NCEA Info
Here is all of the essential NCEA Information that you need to know. All NCEA related forms e.g. missed assessment form, withdrawal from a course etc. can be found on your year group Google Classroom.
On the NZQA website, under 'Subjects' you can find information about the standards, assessment schedules, past exam papers, exemplars, marking schedules, cut scores and more. This is a great resource.
NCEA levels and certificates
There are three levels of NCEA certificate, depending on the difficulty of the standards achieved. At each level, students must achieve a certain number of credits to gain an NCEA certificate. Credits can be gained over more than one year.
Requirements:
Level 1
80 credits are required at any level (level 1, 2 or 3) including literacy and numeracy. Schools can explain the literacy and numeracy standard pathways they are using.
Level 2
60 credits at level 2 or above
+ 20 credits from any level
The Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements must also be met.
Level 3
60 credits at level 3 or above
+ 20 credits from level 2 or above
From 2014 the Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements must also be met.
Credits gained at one level can be used for (or count towards) more than one certificate. They may also be used towards other qualifications. For example, unit standards in the domain 'generic computing' might be used towards a Level 2 NCEA certificate, as well as towards a National Certificate in Computing (Level 2); or 20 credits gained at Level 1 can also count towards a Level 2 NCEA certificate.
For more information: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/understanding-ncea/how-ncea-works/ncea-levels-and-certificates/
NCEA endorsements
Recognising high achievement with 'endorsements'
When students perform consistently above the 'Achieved' level, their result(s) can be 'endorsed' to reflect that high achievement. This can occur at either the Certificate or individual course level.
Certificate endorsement
For an NCEA certificate to be endorsed with Excellence a student must gain 50 credits at Excellence at the level of the certificate or above. So, if a student has 50 Level 1 credits at Excellence they may have their Level 1 certificate endorsed with Excellence. Likewise, if a student gains 50 credits at Merit (or Merit and Excellence) at Level 1 their NCEA Level 1 certificate may be endorsed with Merit. Endorsement awards show on the Record of Achievement.
Course endorsement
Course endorsement provides recognition for a student who has performed exceptionally well in an individual course.
Students will gain an endorsement for a course if, in a single school year, they achieve:
14 or more credits at Merit or Excellence, and
at least 3 of these credits from externally assessed standards and 3 credits from internally assessed standards. Note, this does not apply to Physical Education, Religious Studies and level 3 Visual Arts.
A course endorsement is not a qualification.
A course endorsement can be awarded even if a qualification for that level is not achieved. For example, a student may achieve a Merit endorsement for their Level 2 Mathematics course regardless of whether they achieve NCEA Level 2. Scenarios may assist with further understanding.
For more information: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/understanding-ncea/how-ncea-works/endorsements/
University Entrance
University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to go to a New Zealand university. You achieve this through your NCEA standards.
To qualify you will need:
NCEA Level 3
Three subjects - at Level 3, made up of:
12 credits each, in three approved subjects
Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
5 credits in reading
5 credits in writing
Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
achievement standards – specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or
unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required).
Credits can be accumulated over more than one year.
When an applicant does not qualify for University Entrance to a New Zealand university, they may be eligible for Discretionary Entrance.
See Universities New Zealand - Discretionary Entrance for more information.
Rank Score
Rank score is only important for NCEA Level 3 as it is relevant to university applications. See this link for how rank score is calculated and here is a rank score calculator.
How NCEA Exams Take Place
Make sure you are familiar with the exam procedures, time and location.
Time
Morning exams start at 9:30am and afternoon exams start at 2:00pm.
The admission time is 20 minutes before the exam time (9:10am or 1:40pm), when you will enter the exam venue. Aim to arrive at school around 20 minutes before the admission time.
You cannot leave the exam venue in the first 45 minutes and last 15 minutes.
If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the exam has started, you will not be able to sit the exam or enter an exam room.
Exams lasts for 3 hours.
Location
Exams usually take place in the hall or in nearby classrooms.
There will be an on-screen timer or a supervisor will keep track of the time on the whiteboard.
What to Bring to Exams
Exam slip
Clear pencil case with stationery (no red or green pens and correction tape)
NCEA approved calculator (and spare batteries) if needed
Clear water bottle (no labels)
Optional emergency evacuation pack
In a clear, sealable plastic bag
Must be put under your chair
Can include: phone (switched off), keys, bus pass, medicines
Banned Items
Do not bring the following items into an exam room unless sealed in the emergency evacuation pack:
Blank paper or refill paper
Correcting fluid
Books, written notes or electronic notes
Cell phones or pagers
English dictionaries, foreign language dictionaries, or te reo Māori dictionaries or translators
Watches of any type (digital or analogue)
Any electronic device which has the capability to store, communicate and/or retrieve information except approved calculators.