Myths
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"Results from internally assessed standards can be submitted as derived grades."
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“Evidence for derived grades can be partial and naturally occurring in learning activities.”
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“A teacher can collect a derived grade after a student misses an NZQA exam.”
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“Derived grades from practice assessments do not need to be quality assured."
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"I can predict the grade based on my professional judgment.”
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" Unmodified NZQA exam papers can be used to generate a derived grade."
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"A student cannot apply for a derived grade if they sat the examination."
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"The Principal's Nominee approves derived grade applications."
On this page
Facts
- Derived grades can only be used for external assessments as they provide a result for a student whose performance is impaired in an NZQA external exam or who cannot attend the exam or submit an external portfolio.
- Evidence for derived grades must be collected in a way that mirrors NZQA’s assessment of the external standard, ie mirrors the format and conditions of the externally assessed standard.
- Sufficiently modified past NZQA assessments and keeping commercially produced practice assessments secure help ensure authentic evidence.
- Students are encouraged to sit the examinations, where possible. The grade awarded will be the higher of the exam grade and the derived grade.
- NZQA approves derived grades. If a school does not support a student’s application, they should still submit it to NZQA.
- Students can appeal to NZQA when derived grade applications are declined.
- Evidence for a derived grade must be:
- preexisting – collected prior to the start of the timetabled NCEA assessment
- authentic
- standard-specific
- quality assured through verification or justification.
More information
More points about derived grades
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Senior Management is responsible for ensuring that all derived grades are based on valid, authentic evidence and have been subject to quality assurance processes.
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Like all external assessment results, derived grades are provisional until confirmed by NZQA.
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A student making an individual application may choose not to apply for a derived grade when the grade to be reported would be 'Not Achieved'.
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The derived grade process is not available for New Zealand Scholarship, as it is a competitive award.
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Derived grades are for events at the time of the external assessment (exams), for example, temporary illness, injury, bereavement or misadventure.
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Students suffering from long-term or recurring conditions may:
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be entitled to Special Assessment Conditions
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be eligible for a derived grade if there is a documented exacerbation of the condition just prior to the external assessment/exam
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have to accept that their results from practice assessments may be affected by their condition and that a derived grade would not be appropriate.
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