Chat with us
Welcome to Ask Crimson
Have a question about any aspect of education? Need answers? You’re in the right place - we have assembled a world-class network of experts, students and mentors who have been in your shoes and they are all at your fingertips.
Ask for advice?
KingCurry98
High School Insights
High School Exams
Nzqa Scholarship
Hi there, Does anyone have any advice for nzqa scholarship biology, English, art history, or classics? Particularly in raising scholarship answers to outstanding? Thank you!
jamie.beaton
High School Insights
High School Exams
IB or NCEA
Hello! I’m a year 10 student and thinking about whether I should take IB or NCEA. I haven’t thought about CIE as I’m conscious that the exams are all at the end of the year and I prefer the internal/e...
jamie.beaton
High School Insights
High School Exams
How well is HSC recognized at U.S. universities?
I imagine that university admission officers understand the system and what your score means but how does this understanding compare to other types of exams like IB and CIE?
jamie.beaton
High School Insights
High School Exams
AP'S VS SAT Subject Tests
Hi there Next year I am going into year 11 and I, unfortunately, do not have enough subject choices to choose all the subjects I would like such as History and Geography so I was planning on self stud...
deju.mikias567
High School Insights
High School Exams
Jamie Beaton's Advice for CIE english?
Hey Jamie, I know that you got top of the world in CIE english and I was wondering if you had any tips/advice or a specific way you prepared for the examination? Thanks!
hdscon
High School Insights
High School Exams
CIE Top achievement award
Normally what marks do I have to get to be top in NZ in AS Maths?
e.brownlie
High School Insights
High School Exams
Scholarship Biology
Hi, I am taking scholarship biology this year. I would really love to gain a scholarship as it is one of my best subjects and I have worked hard in it this year. Does anyone have any tips on how to se...
e.brownlie
High School Insights
High School Exams
NZQA Scholarship- Recommendation
Hey guys, Next year I will be in Yr 12 and I am considering doing several NZQA scholarship subjects (5 minimum). As I will be doing Yr 13 Calculus and Economics next year, I definitely want to attempt...
a.merchant
High School Insights
High School Exams
NCEA - Unit Standards
Hi there, I’m taking a subject which is mainly composed of unit standards (not achievement standards - able to get achieved, merit, excellence, but unit standards are only pass or fail, so highest gra...
tardis59
High School Insights
High School Exams
IB HL Maths
Hi I have been told by my school if I want to do the stats and probability option for HL IB maths then I have to teach myself. I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with this option and how hard ...
jamie.beaton
High School Insights
High School Exams
Jamie Beaton's Self studying tips
Obviously this question is directed at Jamie but if anyone else has any tips feel free to chime in! Hi Jamie, I’m a big fan of your advocacy for self study and you obviously achieved amazing results w...
jamie.beaton
High School Insights
High School Exams
NZQA Scholarship English
How should I study for this exam? Any tips for when you’re actually in the exam? also what’s the difference (in terms of quality required) between scholarship and outstanding scholarship. TIA
duncan.parsons
High School Insights
High School Exams
The advantages and disadvantages of AP credit
My school doesn’t offer AP. I can’t take it and I know little about it - can someone run through the pro’s and con’s of AP? Cheers!
HenryD
High School Insights
High School Exams
How do I know where I rank in scholarship exams?
Do they rank students who sit scholarship exams? What is the ranking based on? On marks, or number of scholarships?
e.brownlie
High School Insights
High School Exams
How beneficial is it to take NZQA Scholarship subjects?
Considering that results don’t come out until March, it’s likely that we won’t include it on our application as much so how important is it really? Should we focus our time into a EC? Also as a year 1...
victor.li
High School Insights
High School Exams
AP exams - how many to take?
AP exams - with current rat race for admission what is the minimum number that one should take to get into good university ? Also for UC ? Thanks !!
r.cahill
High School Insights
High School Exams
CIE English A Level
Hi I’m looking at self studying the CIE english A level this year. I’m a year 12 ncea student. Could anyone give me some tips or advice? I’m aiming for top of NZ levels if possible. Also as a strong ...
a.merchant
High School Insights
High School Exams
NZQA Scholarship statistics
Which Level 3 standards would I need to know, to prepare myself for scholarship statistics? Thanks!
anonymous68
High School Insights
High School Exams
NCEA disadvantages
Hi! So NCEA is seen as less rigorous than CIE/IB etc… is this more of a bad thing? or more of a good thing? Since maybe an IB student is seen to be stronger, but it’s probably easier to attain E endor...
duncan.parsons
High School Insights
High School Exams
How should NCEA students prepare/fight for a place in US/UK universities?
Like what are the steps we need to take to successfully gain admission to US/UK University
a.merchant
High School Insights
High School Exams
What is the rationale behind taking Level 3 in Year 12?
I know that some students take Level 3 NCEA when they’re in Year 12 - what’s the point, and is it a big challenge?
victor.li
High School Insights
High School Exams
How many APs should I do if I want to apply ED at a top US school?
I am going to take NZQA Scholarship exams and do the University of Auckland/Canterbury Young Scholars program (1st year university/scholarship level courses). If I plan to apply ED at a top US univers...
anonymous82
High School Insights
High School Exams
To take APs or not?
I’m doing NCEA which is obviously seen as less vigorous and may not be seen as much on an international scale? I’m planning to take around 4 NZQA scholarship subjects and doing the Young Scholars prog...
anonymous44
High School Insights
High School Exams
Is it worth taking NZQA Scholarship Examinations in Year 13 if you're applying to US colleges?
I am interested in applying to the US for university. Is there a point in taking scholarship examinations in Year 13 if scholarship results only come out in February? Will I be able to include this in...
r.cahill
High School Insights
High School Exams
Redeeming CIE Grades with Scholarship
I got an A (87%) for A level literature, but received NZQA Scholarships in English (2 marks off outstanding) and Meda studies (and others). Is there a need for me to further redeem my lack of an A* in...
b.gray
High School Insights
High School Exams
IAs and predicted score
Does the IA scores throughout the two yes if the the diploma course affect the final Predicted score. Is the predicted score of any importance apart from giving you an idea of how you are going ?
simonlee
High School Insights
High School Exams
What grades would one need to 'qualify' for HYPS type universities?
Is there a general rule of thumb like there is for SAT/ACTs (1500+/34+)?
victor.li
High School Insights
High School Exams
Can I apply to US Universities (Ex. NYU) with International Baccalaureate Math Studies?
Hello! I’m about to start the International Baccalaureate program in New Zealand and need to confirm my classes ASAP! I would like to major in economics or business in university, however, I’m a bit c...
victor.li
High School Insights
High School Exams
How are NCEA grades considered overseas?
For US, UK, and Australia, how are NCEA grades considered relative to the grading systems of those countries? For example, are Merits generally equivalent to Bs and Excellences to As in US? Are the sy...
a.tapper
High School Insights
High School Exams
How much do year 11/10 grades matter to top American universities
I have had all excellence results in both year 12 and 13 but I dropped the ball a little in year 11 and 10 before I became so focused on academics. When I say that I mean a mixture of merit and excel...
Some of Our Experts
Jamie Beaton
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford
Fangzhou Jiang
Stanford University, Australian National University
Li Li Tan
University of Oxford, University of Cambridge
Carolina Lyrio
Duke University
Our network of over 200 leading admission experts love to support students get into their dream schools... So ask away!
Community Guidelines
Golden Rule’s of Ask Crimson
- Be civil and respectful. Always be nice and avoid posting spam.
- Tell us a little about yourself. The description field is a great place to include some background information. To help our strategists or other contributors give valuable answers it helps to have some context.
- Don’t be shy! Our strategists and contributors are leading experts in college admissions that love to help students achieve their goals. So if you’re wanting to deepen your knowledge, ask a question here.
