The Qualifications Authority has announced changes that will make the University Entrance standard slightly tougher.
The changes were recommended last year and will affect school leavers wanting to enrol in university in 2015.
They will align UE with level 3 of the NCEA, giving students in their final year of school a clearer target to aim for.
The authority doubts many students will miss out on UE because of the changes.
It says only 5% of school leavers who get UE do not also get level 3 and that is usually because of the subjects they chose to study.
School leavers will also need 14 credits in three approved subjects as well as 10 level credits proving their numeracy and 10 level two credits proving their literacy.
