Assessment and Certification Rules and Procedures for Secondary Schools - 2008

6.1.3 Special Assessment Conditions

1. Candidates with permanent or long-term conditions or learning difficulties which they believe will significantly impair their performance in specified external assessments and in particular written examinations, may apply to The New Zealand Qualifications Authority for special assessment conditions in the current year (for example, a time allowance, modifications to question and answer booklets, or the use of an examination assistant such as a reader/writer).
   
   
2. Applications must be supported by documentary evidence of the need for special assessment conditions, be from a suitably qualified, independent registered professional, be no more than three years old and have been reported during the candidate's time at secondary school.
   
   
3. Where schools are unable to provide evidence from an appropriate source (such as a registered NZCER level C assessor) The New Zealand Qualifications Authority must be notified before applications for Special Assessment Conditions open. In extenuating circumstances alternative documentary evidence held by the school may be submitted to the Qualifications for consideration before applications close. Applications made under these circumstances will be considered against the same criteria as those relating to an appeal.
   
   
4. Special assessment conditions are not available for externally assessed achievement standards for Technology, Graphics, and Visual Arts, and those standards for which special assessment conditions are specifically excluded.
   
   
5. In approving applications for special assessment conditions in the current year The New Zealand Qualifications Authority uses two main criteria
   
   
   1. Candidates identified as having permanent or long-term conditions such as
      
      
      • physical disability which impacts on their learning
      • sight impairment which impacts on their learning
      • hearing impairment which impacts on their learning
      • medical conditions which are long-term illnesses which impacts on their learning
      • significant proven specific learning difficulty which impacts on their reading and/or writing and their learning.
      
      
   2. Candidates who have
      • already been diagnosed as requiring special assessment conditions assistance by a suitably qualified and registered professional
      • an up-to date report by an independent registered professional which establishes that the candidate has the intellectual capacity to perform in assessments but is held back by a specific learning difficulty
      • received ongoing support from their schools.
        
        
6. Students must be receiving on-going support in both teaching and learning and assessment to manage their learning difficulties during their time at secondary school. Schools must be able to detail the specific on-going programmes of learning support they provide for students identified with significant learning difficulties. These must be provided in accordance with the school's policy for any internal assessments and school-based examinations and also for the Graphics, Technology and Visual Arts externally assessed standards. School policies are monitored by The New Zealand Qualifications Authority as part of the Managing National Assessment systems check.
   
   
7. Schools are not to apply for special assessment conditions in situations where there is an exclusion of assistance (see below) or where the integrity of assessment would be compromised by reducing the validity and reliability of assessment.
   
   
8. Before making an application for special assessment conditions, the school should consider the candidate's record.
   
   
9. An annual needs analysis is to be conducted at the beginning of each school year to determine whether the candidate should continue with the assessment conditions previously offered, or whether changes should be made. Schools are to review annually the efficacy of the support provided and make appropriate decisions about the number and nature of standards to be assessed.
   
   
10. Schools must make online applications for special assessment conditions each year by the date notified.
    
    
11. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority reserves the right to amend and/or decline applications which do not meet these criteria.
    
    
12. Approval of special assessment conditions in one year does not necessarily mean that approval will be given in subsequent years.
    
    
13. A school may appeal in writing to the Chief Executive against a decision made by The New Zealand Qualifications Authority relating to Special Assessment Conditions within 14 days of the date of the notification of the decision.
    
    
14. The Chief Executive may allow or dismiss the appeal or vary the conditions approved, and that decision will be final.
    
    
15. Each year a selection of schools will have their special assessment policies and procedures audited by The New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
    
    

Special Assessment Conditions Commonly Approved	PDF	Word
Special Assessment Conditions Applications	PDF	Word
Exclusions of Assistance	PDF	Word
Guidelines for Examination Assistants	PDF	Word
Record Keeping for Special Assessment Conditions	PDF	Word

Last updated: 01 February 2008