NCEA: Results
How and when will I get my results?
In October, you will be able to log on to the NZQA website and see what internally assessed results your school has sent to NZQA.
In late January, you’ll get provisional results, an NQF Results Notice from this year for both internal and external assessment. This will include standards achieved and standards not achieved.
If you sat Scholarship exams your results will be sent to you in February.
When you leave school, you’ll also receive a School Results Summary, listing all the standards you’ve attempted and the results, including not achieved results.
Record of Achievement
Each year around April, you’ll be sent a Record of Achievement (formerly called the Record of Learning). This records all standards achieved during your time at school.
A summary of your qualifications and achievement will be listed at the top of your Record of Achievement. Standards are then grouped according to related areas of study. Your Record of Achievement has a lot of information on it.
The standards you achieve each year will be added to your Record of Achievement. You can continue to add to it once you leave school and complete new qualifications or undertake workplace training.
You can access your Record of Achievement on the NZQA website and also order a paper copy.
Can I appeal my results?
If you have a question about your internal assessments, your school has a process for sorting this out. You’ll get this information in writing, so keep it handy. Your teacher can tell you how the result was reached. If not, your school will tell you who to talk to next.
You can ask NZQA to review results from most external assessments after you get your results next year. You will be given detailed information about how to do this by NZQA.
How will my results be recognised when I leave school?
NCEA and other national certificates are recognised by employers, and used as the benchmark for selection by universities and polytechnics. There are requirements for University Entrance (see page 4) based on a common standard. Independent research has shown that performance in NCEA is a good indicator of success at first-year university.
Your Record of Achievement details your achievements in a way that should be readily understood by employers and tertiary education providers.
Will an NCEA be useful if I go overseas?
NCEA is New Zealand’s national school-leaver qualification, readily accepted overseas, including by universities.
New Zealand has qualification recognition agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom and New Zealand qualifications are accepted for most purposes in the United States. NCEA is included in the publication International Qualifications for Entry into Higher Education, which is used in the UK and internationally for tertiary entrance and selection. Level 3 NCEA is broadly equivalent to English A Levels and Australia’s Higher School Certificate.
NCEA level 3 results are used in the Interstate Tertiary Index used for entrance to all Australian universities. If you give permission on your entry form, NZQA will electronically send your results to Australian authorities early in January.
If you are an international student studying in New Zealand, you should discuss your tertiary education plans with your teachers. They will help you plan the appropriate study at school.
What does a Record of Achievement show? 
Page updated: 31 January 2002