The basics

How will I be assessed?

The skills and knowledge you gain when you study subject areas like English, Science and Maths are assessed against standards. Qualifications are gained by building up credits, awarded for each standard you achieve. These are explained in detail later in this booklet.

Standards-based assessment measures your performance against pre-set standards. Your subject teachers will tell you what’s required to achieve each standard.

Standards are organised into levels of increasing difficulty. Some standards are assessed internally, by your teachers, and some externally in end-of-year exams or by portfolios. A Mathematics assessment programme, level 1, may look like this (right). This programme assesses 22 credits.

Registration no	Assessment	Name of standard	Credits earned
5224	Internal	Use decimals and percentages to solve problems	2
5230	Internal	Carry out a statistical investigation and interpret data	3
5232	Internal	Determine probabilities in practical situations	2
90148	External	Sketch and interpret graphs	3
90149	Internal	Solve problems involving measurement of everyday objects	3
90150	Internal	Use geometric techniques to produce a pattern or object	2
90151	External	Solve straightforward number problems in context	3
90152	External	Solve right-angled triangle problems	2
90153	External	Use geometric reasoning to solve problems	2

Standards

There are two types of standards – unit standards and achievement standards. Both are used in schools.

For achievement standards you could reach achieved, achieved with merit or achieved with excellence. If you do not achieve the required standard you get a not achieved grade. For unit standards, you either get achieved or not achieved.

The standards assessed in schools are usually at levels 1, 2 and 3. Most students will start at level 1 in year 11, though students often study at a mix of levels depending on their ability in particular subject areas. For example, in year 11 you can attempt studies at level 2, 3 or higher, if your school has a suitable programme.

When you study a programme or course you don’t have to be assessed against every standard in that subject area. Schools prepare a programme and use a mix of standards to assess students as they progress. Not all students will be assessed against the same standards. Your school will tell you what assessments you will be attempting.

Credits

Each standard is worth a certain number of credits. When you achieve a standard, these credits count towards your NCEA and may also contribute towards other national certificates, such as a National Certificate in Mathematics.

NCEAs are the national school qualifications typically assessed in years 11 to 13. They are just three of the many qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) manages the NQF which comprises over a thousand national qualifications. You may be able to start studying towards other qualifications while still at school. You can see what is available and the standards on which they are based at www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/.