NCEA Update

Issue 3
- 05 Dec 2011

Issue 3 – December 2011

Level 1 Standards – Version 2

The Ministry has reviewed a number of the aligned Level 1 achievement standards as a result of feedback from users this year. The new versions (Version 2) of these standards were registered on 1 December 2011. Most of the changes are minor technical changes or improvements to clarify the standard.  Visit the subject pages of the NZQA website www.nzqa.govt.nz/subjects. Standards affected are:

Accounting: 90976, 90977, 90978, 90979, 90980, 90981, 90982

Chemistry: 90933, 90934

Design and Visual Communication: 91063, 91064, 91065, 91067, 91068, 91069

Digital Technologies: 91075, 91076

Geography: 91008

Health: 90974

Mathematics and Statistics: 91027, 91031, 91037

Science: 90947

The assessment resources and exemplars are not affected and remain valid.

Level 2 Standards registered and final assessment resources now available

The aligned Level 2 achievement standards have now been registered on NZQA's Directory of Assessment Standards for use.

The Ministry has also released "Final Published" assessment resources (activities and schedules) to support the internally assessed Level 2 standards. These assessment resources have been quality assured by NZQA moderators and have a new quality trademark - "NZQA Approved". These resources can be used with confidence by teachers. 

For the externally assessed Level 2 standards, sample examination papers, assessment schedules and associated documents are also now available.

Exemplars of student work (or NZQA generated 'expected responses') are also being finalised and will be published progressively, with all available by the end of the year.

For all these materials, visit www.nzqa.govt.nz/subjects.  Also see a recent QA News article about Level 2 assessment resources online.

Level 3 Standards

The Ministry is currently analysing the feedback for consultation on the draft Level 3 achievement standards.  This analysis will be used to inform improvements to the standards which will be published on TKI at the end of February 2012 as "Post consultation drafts".

Reminder that for 2012 the new Literacy and Numeracy requirements come into full implementation:

The new requirements for NCEA Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy will come into operation during 2012.

The new literacy requirement for 2012 onwards is a minimum of 10 credits through either:

• Achievement standards - Specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits), or
• Unit standards - package of three literacy unit standards (total of 10 credits - all three required).
• The new numeracy requirement for 2012 onwards is a minimum of 10 credits through either:
• Achievement standards - Specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects - (minimum total of 10 credits), or
• Unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards (total of 10 credits - all three required).

The lists of specified achievement standards have been updated to include aligned Level 2 achievement standards that are deemed to meet the requirements for NCEA Level 1. For more information, see the list of subjects and standards.

Literacy and numeracy resources have also been created and published.

Changes to external moderation for 2012

In October the Minister of Education announced some changes to NZQA's external moderation, including a reduction in the number of samples of student work to be moderated by NZQA and an increase in the number of Best Practice Workshops.  Other changes have also been made, for the full details view the circular.

Initiatives to reduce teachers NCEA Workloads

In October the Minister of Education announced some initiatives to address teacher workload issues highlighted to NZQA by the NCEA Workload Advisory Group. The support measures include: two teacher only professional development days in 2012 and a further two in 2013; additional assessment resources; changes to external moderation; and fees-free Moderation Best Practice Workshops.  For the full details view the circular. 

NCEA mythbusters

A new NCEA mythbuster has been published about Resubmissions. View NCEA myth-busters

Youth Guarantee - Vocational Pathways

The Youth Guarantee aims to increase the achievement and progression of young people in education.  It provides new opportunities and choices for students about how and where they study, and encourages different parts of the education sector and industries to work together in innovative ways to meet the needs of students.  The goal of Youth Guarantee is that all students achieve Level 2 NCEA and have a clear pathway to further education or employment.

As part of Youth Guarantee, five vocational pathways are being developed through a partnership between industry training organisations and the education sector. These will clarify the existing array of vocational options so students and their families can see the connection between what students learn at school and the broad areas of industry it can lead them.  The pathways will also help programme designers and careers advisers to put together learning options for students that are aligned with the needs of the workforce.

Five initial vocational pathways are being developed in the following areas:

• Manufacturing and Technology; 
• Construction and Infrastructure; 
• Primary Industries; 
• Social and Community Services;
• and Service Industries. 

Each pathway will:

• describe skills, knowledge, and key competencies valued by a broad sector of industry
• identify achievement and unit standards that recognise outcomes valued by the sector
• include a work and study map which outlines possibilities beyond school, in terms of jobs, careers, and study options.

The initial pathways will be released in draft form in early 2012, and there will be ongoing engagement with education and employer groups to ensure that these new pathways provide clear and relevant new options for students.

More info is avaible on the Ministry of Education website.

NZQA Secondary Circulars

The following NZQA circulars have been released since the last NCEA update:

Assessment Matters

SecQual