English Language and English for Academic Purposes qualifications

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About these qualifications

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) qualifications are intended for learners of English as an additional language.

These qualifications are available to all parts of the English language sector including secondary, tertiary and the community. They're available for permanent and temporary residents, and international students.

Current reviews

Review of New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL), English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English Language unit standards, 2022 to 2023

The review of English Language qualifications and standards planned completion date is by 31 December 2023.

Purpose of the reviews

The purpose of the English language qualifications and unit standards reviews is to make sure they: 

  1. are fit for purpose and still relevant to current and future learners
  2. meet the needs of migrants, former refugees, international students, and the wider community
  3. meet current New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Rules.

Directory of Assessment Standards Listing and Operational Rules 2022

NZQF Qualifications Listing and Operational Rules 2022

Consultation on the suite of qualifications for New Zealand Certificate in English Language 

NZQA National Qualifications Services is consulting on proposed amendments to the current suite of NZCEL qualifications, which includes four newly drafted qualifications. 

Please visit our consultation page for more information:

New Zealand Certificate in English Language Qualifications Review

Contact

To receive email updates on reviews please contact us on:

nqs@nzqa.govt.nz

Completed reviews

2016 to 2017: Review of English Language qualifications

Read details of the review in the report:

Review of English Language qualifications 2016-17 [PDF, 123 KB]

New Zealand Certificates in English Language guiding document

The New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL) guiding document has guidance for programme designers and teachers to support consistent assessment practice.

Guidance includes:

  • NZCEL pathways
  • conditions related to the assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
  • sufficiency statements to indicate text type, text length and vocabulary level
  • language skill and control descriptors for each NZCEL qualification level
  • types of discourse for academic, general and employment contexts
  • unit standards aligned to the NZCEL qualifications
  • relevant website links, for example, links to English Language descriptors and frameworks.

Download the NZCEL Guiding Document [PDF, 460 KB]

Resources

English Language assessment standard reviews

Information on revisions and reviews

Go to standard review page

English for Academic Purposes standard reviews

Information on revisions and reviews

Go to standard review page

English for Academic Purposes assessment support material

Get guidance and resources to teach English Language

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English Language assessment support materials

Get guidance and resources to teach English Language

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Guidelines on consistency reviews

Find consistency review guidelines, resources and schedule

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Guidelines on programme approval

How to get a qualification programme approved, accredited and registered

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2017 NZCEL Landscape

Download map of New Zealand Certificates in English Language

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Careers (opens in a new window)

Match jobs to qualifications on careers.govt.nz

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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL)

Teaching resources from Europe

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