SecQual

Derived Grade Applications 2011
S2011/045 - 04 Oct 2011

Derived Grade applications for 2011

A derived grade may be awarded to a student who is unable to sit examinations or submit materials for external assessment, or who considers that their performance in an external assessment has been impaired by exceptional circumstances beyond their control. A grade awarded by the school, based on standard-specific evidence, is submitted to NZQA for processing.

Process for 2011

It is expected that schools are familiar with the information about the Derived Grade process for 2011. This information includes guidelines, scenarios and the derived grade application form. The application form now has a cover sheet to assist schools to manage and sign off applications prior to making them online.  To assist with decision making there has also been an addition to the scenarios that reads:

Candidate applies for a Derived Grade for a standard where the grade held by the school is Not Achieved.
Apply. The candidate is the applicant and specifies the standards being applied for. The school is obliged to report the grade based on standard-specific evidence for each standard listed in a candidate's application.

Applications are to be made online via the school’s high-security login. This opens on 1 November and closes on 7 December.

• Derived grade applications for AS91027 MCAT, held in September, are made through the high security login.

• Visual Arts Level 3 has a separate derived grade process which is explained in the Visual Arts Derived Grade (DOC, 102KB) application form. 

• A derived grade is not available for Scholarship.

• NZQA has communicated separately with Christchurch schools about derived grade applications.

• Further information about derived grades for students affected by the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and now attending schools outside of Christchurch will be available in a SecQual circular soon.

Enquiries

Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to your School Relationship Manager:

School Relationship Manager
School Quality Assurance and Liaison
Telephone: 04 463 3000
Fax: 04 463 3113
Email: firstname.lastname@nzqa.govt.nz