The International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment has celebrated New Zealand’s top-performing students in Cambridge exams.
The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards recognises exceptional learner achievement in Cambridge IGCSE and AS & A Level examinations in over 40 countries around the world.
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For achievements in the 2025 academic year, 144 Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards were given to 122 students across 24 Cambridge schools, acknowledging their exceptional performance in the June and November 2025 examination series. Award winners include:
- 33 students who received a ‘Top in the World’ award which is granted to students who have obtained the highest marks in the world in a single subject. This is an increase from 2024, when 25 students obtained the same award.
- 58 ‘Top in New Zealand’ awards granted to learners who achieved the highest standard mark in the country for a single subject (two more than in 2024).
- 48 ‘High Achievement’ awards granted to learners who have achieved outstanding results in subjects which are not widely taken.
- Students received awards in 26 subjects in the June examination series and 48 subjects in the November series.
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This cohort is tied for the most-awarded Cambridge New Zealand group ever; previously, for the 2024 year, 143 students were also awarded, outstripping the 135 awards and 126 awards in the two years prior. Among the students being recognised are:
- Matthew Hyun-Joon Lee, Private Candidate – Best Across Five Cambridge IGCSE subjects in the June 2025 exam series.
- Kate Ye, ACG Parnell College – Best Across Five Cambridge IGCSE subjects in the November 2025 exam series.
- Owen Li Zhang, Auckland Grammar School – Best Across Four Cambridge International AS Level subjects in the November 2025 exam series.
- Xiyuan Chen, Hamilton Boys’ High School – Best Across Three Cambridge International A Level subjects in the June 2025 exam series.
- Taejeong Kim, Auckland Grammar School – Best Across Three Cambridge International A Level subjects in the November 2025 exam series.
Chris Wiggin, Senior Country Manager New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Islands at Cambridge, said every student who participated in the two 2025 examination series should be proud of their work.
“That the results in 2025 equalled those of the previous record-setting year is a testament to the effort, energy, and tenacity of these exceptional students.”
“We will honour them at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards and hope they can take time to reflect on all they have achieved.”
Worldwide, more than 215,000 students participated in the November 2025 exam series. The series is most popular with schools in the Southern Hemisphere due to its alignment with the academic year; there were more than 13,000 exam entries from New Zealand.
