National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) An overview

What is it? NCEA is the national qualification for senior secondary students in NZ NCEA is the national qualification for senior secondary students in NZ It is NOT what students are taught – that is the curriculum It is NOT what students are taught – that is the curriculum It is only about measuring what has been learned It is only about measuring what has been learned It is ONLY about ASSESSMENT It is ONLY about ASSESSMENT

The approach to assessment is different to what occurred last century The approach to assessment is different to what occurred last century The focus is on measuring learning, not ranking students The focus is on measuring learning, not ranking students Students are measured against preset standards, rather than the achievement of other students Students are measured against preset standards, rather than the achievement of other students Results describe what a student can do, not where they fit into a ranked list of ‘marks’ Results describe what a student can do, not where they fit into a ranked list of ‘marks’

How is NCEA assessed? It is a mixture of External Achievement Standards External Achievement Standards Internal Achievement Standards Internal Achievement Standards Unit Standards (generally limited to practical subjects eg Hospitality) Unit Standards (generally limited to practical subjects eg Hospitality)

With Achievement Standards you can reach Achieved, Achieved with Merit or Achievement with Excellence With Achievement Standards you can reach Achieved, Achieved with Merit or Achievement with Excellence With Unit Standards you either get Achieved or Not Achieved With Unit Standards you either get Achieved or Not Achieved Each standard is worth a certain number of credits. When you achieve a standard, these credits count towards your NCEA Each standard is worth a certain number of credits. When you achieve a standard, these credits count towards your NCEA

What is a standard? A standard is a description of what a student can do “Solve right-angled triangle problems” “Solve right-angled triangle problems” “Read, study and show understanding of extended written text(s)” “Read, study and show understanding of extended written text(s)” “Prepare and present hot finger food in the hospitality industry” “Prepare and present hot finger food in the hospitality industry” “Describe the market and market equilibrium” “Describe the market and market equilibrium”

How many credits are available? A full year course equates to approximately 24 credits A full year course equates to approximately 24 credits Depending on the combination of standards offered, most L1 courses at CGHS are between 18 – 24 credits Depending on the combination of standards offered, most L1 courses at CGHS are between 18 – 24 credits A student studying six L1 subjects can potentially gain 120 – 130 credits A student studying six L1 subjects can potentially gain 120 – 130 credits

NCEA Level 1 80 Credits at Level 1 or higher 80 Credits at Level 1 or higherIncluding 10 credits from identified numeracy standards (in Maths but also some standards in Science, Physics, Chemistry, Geography) 10 credits from identified numeracy standards (in Maths but also some standards in Science, Physics, Chemistry, Geography) 10 credits from literacy standards (in almost all subjects) 10 credits from literacy standards (in almost all subjects)

Course (Subject) Endorsement 14 credits at Merit or Excellence in ONE course in ONE year 14 credits at Merit or Excellence in ONE course in ONE year 3 credits must be from internally assessed standards 3 credits must be from internally assessed standards 3 credits must be from externally assessed standards (except for PE) 3 credits must be from externally assessed standards (except for PE) The credits gained in Year 10 don’t count The credits gained in Year 10 don’t count

Certificate Endorsements Excellence endorsement requires 50 Excellence credits at that level or above Excellence endorsement requires 50 Excellence credits at that level or above Merit endorsement requires 50 Excellence or Merit credits at that level or above Merit endorsement requires 50 Excellence or Merit credits at that level or above Credits can accumulate and do not have to be earned in the same year Credits can accumulate and do not have to be earned in the same year

2013 University of Canterbury Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship – NCEA NCEA Level 2 EndorsementNCEA Level 3 EndorsementCash Scholarship Amount Excellence $3000 ExcellenceMerit$2000 ExcellenceAchieved$2000 MeritExcellence$2000 Merit $1000 MeritAchieved$1000 AchievedExcellence$2000 AchievedMerit$1000

Keeping Track of Results Each students is given a personal National Student Number They can then log on to the NZQA website and view their Record of Achievement Internal assessment results are submitted in the month following the completion of the assessment

Record of Achievement Results should be checked regularly to make sure they have been entered correctly

To gain a Level 2 Certificate 80 credits 80 credits 60 from Level 2, and 20 from any other level 60 from Level 2, and 20 from any other level No literacy or numeracy requirements No literacy or numeracy requirements English is a compulsory subject English is a compulsory subject

To gain a Level 3 Certificate 80 credits 80 credits 60 credits at Level 3, 20 from any other level 60 credits at Level 3, 20 from any other level No compulsory subjects No compulsory subjects

University Entrance is changing from 2014 (ie for students starting at university in 2015) NCEA Level 3 (60 L3 credits) NCEA Level 3 (60 L3 credits) 14 credits in EACH of three approved subjects (all CGHS L3 subjects except Hospitality, Tikanga Maori & Tourism) 14 credits in EACH of three approved subjects (all CGHS L3 subjects except Hospitality, Tikanga Maori & Tourism) 10 numeracy credits (as for NCEA L1) 10 numeracy credits (as for NCEA L1) 10 literacy credits at L2 or higher including 5 for Reading and 5 for Writing 10 literacy credits at L2 or higher including 5 for Reading and 5 for Writing

This will be the minimum to get University Entrance BUT Many university courses require a lot more than just L3 Many university courses require a lot more than just L3 Merit and Excellence endorsements are used to select students for places in both courses and in Halls of Residence Merit and Excellence endorsements are used to select students for places in both courses and in Halls of Residence

What is Scholarship? A range of stand alone exams that can be taken at the end of the Level 3 year A range of stand alone exams that can be taken at the end of the Level 3 year An award, not a qualification. It does not generate credits for NCEA certificates An award, not a qualification. It does not generate credits for NCEA certificates Scholarship candidates are selected by the school Scholarship candidates are selected by the school

Further Assessment Opportunities Some standards have ONE further assessment opportunity Some standards have ONE further assessment opportunity Students can use this opportunity to improve their grade Students can use this opportunity to improve their grade If they miss the first opportunity they must comply with school procedures (eg bring a medical certificate if they were ill) to be eligible for the further assessment opportunity If they miss the first opportunity they must comply with school procedures (eg bring a medical certificate if they were ill) to be eligible for the further assessment opportunity For some assessments there is no further assessment opportunity For some assessments there is no further assessment opportunity

In each subject your daughter will have received an outline detailing: The standards covered The standards covered How many credits each is worth How many credits each is worth Whether they are assessed internally or eternally Whether they are assessed internally or eternally Approximate dates for internal assessments Approximate dates for internal assessments Whether there will be one or two assessment opportunities for each internal Whether there will be one or two assessment opportunities for each internal

Internal Moderation To ensure fair and valid assessment all tasks are checked before use to ensure they comply with national standards To ensure fair and valid assessment all tasks are checked before use to ensure they comply with national standards Samples of marked student work are also checked before assessments are returned to students to ensure the grades awarded are consistent both between classes and with national standards Samples of marked student work are also checked before assessments are returned to students to ensure the grades awarded are consistent both between classes and with national standards

External Moderation To ensure consistency with national standards, some student work for internally assessed standards will be moderated each year by NZQA moderators To ensure consistency with national standards, some student work for internally assessed standards will be moderated each year by NZQA moderators CGHS has a compliance rate of 98% - one of the highest rates in the country CGHS has a compliance rate of 98% - one of the highest rates in the country All externally assessed standards are marked by national marking panels All externally assessed standards are marked by national marking panels

Is NCEA recognised overseas? NCEA is New Zealand’s national school leaver qualification and is recognised overseas NCEA is New Zealand’s national school leaver qualification and is recognised overseas

Our rules about internal assessment were sent with the latest newsletter and are also on Onstream.

These regulations cover: Missed assessments Conditions that apply to be eligible for a further assessment opportunity IF ONE IS AVAILABLE Late assessments Impaired performance Authenticity Dishonest practice Grade appeals

Key points to remember: Late assessments will be given a Not Achieved grade and we won’t accept reasons like ‘It was my first assessment’ or ‘My computer broke down’. We endeavour to be fair and consistent in all our rulings. If a student misses an assessment through illness she must get a medical certificate ON THE DAY OF THE ASSESSMENT to be eligible for a further assessment opportunity IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.

Want to know more? Visit the NZQA website and select ‘students’ under ‘information for…’

The NZQA website has info on: Understanding NCEA Understanding NCEA Exam timetable Exam timetable Records of Achievement Records of Achievement All standards All standards Samples of internal assessments Samples of internal assessments Past external exam papers and assessment schedules Past external exam papers and assessment schedules Ordering certificates & results documents Ordering certificates & results documents