Derived Grade Updates

June 2020
- 9 Jun 2020

DERIVED GRADE and UNEXPECTED EVENT GRADE UPDATE #2

Derived Grade and Unexpected Event Grade Updates are issued each term. They are available in the Derived grade section of your school’s Provider Login and complement information on the NZQA website.

Updated Derived Grade 2020 timelines

The candidate’s application form and web information states that applications must be provided to Principal’s Nominees by 5pm on Thursday 11 December. The NZQA on-line application tool closes 5pm on Friday 12 December to allow time for Principal’s Nominees to complete on-line applications.

Topics in this DG UPDATE

• Updated derived grade timelines to meet the revised portfolio and examination dates (above)
• Derived grade application form has been updated
• Use of Assessment Evidence Gathering Templates for derived grades and unexpected event grades
• Derived grade application information for Digital and Languages Common Assessment Tasks
• Clarification of derived grades for portfolio subjects
• Examination timetable changes of 13 May 2020 resulting in a clash between a student’s examination and an existing booking or event

Derived grade application form has been updated

The derived grade application form for illness, trauma and misadventure, has been updated for 2020. Please update any copies available within your staff and student information. The Key changes are:

• Section B now covers both medical and trauma applications that require confirmation from a health professional. Ensure you become familiar with the new format and requirements for the application.
• Section C now covers events and misadventure that is supported by documentary evidence – for example a police report for a traffic accident occurring on a student’s way to their examination.
• Please ensure your school is providing the new application form to students/whanau.

Use of Assessment Evidence Gathering Templates for derived grades and unexpected event grades

The assessment evidence gathering templates can be used for external standards.

The generic template (PDF, 345KB) can be modified and used to gather evidence during the learning process and from formative assessment opportunities to help maximise teaching and learning time. They have the potential to reduce the time needed for discrete summative assessment events such as practice examinations.

Authentic evidence gathered and recorded using the templates, may be used to provide a derived grade for student applications. Teachers are required to ensure assessment evidence gathered is consistent with the standard, authentic and sufficient to meet the requirements of the standard.

Standard specific templates for externals are being created and are progressively being published on subject pages on the NZQA website.

Schools are strongly encouraged to ensure valid, authentic standard specific evidence is collected for students’ external standards to ensure grades are available if an unexpected event is declared.

Derived grade application information for:
Level 1, 2 and 3 Digital Technology/Hangarau Matihiko Common Assessment Task (DCAT)
Levels 1, 2 and 3 Languages Common Assessment Task (Lea Faka Tongan, Cook Island Māori and Korean

These Common Assessment Tasks are externally assessed. A derived grade is available for a candidate who suffers a temporary illness or impairment, including a physical injury or an emotional trauma, that impairs their performance or prevents them undertaking the assessment.

Candidates must complete a derived grade application form including obtaining evidence from a medical professional or providing supporting documentary evidence as appropriate. The derived grade tool is being opened on 1 October to enable schools to make applications shortly after Common Assessments Tasks have taken place.

The derived grade reported by the school must be from pre-existing evidence gathered before the DCAT or Languages CAT was held and be valid, authentic and standard-specific. Further information is available in the individual subject Administrative Guidelines.

Clarification of derived grades for portfolio and submitted subjects:
Levels 1, 2, ,3 Technology and Design and Visual Communication
Level 3 Visual Arts and Education for Sustainability

The temporary impairment, including a physical injury or an emotional trauma, must have occurred after 1 October; have seriously impaired the candidate’s final preparation for submission; and comply with NZQA’s Derived Grade guidelines.

The derived grade submitted must be based on an assessment of the work in the candidate’s portfolio to date. There must be evidence in the submitted portfolio to support the grade reported even if the requirements for sufficiency are not met. The grade cannot be predicted.

Candidates must submit the evidence produced throughout the year. A derived grade is not available where a candidate does not submit a portfolio.

Examination timetable changes of 13 May 2020 resulting in a clash between a student’s examination and an existing booking or event

Students may apply for a derived grade where circumstances beyond their control have prevented them from attending an examination. NZQA will consider the evidence supporting an application on a case-by-case basis. The changes we made to the 2020 examination timetable are outside a student's control. NZQA will require proof that the booking or commitment was made for an event scheduled prior to the announcement of the change to the examination timetable and that the booking, commitment or event cannot be changed. A pre-approval process is being developed to confirm to candidates, in advance of their examination, they are eligible for a derived grade.

Links to derived grade information

Information for Candidates and Caregivers and for Principal’s Nominees.