Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)


Cambridge International Examinations (CIE): 2021 school-leaver cohort qualifying for UE only
To recognise the disruption caused by COVID-19, Universities New Zealand has made the following changes to the Cambridge international entrance standard for the 2021 school-leaver cohort:


     * A reduction from 120 points to 110 points in the NZ CI tariff needed for UE (this would effectively reduce the need in one subject being offered for UE to be a Grade E (40-49%) instead of a Grade D (50-59%).
     * Students in Auckland be entitled to 2.5 additional UE Tariff Points for every 10 points they achieve through assessment in the 2021 school year, subject to a maximum of 30 points.
     * The remainder of the UE standard would apply as normal, including the Literacy and Numeracy requirements.

University Entrance

You are qualified for admission to university if you have obtained:

  • a minimum of 120 points on the UCAS Tariff at A or AS Level from any syllabuses in the table, which are broadly equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects for NCEA
  • and a D grade or better in syllabuses from at least three different Syllabus Groups in the table (excluding Thinking Skills).

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE): 2020 school-leaver cohort qualifying for UE only

Applicants completing CIE University Entrance in 2020 only must obtain:

  • a minimum of 110 points on the UCAS Tariff at A or AS level from any syllabuses in the table, which are broadly equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects for NCEA, and
  • a D grade or better in syllabuses from at least two different syllabus groups (excluding Thinking Skills) and one E grade or better in another syllabus group in the table.

Plus the literacy and numeracy requirements below.

For the literacy and numeracy requirements, you will need:

Literacy, either An E grade or better in any one of AS English Language, Language and Literature in English, Literature in English. A D grade or better will satisfy one of the syllabus requirements of Part A.
Or As prescribed for university entrance with NCEA.

Numeracy, either (i) A D grade or better in IGCSE or GCSE mathematics, or (ii) Any mathematics passed at AS level. A D grade or better will satisfy one of the syllabus requirements of Part A.
Or As prescribed for university entrance with NCEA. 

Admission to your chosen qualification

The Preferential Entry Score from CIE, for the majority of undergraduate qualifications, is 140 points. The CIE rank score for a New Zealand university applicant is calculated using the UCAS Tariff for the best 6 subject units at AS or A level, provided that no more than two subject units are included from any one syllabus group in the table of available syllabus groups, which are broadly equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects for NCEA. 

(1 AS level = 1 subject unit; 1 A level = 2 subject units)

Your rank score will be calculated by:

  • identifying a maximum of six subject units from your last two years of study, at AS, A2 or A level, from subjects on the approved list;
  • using the UCAS Tariff to calculate points for these subjects based on grades achieved, on the basis of the table below.
Level
 A+
A
B
C
D
E
A
 140
120
100
80
60
40
AS
 n/a
60
50
40
30
20

If you have passed more than six subject units, the subjects with the best level of achievement will be used to calculate the rank score. If you achieve fewer than six subject units, the score will be based on those you have achieved. 

A subject passed at A level counts as two subject units.

Subject
Level
Subject
Units
Grade
Rank Score
English
A
2
C
80
Mathematics
A
2
D
60
Accounting
AS
1
B
50
Economics
AS
1
B
50
Geography
AS
1
B
Not counted
in best six
subject units
Total 240

Page authorised by Director, Student Administration
Last updated on Thursday 16 December 2021