This circular is published to provide information about Scholarship

Languages Scholarship, cassette tapes will not be supplied from 2009

8 May 2009 - SC2009/004

In response to feedback from schools requesting the ability to use more readily available and higher quality voice recording technology, from this year schools will be able to supply their own CDs/tapes and packing materials for recording the oral component of a Languages Scholarship examination. NZQA will therefore no longer be supplying tapes. This brings Languages into line with other subjects that have an oral or visual submission component.

NZQA will supply pre-printed sticky labels to be affixed on to the outside of CD/cassette cases to identify candidates' submissions. These will have printed on them:

• the candidate's NSN,
• the exam centre number,
• the exam code,
• subject and level,
• the date and session of the examination,
• a space for the candidate to sign to confirm they have heard their voice on the recording.

As a result of this change, schools will now be able to submit oral performances on an audio CD which provides a higher quality recording capability than the previously supplied cassette tapes. Schools may continue to use cassette tapes if this is the most feasible recording medium available to them.

Examination Administration

The Supervisor will be required to:

• state the candidate's NSN at the start of the oral recording
• write the candidate's NSN, exam centre number and exam code directly onto the CD or tape using permanent marker
• play some of the completed recording back to ensure it has been recorded
• ensure that the candidate:
  • signs the pre-printed label to confirm they have heard their voice on the recording (if it cannot be heard, the recording will have to be repeated)
  • checks that their NSN is correctly written on the CD/tape itself
  • checks that the CD/cassette case has the correct sticky label
• put the CD/tape into the correctly labelled case.

Enquiries

A PDF copy of this Circular is available for download.

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Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to your School Relationship Manager.

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Previous circulars

• 003 - 3 April 2009 - Changes to Drama Scholarship 2009
• 002 - 3 April 2009 - Scholarship Assessment Specifications
• 001 - 3 April 2009 - Scholarship Agricultural and Horticultural Science

Archive of previous circulars