harriet Constable
ACG Senior College
A Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Art and Design
Tara Olivia Poole
ACG Senior College
Computing
David James Lawson
ACG Parnell College
Design and Technology
Jeannie Burnside
ACG Strathallan
History
Gaia Church
ACG Strathallan
High Achievement in Cambridge International - 2010
AS Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Environmental Management Jonathan Tolley
ACG Senior College
First Place in New Zealand 2010
AS Level
Students
ACG Colleges
Best Across Three Subjects Eun Bi (Mary) Chang
ACG Senior College
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Second Place in New Zealand 2010
Students
Catherine Hsiao-Wei Hsu
Oliver Simon Brown
Harry Clarke Alexander
Third Place in New Zealand 2010
AS Level
Students
Best Across Four Subjects
Amy (Yue) Xiao
A Level
Students
Best Across Three Subjects Vito Nicholas
AS Level
Best Across Three Subjects
Best Across Four Subjects
Best Across Five Subjects
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ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Parnell College
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
ACG Colleges
ACG Senior College
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