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Assessment Matters

2020 Assessment Specifications for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship External Assessment: March Update
A2020/7 - 21 Feb 2020
To: |
Principal/Tumuaki |
2020 Assessment Specifications for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship External Assessment: March Update
Assessment specifications provide the annual assessment parameters for each externally assessed achievement standard and New Zealand Scholarship performance standard. They must be read alongside the applicable standards.
The following assessment specifications have been updated in March 2020:
Subject | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | NZ Scholarship |
Cook Islands Māori | Y | Y | Y | |
Digital Technology | Y | Y | ||
Earth and Space Science | Y | |||
Religious Studies | Y |
The change is highlighted beside the year on the front page of the assessment specifications (updated March 2020).
Teachers should not need to alter their teaching programmes because of this update.
For examinations, assessment specifications cover information such as the:
- format of the paper;
- equipment candidates can bring and use; and
- context for questions, where appropriate.
For submitted (portfolio) subjects, assessment specifications cover the:
- format of the assessment;
- portfolio/report submission date; and
- portfolio/report specifications, including the type and volume of materials that may be submitted as evidence.
Assessment Specifications for 2020 were published in December 2019 on the NZQA website. For NCEA standards, see the NCEA subject resources pages and for New Zealand Scholarship, see the Scholarship subject page.
NCEA subject resources (webpage)
NZ Scholarship subjects (webpage)
Enquiries
Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to your School Relationship Manager.
School Relationship Manager
School Quality Assurance and Liaison
Telephone: 04 463 3000
Fax: 04 463 3115
Email: firstname.lastname@nzqa.govt.nz