Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

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).

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.

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.

Page authorised by Director, Student Administration
Last updated on Friday 02 October 2020