SAC newsletters

July 2022
SAC#6 -

Topics in this SAC update

• Attaching SAC entitlements to exam sessions
• Common Assessment Tasks (CATs)
• Expected standards missing from exam lists
• Withdrawals and transfers
• Digital exams and SAC
• External Assessments and SAC
• Extra Time option and exams
• Adding a computer to an entitlement
• Specific Isolation or Small Group needs
• Special Assessment Candidate exam Timetables
• Up-coming SAC seminars

Attaching SAC entitlements to exam sessions

The link for schools to attach SAC entitlements to exam sessions has now been enabled. It is called Special Assessment Exams Processing. Please complete this process as soon as possible to enable your ECM to adequately plan for the end of year exams.

Guidance about this process can be found on the SAC landing page on the NZQA website either as a video under Quicklinks or as a guide under SAC Forms and Guides.

Common Assessment Tasks (CATs)

CATs are external assessments administered by schools and not end of year exams, so you will not find them on the SAC exams processing lists for your students. However, you do need to provide SAC for these assessments where needed. Readers are allowed for Maths.

Please note for Extra time and/or Rest break entitlements:

· MCAT: provide 10 minutes Extra Time as it is a one hour exam. Rest breaks: as needed, up to 10 minutes extra. Maths is on the Extra Writing Time option list so a student may opt to swap Computer and Writer for Extra Time.

. Digital CATs and Language CATs: there are two one-hour standards at each level but as each session can run for up to 3 hours the third hour will be sufficient for Extra Time and Rest Breaks if needed.

Expected standards missing from exam lists

Externals appear on the SAC list only after the entries submitted by the school in a datafile are processed at NZQA. There is a time delay.

· Keep checking for them to appear.

· Increasing from 2 standards to 3 may make Extra Time now available and the SAC may need reviewing.

· There is an Edit function – click on the NSN of the student and scroll to the end of their exam list. Click on Edit All Entitlements and then amend what you need and Save. It retains any SAC you don’t amend but will overwrite and save your changes.

Withdrawals and transfers

Withdrawn standards

These will drop off the SAC list. The withdrawn standard represents one hour of otherwise unused exam session. If you withdraw standards the SAC may need reviewing, especially when the Extra Time was provided because the session is on the Extra Writing Time option list.

Transferring students

Student names will change on your SAC list eventually if they go to or come in from another school and sac@nzqa.govt.nz are notified. Write “Transfers” in the subject line when you email the names and NSNs of students so we can transfer them to or from your lists. You may find new names (of transferred students) just appearing on your lists. Please follow these up.

Withdrawn students

Withdrawn students who are leaving schooling forever: email to request they are returned to your draft list for you to delete. Do not email if there is a chance they will still want to attend their exam sessions.

Digital Exams and SAC

Guidelines for the application of SAC entitlements to the Digital Exams can be found here.

For any student who has computer use and is doing a digital exam, the Exam Centre Manager will still need to plan for the SAC conditions in case the student reverts to paper during the exam for any reason. The PN must ensure the computer is cleared and prepared so that the candidate can revert to the use of a word processor.

External Assessment and SAC

There are several webpages that provide information and guidance about SAC and exams. These can be found under Quicklinks on the SAC webpage here.

Extra Time option list and exams

When the student does not have an overall entitlement to ET do not email requesting Extra Time be added to any subject not on the Extra Writing Time option list or for ET to be added as well as a writer for Maths, for example.

Adding a computer to an entitlement

If only a Writer was requested and approved but the student now also wishes to also use a Computer, please add a note requesting this to the student’s application (under the Notes & Messages section). This will then be added.

For bulk requests, send a list of their names and NSNs to sac@nzqa.govt.nz

Specific Isolation or Small Group needs

The option for any separate accommodation will disappear when you don’t attach any of an entitled Computer, Writer or Reader assistance. 

Email sac@nzqa.govt.nz for any student who MUST be in Separate Accommodation (state whether Isolation or Small Group) along with the reason (e.g. severe anxiety, Tourette’s), and NZQA will attach it.

Don’t select Reader or Writer to ensure Isolation as the Exam Centre Manager will then expect to employ an exam assistant instead of a supervisor.

Special Assessment Candidate Exam Timetables

This report is available once you start attaching the SAC to exams. It can be found on

· the Key Indicators page, under Exams; and

· the usual SAC application list page; and

· the Special Assessment Exams Processing page.

It opens as a report that you may access in different formats. Choose the format that best suits your needs.

Up-coming 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.