Derived Grade applications in Christchurch

01 Dec 2011

A separate Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade process has been established by NZQA to meet the situation faced by students impacted by the Christchurch earthquakes. This process was established in association with Christchurch secondary schools.

NZQA has now received final applications from 37 Christchurch schools for Earthquake Impaired Derived Grades.

A derived grade is awarded to an individual student for an individual standard. A school will make a derived grade application based on the evidence they have of a student’s performance in the particular standard during the year. This evidence will probably be from mock exams or topic tests.

These applications are made on behalf of students by their schools, where the school believes the individual student’s exam performance may have been impaired by the earthquake.

Each school determines which of their students meet the NZQA criteria for Earthquake Impaired Derived Grades.

NZQA will only process these derived grade applications when: 

• the student has genuinely attempted the exam
• the school has evidence to support each student’s proposed grade 
• the school supports the student’s claim that they were impaired by the earthquake.

NZQA will run checks on Derived Grade applications to ensure that no errors or anomalies are processed.

NZQA will then award the higher of the two grades from either the grade recommended by the school or the grade actually achieved in the exam.

NZQA is aware that not all schools in the Christchurch designated area have found it necessary to apply for an Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade for their students.

Further information about the Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/publications/newsletters-and-circulars/secqual/eq-impaired-derived-grade/