NCEA: What else should I know?
Flexible, personalised learning
Secondary school qualifications |
Today's assessment systems mean schools can run shorter courses, combine different levels, and link with industry and local business to run courses in a broader range of subjects. This means that all schools can offer programmes to suit particular students and everyone is encouraged to achieve and be successful at school.
How do I enter?
All students must enter for assessment through an 'accredited provider', usually a secondary school or area school, or wharekura. If you're not enrolled at a school - for example, if you are home-schooled - you'll need to find a school which will make your entry.
Your school will be asked to send entries to NZQA during the year. You'll be able to make changes to your entries, if necessary, later on. Your school will tell you when you need to finalise your entries and pay your fees to them.
During the year you can log on to the NZQA website and check your entries and personal details.
How will my work be assessed?
Each standard is either internally assessed by your school during the year, or externally assessed. Most external assessments are by exam at the end of the year, although for some subjects you will submit a portfolio.
How will I know what to do to achieve a standard?
The 'For learners' area on the
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As you learn a new skill or topic your teachers will explain to you what is going to be assessed and how well you'll need to perform.
Your teachers can provide feedback while you are learning to tell you if you are on the right track or advise on how to improve your work.
There's also a secure part of the website where you use your National Student Number (NSN) and password to log in. If you have not logged in before, you must first register to generate a password. This enables you to access information NZQA holds about you including your Record of Achievement.
How will I know that my internal work is marked at the same standard as other schools?
During the year, all schools have samples of their internal assessments in each subject area checked by NZQA's independent moderators.
The information is returned to your teachers and principal, so they know they are applying the national standard correctly.
What happens if I don't achieve a standard?
For externally assessed standards, there is only one assessment opportunity each year - the exam or other external assessment at the end of the year. If you do not achieve a standard, your school may allow you to repeat the course the next year.
For internal assessment, your school may allow you to be assessed again later during the year. For some standards, your school may delay your assessment until the final term, taking into account most of your year's work.
Remember that your teachers will be working hard to help you achieve each standard. They'll tell you what you need to do, how far you are from achieving each standard, and give you feedback on how to improve your work.
Can I use te reo Māori for assessments in other subjects?
You can take most external assessments in te reo Māori. Talk to your school about this when you first make your entries, so NZQA can arrange to provide you with an examination paper in te reo Māori.
If I did not get the NCEA qualification I was aiming for last year, what are my options this year?
You do not have to achieve a level 1 or level 2 qualification before you study at the next level. Any credits you earn this year can be used toward your level 1 or level 2 qualification. At the same time you can begin work that will count for the next level up. This means the credits you earn may contribute to more than one qualification at the same time. You may study some courses at a higher level than others, or you may even attempt some standards within a course at a higher level. Your school will discuss what courses of study will best suit you and your situation.
Is NCEA the only qualification I can aim for at school?
No. NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 are just three of the 1,000 national qualifications on the NQF. Your school may offer tuition for some of these other qualifications. Examples are areas like childcare, sport, tourism, computing, electrical engineering, and business management. Some qualifications can be completed at school, such as the National Certificates in Computing, Employment Skills, Hospitality, Mathematics, Retail and Travel & Tourism. Others you may have to start at school, and then finish in the workplace or at a tertiary provider.
Any courses you take this year with a tertiary provider and any time you spend in workplace training may also lead to credits. Any specialist unit standards that you achieve from these assessments also contribute to your NCEA qualifications. Your work might count for more than one certificate at the same time. Talk to your teachers about this.
| Talk to your school about how to build your senior programme. | As you collect credits for NCEA, you can also be banking credits towards other National Certificates. |
