National Certificate of National Certificate of Educational Achievement Educational Achievement

(NCEA)(NCEA)

An overviewAn overview

What is it?What is it?

NCEA is the national qualification for NCEA is the national qualification for senior secondary students in NZsenior secondary students in NZ

It is NOT what students are taught – It is NOT what students are taught – that is the curriculumthat is the curriculum

It is only about measuring what has It is only about measuring what has been learnedbeen learned

It is ONLY about ASSESSMENTIt is ONLY about ASSESSMENT

The approach to assessment is The approach to assessment is different to what occurred last centurydifferent to what occurred last century

The focus is on measuring learning, The focus is on measuring learning, not ranking studentsnot ranking students

Students are measured against preset Students are measured against preset standards, rather than the standards, rather than the achievement of other studentsachievement of other students

Results describe what a student can Results describe what a student can do, not where they fit into a ranked list do, not where they fit into a ranked list of ‘marks’of ‘marks’

How is NCEA assessed?How is NCEA assessed?

It is a mixture ofIt is a mixture of External Achievement StandardsExternal Achievement Standards Internal Achievement StandardsInternal Achievement Standards Unit Standards (generally limited to Unit Standards (generally limited to

practical subjects eg Hospitality)practical subjects eg Hospitality)

With Achievement Standards you can With Achievement Standards you can reach Achieved, Achieved with Merit reach Achieved, Achieved with Merit or Achievement with Excellenceor Achievement with Excellence

With Unit Standards you either get With Unit Standards you either get Achieved or Not AchievedAchieved or Not Achieved

Each standard is worth a certain Each standard is worth a certain number of credits. When you achieve number of credits. When you achieve a standard, these credits count a standard, these credits count towards your NCEA towards your NCEA

What is a standard?What is a standard?

A standard is a description of what a A standard is a description of what a student can dostudent can do

““Solve right-angled triangle problemsSolve right-angled triangle problems”” ““Read, study and show understanding Read, study and show understanding

of extended written text(s)of extended written text(s)”” ““Prepare and present hot finger food Prepare and present hot finger food

in the hospitality industry”in the hospitality industry” ““Describe the market and market Describe the market and market

equilibriumequilibrium””

How many credits are How many credits are available?available?

A full year course equates to A full year course equates to approximately 24 creditsapproximately 24 credits

Depending on the combination of Depending on the combination of standards offered, most L1 standards offered, most L1 courses at CGHS are between 18 courses at CGHS are between 18 – 24 credits– 24 credits

A student studying six L1 A student studying six L1 subjects can potentially gain 120 subjects can potentially gain 120 – 130 credits– 130 credits

NCEA Level 1NCEA Level 1

80 Credits 80 Credits at Level 1 or higherat Level 1 or higher

IncludingIncluding 10 credits 10 credits from identified from identified numeracynumeracy

standards (in Maths but also some standards (in Maths but also some standards in Science, Physics, standards in Science, Physics, Chemistry, Geography)Chemistry, Geography)

10 credits 10 credits from from literacyliteracy standards (in standards (in almost all subjects)almost all subjects)

Course (Subject) Course (Subject) EndorsementEndorsement

14 credits 14 credits at Merit or Excellence in ONE at Merit or Excellence in ONE course course in ONE yearin ONE year3 credits must be from internally 3 credits must be from internally assessed standardsassessed standards3 credits must be from externally 3 credits must be from externally assessed standards (except for PE)assessed standards (except for PE)The credits gained in Year 10 don’t The credits gained in Year 10 don’t countcount

CertificateCertificateEndorsementsEndorsements

Excellence endorsement requires 50 Excellence endorsement requires 50 Excellence credits at that level or aboveExcellence credits at that level or above

Merit endorsement requires 50 Merit endorsement requires 50 Excellence or Merit credits at that level Excellence or Merit credits at that level or aboveor above

Credits can accumulate and do not Credits can accumulate and do not have to be earned in the same yearhave to be earned in the same year

2013 University of Canterbury Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship – NCEA

NCEA Level 2 Endorsement

NCEA Level 3 Endorsement

Cash Scholarship Amount

Excellence Excellence $3000

Excellence Merit $2000

Excellence Achieved $2000

Merit Excellence $2000

Merit Merit $1000

Merit Achieved $1000

Achieved Excellence $2000

Achieved Merit $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 AchievementRecord of AchievementResults should be checked regularly to make sure Results should be checked regularly to make sure

they have been entered correctlythey have been entered correctly

To gain a Level 2 CertificateTo gain a Level 2 Certificate

80 credits80 credits 60 from Level 2, and 20 from 60 from Level 2, and 20 from

any other levelany other level No literacy or numeracy No literacy or numeracy

requirementsrequirements English is a compulsory subjectEnglish is a compulsory subject

To gain a Level 3 CertificateTo gain a Level 3 Certificate

80 credits80 credits 60 credits at Level 3, 20 from 60 credits at Level 3, 20 from

any other levelany other level No compulsory subjectsNo compulsory subjects

University Entrance is changingUniversity Entrance is changingfrom 2014 from 2014 (ie for students starting(ie for students startingat university in at university in 20152015))

NCEA Level 3 (60 L3 credits)NCEA Level 3 (60 L3 credits) 14 credits in EACH of three approved 14 credits in EACH of three approved

subjects (all CGHS L3 subjects except subjects (all CGHS L3 subjects except Hospitality, Tikanga Maori & Tourism)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 10 literacy credits at L2 or higher

including 5 for Reading and 5 for including 5 for Reading and 5 for WritingWriting

This will be the minimum to This will be the minimum to get University Entrance get University Entrance BUTBUT Many university courses require Many university courses require

a lot more than just L3a lot more than just L3 Merit and Excellence Merit and Excellence

endorsements are used to endorsements are used to select students for places in select students for places in both courses and in Halls of both courses and in Halls of ResidenceResidence

What is Scholarship?What is Scholarship?

A range of stand alone exams that can A range of stand alone exams that can be taken at the end of the Level 3 yearbe taken at the end of the Level 3 year

An award, not a qualification. It does An award, not a qualification. It does not generate credits for NCEA not generate credits for NCEA certificatescertificates

Scholarship candidates are selected Scholarship candidates are selected by the schoolby the school

Further Assessment Further Assessment OpportunitiesOpportunities

Some standards have ONE further Some standards have ONE further assessment opportunityassessment opportunity

Students can use this opportunity to Students can use this opportunity to improve their gradeimprove their grade

If they miss the first opportunity they must If they miss the first opportunity they must comply with school procedures (eg bring a comply with school procedures (eg bring a medical certificate if they were ill) to be medical certificate if they were ill) to be eligible for the further assessment eligible for the further assessment opportunityopportunity

For some assessments there is no further For some assessments there is no further assessment opportunityassessment opportunity

In each subject your daughter will In each subject your daughter will have received an outline detailing:have received an outline detailing:

The standards coveredThe standards covered How many credits each is worthHow many credits each is worth Whether they are assessed internally Whether they are assessed internally

or eternallyor eternally Approximate dates for internal Approximate dates for internal

assessmentsassessments Whether there will be one or two Whether there will be one or two

assessment opportunities for each assessment opportunities for each internalinternal

Internal ModerationInternal Moderation

To ensure fair and valid assessment all To ensure fair and valid assessment all tasks are checked before use to ensure tasks are checked before use to ensure they comply with national standardsthey comply with national standards

Samples of marked student work are Samples of marked student work are also checked before assessments are also checked before assessments are returned to students to ensure the returned to students to ensure the grades awarded are consistent both grades awarded are consistent both between classes and with national between classes and with national standardsstandards

External ModerationExternal Moderation

To ensure consistency with national To ensure consistency with national standards, some student work for standards, some student work for internally assessed standards will be internally assessed standards will be moderated each year by NZQA moderated each year by NZQA moderatorsmoderators

CGHS has a compliance rate of 98% - one CGHS has a compliance rate of 98% - one of the highest rates in the countryof the highest rates in the country

All externally assessed standards are All externally assessed standards are marked by national marking panelsmarked by national marking panels

Is NCEA recognised Is NCEA recognised overseas?overseas?

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

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

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 Want to know more? Visit the NZQA website NZQA website www.nzqa.govt.nz

and select ‘students’ under and select ‘students’ under ‘information for…’‘information for…’

The NZQA website has info The NZQA website has info on:on:

Understanding NCEAUnderstanding NCEA Exam timetableExam timetable Records of AchievementRecords of Achievement All standardsAll standards Samples of internal assessmentsSamples of internal assessments Past external exam papers and Past external exam papers and

assessment schedulesassessment schedules Ordering certificates & results documentsOrdering certificates & results documents