S2009/024 - 03 August 2009

Change Proposal for 2009 Compassionate Consideration Process

In response to feedback from schools, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is proposing to change the method of establishing grades when a candidate has been granted compassionate consideration.

A response to this proposal is sought by 31 August 2009.

The previous method used for awarding compassionate consideration required three reference candidates as benchmarks. Problems reported to NZQA include:

• small schools or classes not being able to find sufficient reference candidates
• the need to ensure that reference candidates all attended the exam and attempted the paper to the best of their ability
• a lack of transparency and credibility in how the grades are established and also how the results are reported
• that it relies on the performance or non-performance of other candidates
• that there is no standard specific evidence available for checking.

The proposed changes are:

1. The process will be renamed the ‘Illness & Misadventure’ process in keeping with international conventions.
2. The outcome will be renamed a derived grade.
3. NZQA will publish guidelines on who should apply for ‘Illness & Misadventure’ using the same criteria as currently used for compassionate consideration applications.
4. Schools will recommend a derived grade to NZQA for the candidate based exclusively on pre-existing standard-specific evidence of achievement such as mock exams, formal tests, etc held in the school’s SMS.
5. NZQA will check the validity of reported grades and quality assurance processes as part of its other school review visits and reports.
6. Any derived grades reported will be annotated on any results information reported by NZQA for reasons of transparency.

Your feedback is appreciated and we would request that this is received no later than Monday 31 August 2009. This can be completed on the form provided here:

CC Consultation
Schools Liaison
NZQA
PO Box 160
Wellington 6011

or:

schoolsliaison@nzqa.govt.nz

Enquiries

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Previous circulars

• 023 - 10 July 2009 - Managing Examination Clashes
• 022 - 3 July 2009 - New Rules & Procedures for Further Assessment Opportunities
• 021 - 3 July 2009 - Format of 2009 examination papers
• 020 - 11 June 2009 - 2009 National School Qualifications - Examination Centre Manager Recruitment
• 019 - 5 June 2009 - Special Assessment Conditions
• 018 - 26 May 2009 - NCEA Brochures
• 017 - 8 May 2009 - Fees and Financial Assistance - 2009
• 016 - 8 May 2009 - Alignment of Standards with the NZ Curriculum - Update
• 015 - 1 May 2009 - Top Art folio exhibition - full venue listing
• 014 - 1 May 2009 - Assessment Reports for the 2008 NCEA and Scholarship Examinations
• 013 - 29 April 2009 - 2009 National School Qualifications: Candidate Information Sheets
• 012 - 24 April 2009 - Memorandum of Agreement and Rebates for National Qualifications
• 011 - 3 April 2009 - New Statistics Online for Schools
• 010 - 30 March 2009 - Top Art folio exhibition on tour
• 009 - 27 March 2009 - Update: Assessment Specifications for the External Assessment of Levels 1, 2 and 3 Achievement Standards and Scholarship for 2009
• 008 - 13 March 2009 - Draft Guidelines for Further Assessment Opportunities
• 007 - 13 February 2009 - Survey of Teachers - NCEA External Assessments 2008
• 006 - 30 January 2009 - Feedback on the 2009 Top Art Touring Schedule
• 005 - 30 January 2009 - Key Dates for National Secondary School Qualifications 2009
• 004 - 30 January 2009 - School Information Collection 2009
• 003 - 30 January 2009 - Circular Distribution: Proposal to discontinue hard copy distribution
• 002 - 16 January 2009 - 2008 National Qualifications Framework Results Release
• 001 - 9 January 2009 - 2009 Examination Timetable

archive of previous circulars