New Zealand students have been recognised amongst the world's best with the release f the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma results for 2011.

The stand-out results for New Zealand came from four students who achieved a perfect score of 45 - placing them in the top 0.2% of students worldwide.  These students were Carla Boniolo of Kristin School, Harim Lee and Elynna Yang from St Cuthbert's College, and Karl Zhu of Auckland International College.

The 450 students who completed the Diploma in New Zealan represented less than 1% of the participants worldwide, however, this small group have made their mark, producing impressive results in the demanding two-year programme.

Fifty five of the New Zealand students were awarded a total score of at least 40 out of 45 - placing them amonst the top 6% of candidates in the world.  As a group, the New Zealand contingent acahieved an impressive verage of 34 points - four points higher than the international average.

First introduced in New Zealand in 1986, there are 10 schools nationwide who currently offer the dual secondary qualification pathway of IB and NCEA. Students in Year 12 can elect to either complete the two-year IB Diploma Programme or to continue through with their NCEA Levels 2 and 3. The quality of the IB qualification is recognised by leading universities throughout the world and Kiwi students who complete the IB Diploma are regularly accepted into institutions in Australasia, Europe and the US, many on fully funded scholarship programmes.

Chairperson of the NZ IB Schools Heads Association, Peter Clague, is proud of the reputation New Zealand is developing as a leading country for IB study. “As more schools in New Zealand are taking up the International Baccalaureate programmes we are seeing a significant growth of interest from both the domestic and international markets. Families overseas are seeking to send their children to New Zealand to take advantage of our highly-regarded learning environment.  At the same time, New Zealand parents are recognising the power of an internationally renowned qualification in the current economic climate and the opportunities that become available in the world’s leading institutions upon graduation."

The IB Diploma consists of six subject areas including native and acquired languages, social sciences, experimental sciences and mathematics and the arts, and 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.

The ISNZ Member Schools that offer the IB Diploma include Kristin School, St Cuthbert's College, Scots College, Queen Margaret College, St Margaret's College, Diocesan School for Girls, Saint Kentigern College, St Peter's School, Cambridge.  The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is offered at Chilton Saint James School, Diocesan School for Girls, Kristin School, Queen Margaret College, Scots College, St Mark's Church School, Selwyn House School.