NCEA Guide

• Each year, students study a number of courses or subjects. (E.g. Level 1 Maths)
• In each subject, skills and knowledge are taught according to topics, and assessed against a number of standards. For example, a Mathematics standard could be:
  • E.g. Apply geometric reasoning in solving problems
• Schools use a range of internal and external assessments to measure how well students meet these standards.
• When a student achieves a standard, they gain the number of credits.
• Students must achieve a certain number of credits to gain an NCEA Level 1, 2 or 3 certificate.

• The above diagram shows how five subjects (English, Math, Science, Music & History)
• Are divided up into four different topics/standards
• Each standard is worth 5 credits
• There are two internal assessments and two external assessments per subject (maximum)

• NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 are 60-credit qualifications
• The Literacy/Numeracy Co-Requisite sits alongside the NCEA qualification
• Learners will only be awarded an NCEA qualification once they have met the 20-credit co-requisite
• Learners need to complete the co-requisite only once.

• For each topic that a student studies, they will complete the learning and then sit an assessment – the assessment is based on a standard
• Each standard describes what a student needs to know, or what they must be able to achieve, in order to meet the standard
• Each standard has a defined credit value. (based on difficulty, time required to learn master knowledge/skills etc.
• As students study new topics, their teachers will explain what will be assessed and how. Teachers ensure that students are prepared for assessment.
• Assessments measure what a student knows or can do against the criteria of a standard

• YES!
• Achievement standards are curriculum based
• Unit standards are competency based
• Achievement Standards
  • Majority of standards offered at Onslow through typical subjects (English, Math etc.)
  • Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit, Excellence
• Unit Standards
  • Vocational and workplace-based standards offered through Gateway, Trades Academy
  • Numeracy and Literacy standards
  • Not Achieved or Achieved

• The grades that a student can earn depend on the type of standard being assessed.
• For unit standards all grades may be available, but usually there are just two grades:
  • Achieved (A) for meeting the criteria of the standard
  • Not achieved (N) if a student does not meet the criteria of the standard
• For achievement standards, there are four grades:
  • Achieved (A) for a satisfactory performance
  • Merit (M) for very good performance
  • Excellence (E) for outstanding performance
  • Not achieved (N) if students do not meet the criteria of the standard

• INTERNAL
  • Assessment that requires practical performance, equipment or extended time
  • Assessed by classroom teacher with national moderation
  • Internal = Marked by Onslow College
• EXTERNAL
  • Written/digital exams, Portfolios, Video Submissions, Timed Tests etc.
  • Assessed by an outside marker contracted by NZQA
  • External = Marked by NZQA

• In the new NCEA (Level 1 2024, Level 2 2026, Level 3 2027 the number of credits per standard/assessment will be more consistent
• For the current NCEA, the number of credits per standard vary
• Typically, credit values range between 2 and 7 (Visual Art externals are the exception)
• Most standards have a credit value of 3-4
• Most subjects offer between 16 to 22 credits

• NOTE: Regardless of if a student is awarded an Achieved, Merit or Excellence, they receive the same number of credits per standard

• Certificate Endorsements (overall e.g. NCEA L1 with Excellence)
  • 50 credits at Merit or above (or) 50 credits at Excellence
  • Can be gained across more than one year

• Course Endorsements (per subject e.g. L1 Maths with Excellence)
  • 14 credits at Merit or above (or) 14 credits at Excellence
  • Can only be gained in one calendar year
  • Must include at least 3 credits from an external

For further information please check out the Onslow College NCEA Information Evening Slideshow or email [email protected] or [email protected]