Strong analytical skills have seen Aquinas College's Daniel De Mel named New Zealand's top Year-11 student in the 2010 annual ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments For Schools ) science test.
The success will see the Oropi teenager receive a University of New South Wales Medal at an awards ceremony in Auckland
in December.
ICAS tests designed for the relevant student level are available in various subjects and tackled by hundreds of thousands of students in Australia and New Zealand each year.
All year 7, 8 and 9 extension class students at Aquinas College take them compulsorily, and they are optional from Year-10 onwards. Students from dozens of other schools round the country also take part.
This year's Year-11 science test involved 40 questions covering the full range of science disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and natural science), often requiring detailed knowledge of more than one to answer correctly.
"We were offered four possible answers to each question and had to choose one," says Daniel. "They were not exactly trick questions. But there was generally at least one answer suggested that was almost right but not completely. They certainly made you consider problems very carefully and got harder as you went through."
Daniel was only advised last week that he had topped New Zealand in his group, and has not been given a mark as such. However he understands he made two mistakes.
Teacher Joanne Macowan says her prize-winning student has a great analytical mind and can pull together knowledge from several areas of study in a logical manner that 'only comes along once in a while.'
She is thrilled by his achievement. Scientists may wish to know the medal he is to receive is made from zinc alloy and plated with 22ct gold.
And genealogists may be interested to know Wellington-born Daniel has a Sri Lankan father, a Scottish mother and his surname is believed to have come from a Portuguese ancestor.
"Along with my grandparents we are the only people in New Zealand with the family name," he says.
Daniel, whose first love among science disciplines is physics, plans to study engineering with a focus on robotics when he completes college. College staff are beginning to wonder if the name Daniel has some special significance. Last year another Aquinas student, Daniel Hughes, topped the country in an ICAS maths test.
