Human Computer Interaction

Demonstrate understanding of usability in human-computer interfaces 

Digital Technologies | Level 1 | AS 92006 (1.3) | 5 Credits 

*** The NZQA exam is on Thursday 26th November 2026, AM ***

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computer systems, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the interaction between humans and machines. HCI is concerned with studying how users interact with technology, understanding their needs, and creating user-friendly interfaces that facilitate efficient and satisfying experiences.

How well do you know and understand the usability principles so far.?

Take this quiz to find out Year 11 - Usability Principles Checkpoint Quiz

How are you progressing?

Take this quiz to find out Year 11 - Mātāpono Māori and Usability Quiz

Practice 1 – Air New Zealand HCI Investigation

Guided practice using a live interface

Use the Air New Zealand HCI Revision Worksheet to apply what you have learned to a real interface.

This task will help you practise:

• identifying usability principles in a real interface

• explaining why a feature helps or hinders users

• considering different users and accessibility needs

• distinguishing between error prevention and error recovery

• applying mātāpono Māori to usability

• suggesting and justifying improvements

• writing an extended exam-style response

Practice 2 – Practise with the 92006 Revision Gem

Use the 92006 Revision Gem to practise applying your HCI knowledge to exam-style questions. 

You do not need to upload any documents to get started. The Gem already knows the content you need for 92006.

It can help you practise:

• Nielsen’s usability heuristics

• commonly confused principles, such as Error Prevention vs Error Recovery

• internal and external consistency

• accessibility

• Mātāpono Māori and usability

• explaining how an interface feature affects a particular user

• comparing interfaces

• suggesting and justifying usability improvements

• short-answer and extended-response questions

Use the Gem to target the areas you are least confident with and keep practising until you can explain your reasoning clearly without prompts. 

2026

• Assessment specification

2025

• 2025 92006 Assessment Report

• 2025 92006 Assessment Schedule

• 2025 92006 Excellence Exemplar

• 2025 92006 Merit Exemplar

• 2025 92006 Achieved Exemplar

• 2025 92006 Blank Assessment Booklet

Further Assessment Reports, Assessment Schedules and Exemplars

In the drop downs below you will find more previous years with the Assessment Report, the Assessment Schedule and any exemplars NZQA provided. 

Term 3, Week 8 & 9 - Check when your class is timetabled (11DTE, 11DTG, 11DTT, 11DTP)

Complete the full derived grade examination under exam conditions.

Treat this as your first complete 92007 exam attempt, not the end of your revision.

The feedback and result from this exam will help you decide what to focus on before the final examination in November

Task 4 - Review Your Derived Grade

Use your derived grade response and teacher feedback to work out what you need to improve before the final exam.

Ask yourself:

• What did I do well?

• Where was my evidence strong and specific?

• Which question or area was hardest for me?

• Did I identify the correct usability principle?

• Did I explain WHY the feature helped or hindered the user?

• Did I use a specific feature or interaction as evidence?

• Did I clearly identify the user or task affected?

• Did I confuse any similar usability principles?

• Were my answers concise and focused on the question?

Then identify whether you need to work on:

• recognising and correctly naming Nielsen’s usability heuristics

• distinguishing commonly confused principles, such as:

  • Error Prevention vs Error Recovery

  • User Control & Freedom vs Flexibility & Efficiency

• explaining how and why an interface feature affects usability

• using specific interface evidence rather than general statements

• linking usability to a particular user, task or purpose

• explaining internal and external consistency

• applying accessibility to a wider range of users and needs

• applying relevant Mātāpono Māori to interface design and usability

• comparing how the same usability principle is used in different interfaces

• suggesting a specific improvement and justifying why it would improve usability

• writing concise short answers without repeating yourself

Task 5 - Targeted Revision with the Gem 

Use the 92006 Revision Gem to practise the areas identified from your derived grade feedback.

Start a new Gem chat. Upload your derived grade response and teacher feedback if you have them, then paste:

I have completed my 92006 derived grade exam and now want targeted revision for the final exam. Use my response and teacher feedback to identify the most important area I need to improve. Focus on that area first. Give me new 92006 exam-style questions and make me attempt each answer before giving feedback. Do not write answers for me. Pay particular attention to whether I identify the correct usability principle, use specific interface evidence, explain WHY the feature affects the user, and justify any improvements I suggest. Keep track of principles I confuse and revisit them later. When I am consistently showing enough understanding, tell me I am ready to move to the next area. 

Then, as you revise:

• focus on one area at a time

• practise both short and extended answers

• use specific interface examples

• explain the effect on the user, not just what the feature looks like

• revisit principles you commonly confuse

• use your teacher feedback to decide what to practise

• keep working until you can answer without relying heavily on prompts

Do not redo everything. Focus on the areas that will make the biggest difference to your final exam response.

E. Final Exam Checklist 

Before Thursday 26th November

• I know which interface I have studied and can recall strong examples from it.

• I can correctly identify and explain the main Nielsen usability heuristics.

• I can distinguish between similar principles, especially:

  • • Error Prevention / Error Recovery

    • User Control & Freedom / Flexibility & Efficiency

• I can explain internal and external consistency using interface examples.

• I can discuss accessibility for a range of different users and needs.

• I can explain and apply relevant Mātāpono Māori to usability.

• I can identify a specific interface feature and explain HOW it works.

• I can explain WHY that feature helps or hinders a particular user.

• I can use specific evidence rather than vague statements such as “it is easy to use”.

• I can compare how usability principles are implemented across different interfaces.

• I can suggest a specific interface improvement and justify why it would improve usability.

• I can answer both short and extended response questions.

• I know when a brief answer is enough and when I need more explanation.

• I have reviewed my derived grade feedback and targeted my weaker areas.

• I know how to access the digital examination.

Final exam: Thursday 26th November 2026 - AM

• Read exactly what the question is asking.

• Name the usability principle accurately.

• Use a specific feature or interaction as evidence.

• Identify the user or task affected.

• Explain WHY the feature affects usability.

• When suggesting an improvement, explain exactly what should change and why.

• Avoid repeating the same point in different words.

• Use clear headings, spacing or paragraphing when it helps organise your response.

• Keep your total response within 800–1200 words.

• Leave time to revise your ideas first, then edit for accuracy.

Past Videos

Here are some of the past videos from the previous HCI standard.