1. NCEA stands for National Certificate of Educational Achievement. NCEA is the most common qualification you will be working towards in Years 11 to 13

2.  Level 1 = 80 Credits at any level, including literacy and numeracy  NCEA is gained by building up credits for each standard in the course you are studying.

3.  Most subjects offer between 18-24 credits. This means you have the opportunity if you were to pass every standard to get approximately 120 – 140 credits from all your subjects.

4.  If you gain 50 credits at Excellence your NCEA will be endorsed with Excellence.  If you gain 50 credits at Merit (or a mix of Merit and Excellence) your NCEA will be endorsed with Merit.

5.  If in a single year you gain 14 or more credits at Merit and or Excellence for a course, you will gain endorsement in that course.  At least 3 credits must be from externally assessed standards and 3 credits from internally assessed standards in that course. ** some exceptions apply (Religious Education and Physical Education)

6. You require  10 credits for numeracy  10 credits for literacy  These are obtained primarily in English and Mathematics, but can also be obtained in some other subject areas.

7.  Your school will enter you for NCEA and tell you when to finalise your entries and pay your fee of $75

8.  There are two types of standards:  Achievement standards (internally and externally assessed)  Unit Standards – are internally assessed at school

9.  Assessments measure your performance.  Assessments can be internal (a test, activity or assignment)  Assessments can be external. An end of year exam or portfolio.  When you achieve a standard, you achieve credits for that standard.

10.  Refer to the booklets you will be issued with or:  Talk to your Careers Teacher, Dean OR  Visit www.nzqa.govt.nz Check out Study Skills… what you need for NCEA study: www.studyit.org.nzwww.nzqa.govt.nzwww.studyit.org.nz