SecQual

Clarification of the Literacy and Numeracy Requirements for NCEA Level 1 in 2011 Transition Year
S2011/018 - 04 May 2011

Clarification of the Literacy and Numeracy Requirements for NCEA Level 1 in 2011 Transition Year

There have been a number of requests to clarify the pathways to meet the Literacy and Numeracy requirements for 2011. The NCEA Level one qualification is about to be released and will define the requirements.  However, greater clarification is needed concerning the fact that the new achievement standards in two subjects, English and Mathematics and Statistics, can count towards either requirement (the ‘new’ or the ‘old’) in the transitional year (2011).

The requirements under the ‘old’ 8 credits are:

Literacy – 8 credits from any combination or one of:

• Unit Standard 1277, 2989, 25060 or 10792
• Any achievement and unit standards in sub-field English  
• Any achievement and unit standards in sub-field Reo Maori

NOTE: This definition means that the new achievement standards in English and Te Reo Māori can count towards the 8 credit literacy requirement in 2011.

Numeracy - 8 credits from any combination or one of:

• Any achievement and unit standards in sub-field Mathematics
• Any achievement and unit standards in sub-field Statistics
• Any achievement and unit standards in domain Pāngarau

NOTE: This definition means that the new achievement standards in Mathematics and Statistics can count towards the 8 credit numeracy requirement in 2011.

The requirements for the ‘new’ 10 credits are:

Literacy – there are two pathways

1. Through all three literacy unit standards 26622, 26624 and 26625
2. Through new achievement standards across a range of subject areas (as listed on the NZQA website): a minimum of 10 credits from the list of achievement standards which meet the literacy requirements for NCEA level 1

Numeracy – there are two pathways

1. Through all three numeracy unit standards 26623, 26626 and 26627
2. Through new achievement standards across a range of subject areas (as listed on the NZQA website): a minimum of 10 credits from the list of achievement standards which meet the numeracy requirements for NCEA level 1

A list of the NCEA Level 1 achievement standards for literacy and numeracy is published on the NZQA website.

Some scenarios for further clarification

1. A student gains 6 credits from the old literacy unit standards (for example, 25060) and 4 credits from a new English achievement standard.
   Yes, under the old 8 credit system this student will achieve the literacy requirement (but they will not meet the new 10 credit rules).
2. A student gains 3 credits from an old literacy unit standard (for example, 1277) and 7 credits from the new literacy unit standards.
   No, the student does not meet either the:
   • 8 credit system because the new literacy unit standards are not in sub-field English.
   • New 10 credit system because all three new unit standards are required.
   (Note this is an example of where you cannot ‘mix-and-match’ old unit standards and new unit standards.)
3. A student gains 4 credits from the new English achievement standards and 4 credits from another new achievement standard nominated as having literacy (e.g. Geography 91008).
   No, the student does not meet the 8 credit literacy requirement from subfield English and will need an additional 2 credits in order to meet the 10 credit literacy requirement from designated “Literacy” achievement standards.
4. A student gains 8 credits from the new English achievement standards.
   Yes, under the old 8 credit system this student will achieve the literacy requirement because they have met the requirements to achieve 8 credits in subfield English.
5. A student gains 3 credits from an old literacy unit standard (for example, 1277) and 8 credits from new achievement standards on the literacy list, but not from English.
   No, the student does not meet the 8 or the 10 credit literacy requirement.
   
   (Note this is an example of where you cannot ‘mix-and-match’ old unit standards and new achievement standards methods.)
6. A student gains 6 credits from the old Mathematics unit standards (for example, 8489, 8490 and 8491) and 4 credits from a new Mathematics and Statistics achievement standard (e.g., 91026).
   Yes, under the old 8 credit system this student will achieve the numeracy requirement (but they will not meet the new 10 credit rules).
7. A student gains 3 credits from an old Mathematics unit standard (for example, 5240) and 7 credits from the new numeracy unit standards.
   No, the student does not meet the:
   • 8 credit numeracy requirement because the new numeracy unit standards are not in sub-field Mathematics.
   • new 10 credit numeracy requirement because all three new unit standards are required.
   (Note this is an example of where you cannot ‘mix-and-match’ old unit standards and new unit standards.)
8. A student gains 4 credits from the new Mathematics and Statistics achievement standards and 4 credits from another new achievement standard on the numeracy list (e.g., Biology 90925).
   No, the student does not meet the 8 credit numeracy requirement and will need an additional 2 credits in order to meet the 10 credit numeracy requirement.
9. A student gains 8 credits from the new Mathematics and Statistics achievement standards.
   Yes, under the old 8 credit system this student will achieve the numeracy requirement because they have achieved 8 credits from subfield Mathematics or Statistics.
10. A student gains 2 credits from an old Mathematics unit standard (for example, 5226) and 8 credits from new achievement standards on the numeracy list, but not from Mathematics and Statistics.
    No, the student does not meet the 8 credit or the 10 credit numeracy requirement.
    
    (Note this is an example of where you cannot ‘mix-and-match’ old unit standards and new achievement standards methods.)
11. A student gains 11 credits from three new achievement standards on the numeracy list (e.g., Biology 90925, Media studies 90989, and Geography 91011).
    Yes, the student meets the new 10 credit numeracy requirement.

Enquiries

Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to:

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