IB Scholars Honoured at Government House

The success of some of New Zealand�fs finest young scholars was celebrated at the inaugural International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Top Scholars�f Awards Ceremony at Government House, Auckland on Wednesday night. The 450 students who completed the IB Diploma in New Zealand last year represented less than 1% of the participants worldwide. However, this small group has made its mark, producing impressive results in the demanding two�]year programme. 
 

The ceremony, hosted by His Excellency, Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor General of New Zealand and attended by top IB Diploma students, their families, IB Heads Caucus of NZ, School Heads and academic dignitaries from throughout the country, recognised their success and the recent growth of the IB in New Zealand. His Excellency addressed the guests and presented the awards.

Carla Boniolo (Kristin School), Harim Lee and Elynna Yang (St Cuthbert�fs College) and Karl Zhu (Auckland International College) received special recognition for each achieving a perfect score of 45 points in their Diplomas. A feat achieved by less than 0.3% of IB students world�]wide, they are, quite literally, top in the world. In addition, 55 other students were honoured for achieving in the top 5% in the world with scores of 40 or more points.

The IB Diploma is considerably more than a prestigious academic qualification. It is a rigorous preuniversity course of studies that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary school students between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Designed as a comprehensive two�]year curriculum, the Diploma Programme incorporates the best elements of many national education systems.

Consisting of six subject areas including native and acquired languages, social sciences, experimental sciences, mathematics and the arts, the Diploma programme is designed to be academically challenging and holistically balanced. In addition to their six chosen courses, students are challenged to broaden their educational experience through community service, self�]directed research (in the form of a 4000�]word

extended essay) and critical examination in the Theory of Knowledge.

Assessment for the IB Diploma is principally through a series of external examinations at the end of the second year of the programme. Each subject also has a component of externally moderated internal assessment, allowing for students to show their skills in areas of the course not easily tested in a traditional examination.

New Zealand Schools offering the IB Diploma programme include Auckland International College, Diocesan School for Girls, John McGlashan College, Kristin School, Nga Tawa Diocesan School, Queen Margaret College, Saint Kentigern College, Scots College, St Cuthbert�fs College, St Margaret�fs College and St Peter�fs School.