The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is the main qualification for secondary school students in New Zealand.
NCEA is recognised by employers, and used for selection by universities and other tertiary education providers in New Zealand and overseas.
Watch the following video that explains how NCEA works.
Each year, you study courses or subjects.
Achievement in each subject may be assessed through several standards, with each standard covering a specific set of skills and knowledge. For example, a Science standard is: Investigate implications of electricity and magnetism for everyday life.
Schools use internal and external assessments to measure how well you meet these standards.
When you achieve a standard, you gain credits. You must achieve a certain number of credits to gain NCEA.
There are 3 levels of NCEA. In general, students work through levels 1 to 3 in years 11 to 13 at school.
Achievement at each level or in a course is recognised with endorsements.
Find out how many credits you need and about the 3 levels of NCEA:
Find out more about endorsements
While most of the way NCEA works will remain the same, what is needed to attain NCEA will change over coming years. These changes are designed to make NCEA more accessible and equitable, and to make sure students with NCEA are ready to enter tertiary study or work.
Read about the changes to NCEA requirements on the NCEA website:
NCEA Levels 2 and 3 open doors to tertiary study and training.
Some tertiary providers also look for University Entrance (UE) as a sign that you are ready for tertiary study, and UE is the minimum requirement to go from school to a New Zealand university.
Read more about University Entrance
Find out more about tertiary study overseas with NCEA and UE:
Applying to study overseas with NCEA
Study at NCEA Level 2 aims to provide the basic level of knowledge and skills required for employment.
Vocational Pathways can help you move from NCEA Level 2 to work.
Read more about Vocational Pathways
When applying for a job, you can create a summary of your results from your New Zealand Record of Achievement (NZRoA) and paste it into your curriculum vitae (CV) or job application.
To do this:
Log in to view the NZRoA using your National Student Number (NSN).
Choose to view a selection of items.
Copy and paste the information into your CV document or the job application.
New Zealand Scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top secondary school students.
It is designed to challenge even the best students and allows candidates to show deep understanding of a subject.
NZ Scholarship is separate from NCEA and is assessed through a different set of exams or portfolios.
Entering NZ Scholarship does not earn credits towards NCEA, but if you are awarded a Scholarship it appears on your Record of Achievement.