Westlake student Cambridge exam world beater

Jason Dong topped the world in his Cambridge biology exam. Photo / Richard Robinson

Jason Dong had forgotten his pencil, glasses and watch - so he wasn't feeling too confident about the results of his biology exam.

But the Year 11 Westlake Boys student not only managed to pass the Cambridge exam, he beat candidates from 160 countries to be ranked "top in the world" in the subject.

"I had to borrow a pencil from a friend about two minutes before the exam. I didn't have my glasses, I couldn't see the time so I had to borrow a watch and that exam was really rushed.

"It was probably the hardest exam that I had done and I was thinking going out of [it], 'This is such an awful exam', and now I'm standing here surprised that I got top in the world for biology - it's very amazing."

And if topping biology wasn't enough, Jason also topped the world in chemistry and maths (without coursework) and topped New Zealand in business studies.

He has earned the First Place - Best Across Five Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) award. It will be presented at a ceremony next month when Cambridge's top achievers, including 32 students who got the highest marks in the world and 35 who topped New Zealand in single subjects, will be recognised.

About 50 NZ schools participate in the international exams, which hit the headlines last week when Auckland Grammar said around 90 per cent of its Year 11 students would take Cambridge courses this year instead of the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA).

Westlake Boys headmaster David Ferguson said about 40 per cent of his students took the Cambridge pathway but there were no plans to follow Grammar's lead and increase that.

He was full of praise for Jason and said it was great he also had time for other activities, including violin, badminton, basketball, debating, singing and the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

Other schools to do well included King's College, Macleans College, Auckland Grammar and the ACG group.

ACG Senior College had six students who came Top in the World and 13 who topped New Zealand.

Principal Kathy Parker said she was "unbelievably proud", especially since students in ACG schools earned 32 Top in the World or Top in New Zealand placings.

Cambridge spokesman Simon Higgins said there were some great results this year and he was proud to congratulate students throughout the country on their outstanding results.

RESULTS

Cambridge IGCSE (Year 11)

First place for best across five subjects - Jason Dong (left), Westlake Boys.

16 students topped the world in their subjects.

Cambridge International AS level (Year 12)

First place for best across five subjects - Shan Jun Chang, King's College.

First place for best across four subjects - Robert Zhang, Auckland Grammar.

First place for best across three subjects - Mary Chang, ACG Senior College.

Nine students topped the world in their subjects.

Cambridge International A level (Year 13)

First place for best across three subjects - Stephen Mackereth, King's College.

Nine students topped the world in their subjects.