From time to time statements are made publicly by people who seek to discredit CIE. These are usually based on inadequate knowledge of CIE. The information below addresses some of the common misconceptions made.

If you have a question about CIE or the books which Cambridge Educational Resources represents in New Zealand, please submit these and we will endeavour to provide answers that clarify the situation.

1. CIE are "UK qualifications" and are thus inappropriate for New Zealand students!

Like the International Baccalaureate CIE is an international examination. One has its headquarters in the UK and the other in Switzerland. Both are intended for use worldwide rather than in the country in which they are domiciled. A common misconception is that the CIE and the UK systems are the same. In fact they are significantly different in many respects. Comments in the UK media such as "A levels are becoming too easy," do not apply to CIE. Indeed CIE is generally accepted as a more rigorous qualification and this has recently led to an increasing number of UK schools preferring to offer CIE. The following extract about IGCSE is from Dulwich College’s web site: "It is an examination which is recognised by every university in the world, is often more exacting than the British standard and is being taken by an increasing number of schools which find the current standard not demanding enough for their pupils."

Both UK and CIE A levels consist of AS and A2 courses. However in the UK each of these levels is made up of several modules (equating to the papers involved). UK students may resit module instead of a full set of AS or A2 papers as required by CIE. CIE courses usually have a wider course content at AS level than their UK equivalent with greater in depth work at A2 level.

A key component of the CIE system, run through the University of Cambridge International Examination , includes participation of New Zealand teachers in support networks and training programmes and the development of localised content for the courses: e.g New Zealand authors such as Katherine Mansfield in AS English and artists in Art History.

2. New Zealand students should be studying courses written for New Zealand students!

CIE syllabi are designed for the international market, not the UK. There are of course some subjects which are essentially international such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology and course content varies little, irrespective of the country or the qualification system.

In a subject such as English, many of the literary works studied have long been accepted as part of the heritage of the English-speaking world - Shakespeare falls into this category - and as such are worthy of study in any country. There is also a desire to include indigenous literature in such study. CIE has responded to this by the inclusion of New Zealand works. Katherine Mansfield’s work is already included, while a recently published CIE anthology includes the works of four New Zealand poets. Subjects such as Geography and Art provide opportunities for using local examples and works as part of the course. CIE also permits courses to be developed specially to meet New Zealand requirements. New Zealand History is an AS course that can be taken alongside other course options in History. Such courses are developed, examined and marked in New Zealand while course approval and moderation is carried out by CIE.

3.CIE is a norm-referenced qualification - standards based qualifications are now more appropriate!

CIE is not a norm referenced qualification - it is in fact a standards-based qualification. At AS and A level it is based on a six grade system - A through to E and Ungraded, and IGCSE has nine grades. Standards are maintained by the use of experienced examining panels while statistical processes ensure comparative standards are maintained in grades set, both between subjects and within a subject.

4. CIE is a "third world" qualification!

The University of Cambridge has offered international examinations for more than 150 years. Originally these were established in response to the needs of the expatriate community from UK who were living and working in other parts of the world, particularly as the British Empire spread across Asia and Africa. As the government in many of these countries shifted to the local people it was not surprising that many countries preferred to adopt an established system rather than set up their own. To suggest this a third world qualification is misleading. The University of Cambridge established the course to ensure the high calibre of its international students wishing to attend.

5. CIE is pushing to get into the New Zealand market to boost its funds!

CIE has policy of not advertising or promoting its examinations. It is also a not for profit organisation. The number of students taking CIE qualifications in New Zealand has led to the CIE to appoint a local representative to support existing CIE schools and to provide information to schools seeking a possible relationship.

6. CIE schools are concerned about league tables and promoting themselves, and hence prefer old fashioned examinations rather than on-going assessment.

Judgements about league tables and schools promoting themselves are not confined to any group of schools. Regular news about NCEA successes testifies to the fact that all schools are concerned about how their students perform and should be performing. Results also provide a source of comparative feedback to schools- not just between schools but also from year to year within a school.

To suggest that schools have taken up CIE for snobbish reasons is both demeaning and incorrect. The primary focus for any school should be on the needs of its students and on improving their achievement. CIE schools are no different to others in this respect - they have simply made a different decision about the qualification they believe is most appropriate for their students. Many CIE schools report higher levels of motivation and improved work attitudes.

7. CIE is only about external written examinations!

While end of course written external examinations are standard in most CIE subjects, they are not the only form of assessment. Practical examinations are common in science subjects while internally assessed work is also included in some. Other forms of assessment include portfolios assessed externally while speaking and oral tests are standard in foreign language assessment. CIE has a strong commitment to electronic support of teachers and students and it is currently looking at forms of electronic marking and examining. It continues to put considerable resources towards the use of technology in improving the delivery and assessment of its courses.

8. CIE qualifications are not recognised overseas!

CIE qualifications ARE accepted WORLDWIDE on the same basis as the UK. University of Cambridge International Examinations’ international A and AS levels satisfy the entry criteria for every university around the world and are equal in value to UK A and AS Levels.

They are recognised by universities in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, UK, including Oxford and Cambridge and throughout the European Union as equivalent to qualifications such as the French Baccalaureate and the German Abitur. In the United States A and AS levels are accepted by all the Ivy league universities such as Harvard and can earn students university course credits up to one full year of credit.

The Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) in the UK has ruled that CIE qualifications should be accepted on an equal basis with UK qualifications. Similar standards apply in other countries and Australia. This information has been supplied by the Association of Cambridge Schools in New Zealand (Inc). The ACSNZ website www.acsnz