Scholarship results released

18 February, 2009

Scholarship results for almost 9000 students who sat exams at the end of last year have been posted and will reach candidates from today (18 February).

Results will also be available this afternoon to students via secure login on the NZQA website: www.nzqa.govt.nz

Of 8996 students entering Scholarship exams, 2038 students will receive a total of more than $3.2 million over the next three years, ranging from a one-off payment of $500 (for single subject exam pass) to $30,000, to be paid over three years, for a Premier Award. (See details of monetary awards.)

This year 10 students will receive the Premier Award, which is restricted to the very top 5-10 students in the country.

A further 47 students will receive the Outstanding Scholar Award, worth $5000 per year for three years (as long as candidates maintain at least a 'B' grade average in tertiary study in New Zealand).

Details of individual Premier and Top Scholar Award winners will be made public at the Top Scholar Awards ceremony in May.

Competition is tight for Premier and Outstanding Scholar Awards. A total of 19 candidates met the minimum criteria for consideration for a Premier Award, with the final 10 awardees achieving at least four Scholarships at "Outstanding" level (see mark range). The remaining nine students receive Outstanding Scholar Awards.

A further 59 candidates met the minimum criteria for consideration for Outstanding Scholar Awards. The final 47 awardees either achieved at least two Scholarships at "Outstanding" level plus at least one Scholarship, OR one Scholarship at "Outstanding" level plus at least four Scholarships.

A new Scholarship subject, Te Reo Rangatira, was introduced in 2008 - five Scholarships and one Outstanding Scholarship were achieved.

The Scholarship process is overseen by an independent advisory group, the Technical Overview Group Assessment. Group chair Professor Hawke said there were extraordinarily high levels of achievement by top candidates sitting Scholarship in 2008.

"The group was also impressed with the high standard of the material being produced by candidates outside the very top group," he said. "It is clear that Scholarship is having a positive effect in driving motivation for students, and impressive work is being put in at schools across all subjects."

In the 2008 Scholarship exams:

• 10 students received Premier Awards
• 47 students received Outstanding Scholar Awards
• 35 students achieved Scholarship in five or more subjects
• English was the most popular Scholarship subject, with 1735 entries and 344 achieving Scholarship and 58 achieving Scholarship at "Outstanding" level.

For more information contact:

Steve Rendle/Angela Perez
Communications
NZQA
DDI: 04-463-4240
Mobile : 0274-575783