Derived grade guidelines

1. The overriding principles for the award of a derived grade are:
   • fairness to the applicant and to all other candidates
   • whether the candidate was able to perform on the day of the examination to the level of actual measured performance during the school year based exclusively on pre-existing standard-specific evidence held by the school.
2. Applications must refer to events of a medical or non-medical nature that have clearly had an effect on the candidate during the examination or prevented the candidate from attending the examination.
3. Significant conditions or events in the month prior to the start of the examination period that interfere with preparation for the examination might be accepted, as well as temporary illness or trauma occurring during the actual examinations.
4. Candidates suffering a temporary illness, trauma or other serious event should be encouraged to sit the examination and apply for a derived grade if they consider their performance was compromised. If the application is approved, the best result will be awarded.
5. Where a candidate suffering a temporary illness, trauma or other serious event does not sit the examination, a derived grade may be applied for where independent professional evidence is produced showing that a serious situation on the day of the examination, and beyond the candidate's control, made it impossible for them to sit the examination.
6. The temporary illness, trauma or other serious event must be of a significant nature. Applications will not be granted on grounds such as minor ailments, stress due to examinations, parents being on holiday, or day-to-day family disturbances. Contact your School Relationship Manager if you have any questions.
7. Where a candidate does sit the examination but believes that some temporary illness, trauma or other serious event occurred to impair their examination performance, a derived grade may be applied for.
   Events occurring on the day of the examination must be independently verified and reasons for their alleged impact on performance clearly described.
   Events occurring in the period immediately prior to the examination may be relevant if they impaired the candidate's ability to prepare adequately or has a significant residual effect on the day of the examination. The applicant must clearly demonstrate that effective preparation was not possible in the week before the examinations and provide evidence that they were under continuous and well-documented care by a registered professional. Discuss with SRM, if necessary.
   Unique circumstances as approved by NZQA, such as selection for national representation preventing attendance at an examination(s) must be supported by appropriate documentation (eg. copy of letter from the national body sent to SRM for approval.)
8. The following conditions alone are not acceptable grounds (except as outlined below) for a derived grade application:
   • long-term and ongoing illnesses and conditions (e.g., physical disability, epilepsy, depression, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders)
   • chronic relapsing conditions (e.g., glandular fever, ME)
   • ongoing personal trauma.

   These are usually managed through SAC. However, an application might be appropriate if there is a sudden change in a managed chronic condition/illness which impairs a candidate's ability to perform on the day of the examination to the level they have been able to perform in that standard during the year. For example, a change in medication might cause a documented and observable change in the way that a chronic condition/illness is managed and have a clear and observable effect upon the candidate. In this case, the impairment is deemed to be temporary and can be dealt with through the derived grade process in the normal way with an appropriate detailed report by a registered professional.

   Candidates suffering from long-term or recurring conditions will have to accept that their results will be affected because the ongoing effects of their condition may have compromised their performance throughout the year.