Top in the World

Seventy-four students were presented with awards in front of a packed auditorium at Auckland Grammar School on Thursday 19th February.

The awards were for exceptional performance in the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in November 2008.

Over 300 parents, friends and supporters gathered for the Annual Brilliance in NZ CIE Awards Ceremony.

Forty-five awards for Top in the World were made and 40 for Top in NZ.

Five brilliant students won multiple awards, with Stephen Mackereth, a year 11 student from King’s College, achieving particularly outstanding results.

As well as gaining Top in the World in IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and English Literature (equal), he also gained Top in the World in AS Level Mathematics, a qualification usually sat by year 12 students.

Stephen also gained Top in NZ in IGCSE Physics and AS Level Spanish Language.

The awards ceremony was jointly hosted by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and the Association of Cambridge Schools in NZ (ACSNZ).

Di Palmer, director of assessment at CIE, travelled to NZ specially for the awards ceremony and presented the awards to students.

John Morris, chairperson of ACSNZ, was enthusiastic about the results of the 2008 examinations.

“These are fantastic results. NZ should be proud of these outstanding students who have shown they can compete with the rest of the world and come out on top,” he said.

Arkesh Patel from Westlake Boys’ High School, who was Top in the World for A Level Biology, spoke on behalf of the award winners.