Pleasing NZQA Scholarship Results 2012

The results of the NZQA Scholarship examinations have just been released and we are pleased to report that 28 of our students gained a total of 44 Scholarships across a wide range of subjects of which 8 were classed as ‘Outstanding’.

In particular, we offer congratulations to our highest performing students. Sam Gilmour (IB) and Joe Lu (IB) both gained an overall ‘Outstanding Scholarship Award.’ Only 54 students in New Zealand received these awards worth $5000 per year for three years of tertiary study.  Sam was awarded four Scholarships of which two were Outstanding and Joe Lu was awarded three Scholarships, with two being Outstanding.

Our next highest performers were Sally (Ji-Young) Park (NCEA) and Rosalie Liu (NCEA) who both received an overall Scholarship Award  - awarded to only 224 students in New Zealand and worth $2000 for three years. Both girls were awarded three Scholarships.

At the time that NCEA was introduced, the former University Scholarships were replaced by the NZQA (New Zealand Qualification Authority) Scholarship Awards. For those blessed with outstanding academic ability, a Scholarship represents the pinnacle of academic achievement for senior secondary students. At Saint Kentigern College, our students (including IB Diploma students where their course content is similar) are selected to sit these demanding examinations in addition to their other end of year external examinations.

Scholarship exams are rigorous, requiring high level abstract thinking and the application of knowledge and ideas to complex situations. NZQA’s intention is that 3% of the total number of Year 13 students in the country sitting Level 3 in each of the 27 available subjects will be awarded a Scholarship, provided Scholarship standards are met. Of this top 3% nationwide who gain a Scholarship pass, a small number, equating to approximately 0.5% nationwide will be accorded an Outstanding Scholarship

There is great monetary incentive for students to aim to achieve in these exams. New Zealand students who do well in Scholarship gain substantial monetary awards. A Scholarship in just one subject receives $500, as a single payment. All the other awards result in payments spanning three years of successful tertiary study, provided a B average is achieved.
 Specifically:

• Top in a subject is worth $2000 a year for three years
• Scholarship Award winners receive $2000 a year for three years
• Outstanding Scholarship Award winners receive $5000 a year for three years