NCEA is the most common form of assessment used for students in Years 11-13 in New Zealand's secondary schools. An in-depth information guide regarding NCEA can be found at https://www.rosmini.school.nz/Academics-1/Understanding-NCEA
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 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.
These examinations will be run as close to the end of year NCEA examinations as possible and you should familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations below.
Arrive at least 15 minutes before the examination starts
Wear full school uniform - including correct footwear
When instructed, quickly lineup in single file lines according to your examination
If you are bringing a calculator into the examination,it will need to be reset and checked by the examination supervisor as you enter the examination
Students with special assessment conditions should wait at the front to meet with their supervisors
Turn out your pockets and roll up your sleeves
Ensure you do not have any banned items, as listed below, and your pens etc are in a clear plastic bag
Banned items - Do not bring the following items into an examination room
Blank paper or refill paper
Correcting fluid
Books, written notes or electronic notes
Cell phones
Dictionaries or translators
Any electronic device which has the capability to store, communicate and/or retrieve information except approved calculators
Watches - digital or analogue
During the examination
At all times, listen to and follow the instructions of the supervisor
If you have a problem, you should put your hand up
Do not borrow equipment from someone else
Do not talk to, communicate with, or do anything to disturb other students
Do not read or copy another student's work
If you need to use the toilet, raise your hand and ask the supervisor
You cannot use the toilet during the first 45 minutes and the last 15 minutes of the examination
Only one person at a time may use the toilet
You must use the Auditorium toilet
You must sign in and out on the sheet provided
Scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top students. It does not attract credits or contribute towards a qualification but the fact that a student has gained a Scholarship appears on their Record of Achievement.
The Scholarship examinations enable students to be assessed against challenging standards at Level 4 in each subject. Scholarship students are expected to demonstrate high-level critical thinking, abstraction and generalization, and to integrate, synthesise and apply knowledge, skills, understanding and ideas to complex situations.
Ms Kemble, Deputy Headmaster – Curriculum, coordinates Scholarship entries while each Head of Department is responsible for the Scholarship programme.
University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement for you to qualify for entrance to a university in New Zealand.
To qualify you need:
NCEA Level 3
14 credits at Level 3 in each of 3 subjects from the list of approved subjects
10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or higher
10 Literacy credits (5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing) at Level 2 and above from specific achievement standards
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/approved-subjects/
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/literacy-requirements-2/
It is also important that you check the entry criteria for the tertiary institution or course you want to study as some universities have their own specific entry requirements in addition to those above.