SecQual

Mathematics Common Assessment Task for Level 1 AS91027 in 2011
S2011/028 - 05 Jul 2011

Mathematics Common Assessment Task for level 1 AS91027 in 2011

This circular provides information about:

• Nomination of day(s) schools will assess the Mathematics Common Assessment Task (MCAT)
• Provision of examination booklets
• MCAT Administrative Information for Schools.
  
  

Information about the MCAT was provided in Assessment Matters circular A2010/024, 7 December 2010.

Nomination of schools’ MCAT day

The MCAT is to be assessed in schools during the three day period Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 September 2011. Candidates will have one sixty minute examination session to complete the assessment. It may be impractical to assess all students on a single day in a large school. Schools may, therefore, choose to hold the assessment on a single day, or to hold sessions on two or three days within the three day period.

NZQA requires all schools to:

• nominate which day(s) they will hold the MCAT
• specify the number of examination booklets (including any te reo Māori booklets) required on each day. The total number of booklets requested should match candidate entries in the 1 August data file submission to NZQA.

Schools should complete and email the Nomination of MCAT Assessment Day form to examinations@nzqa.govt.nz by no later than 10 August 2011.

Provision of MCAT examination booklets

Printed examination booklets will be sent to schools by 13 September. They will arrive in brown boxes addressed to the Principal’s Nominee. Each box will have a ‘Private and Confidential’ label on it.

The Principal’s Nominee must ensure the boxes are kept secure, as for any examination materials, and ensure the MCAT Administrative Information for Schools has been read before receiving the materials.

Electronic versions of the examination papers will also be published online on the NZQA schools’ secure web site, the afternoon prior to each assessment day from Monday 19 September.

• Schools may not hold the MCAT outside of the 20 - 22 September period.
• Schools may not use an exam paper on other than its intended day. If a school changes their MCAT assessment day, they will be able to download the examination paper for that day from the secure web site, and print their own copies.
• If a school fails to inform NZQA of their nominated MCAT day, they will not receive printed examination papers, and must download the examination paper for the appropriate day from the secure web site and print their own copies.
• If schools have late entries, they may download the electronic version and print extra copies.
• Students may not be given more than one opportunity to sit the MCAT.

Administrative Information for Schools

MCAT Administrative Information for Schools is now available on the NZQA Mathematics and Statistics resource page. This includes:

• An overview of the MCAT
• Details of the assessment materials
• Administering the MCAT
• School policies required to manage absence and/or breaches of NZQA Assessment and Examination Rules and Procedures
• Instructions for marking and recording provisional and final results
• Submitting work for verification
• Appeal of results
• Supervision guidelines.
  
  

Enquiries

Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to:

Lyall Prestidge
National Assessment Faciliatator
Secondary Examinations
Telephone: 04 463 3000
Fax: 04 463 3113
Email: lyall.prestidge@nzqa.govt.nz