SAC newsletters

June 2022
SAC#5 -

Topics in this SAC update

• Upload data for applicants
• Attaching SAC entitlements to exam sessions
• Use of headphones in exam sessions
• Students who have left school
• Students requiring Braille papers
• Upcoming SAC seminars

Upload data for applicants

Check those with yellow Pending or PR on your application list. Upload the 20 minute handwriting sample, score sheets or reports and other requested material as soon as possible.

Attaching SAC entitlements to exam sessions

The Special Assessment Exams Processing link to attach SAC entitlements to exams is available from 1 July on your SAC page.
The guide on how to complete this process can be found here (PDF, 233KB).
A video tutorial on this process can be viewed here.

Please note the following:

• You can only complete this process once students’ external entries have been submitted to NZQA. Check with your PN if you are in doubt
• This process only relates to external exam sessions. Other external assessment processes such as CATs, portfolios or submissions must be treated in the same way as for internal assessments.
• ET may replace Computer or Writer in some exam sessions. The list of subjects is available here.
• If a Writer wishes to type, please select Writer but inform the ECM that a computer and printer will be needed.
• Guidelines for digital exams can be found here. If a student with a Computer Only notification is sitting a digital exam, please select SAC Not Required as the digital exam process will meet the student’s need.
• Please email sac@nzqa.govt.nz if you have any requests or queries about this process

Use of headphones (noise cancelling or otherwise) in exam sessions

If a student has a medical (or other) condition that requires them to use headphones for noise cancelling or for playing music, a SAC application for Separate Accommodation must be submitted with an explanation of the reason for this. Use of headphones generally is not an option for students in exams unless this relates to a language exam requirement.

If this is approved

• The student must be in separate accommodation
• Any playlist used must be downloaded (i.e. not played directly from the internet) and the playlist must be approved by the PN or SENCO to the ECM’s satisfaction
• The device used must be held by the supervisor

Please inform sac@nzqa.govt.nz if you have any students who require this option so that we can note this for the ECM

Students who have left school

Best practice at this stage is ignore them on your lists and their names may disappear if another school requests a transfer for them. If you think or know they have gone to another school then email sac@nzqa.govt.nz and ask NZQA to check and transfer them.

There may be external entries to attach SAC to, and students who leave closer to the exams may still want to attempt them. Otherwise, select SAC not required (SNR) for each session.

Students requiring Braille papers

If any of your SAC students require Braille papers for exams, please ensure that their entries for external standards are submitted now (even if this means submitting an additional datafile). SAC needs to be attached to the exam sessions as soon as possible.

This must be completed by Friday 5 August. No SAC applications for Braille papers will be able to be approved after this date. There is considerable work and time involved in creating Braille papers.

Upcoming SAC seminars

Seminars are a repeat of last year’s “SAC101” seminar so when you receive an email for one in your region please encourage those who have not been to a seminar before to attend, including LSCs and RTLB. Email sac@nzqa.govt.nz for enquiries or offers to host for your region.