Albany Senior High School/NZQA Handbook/Overview of NCEA

Evidence collected
This year your teachers will gather evidence that shows you have reached standards described in assessment or unit standards. Evidence about your achievement may be collected in a variety of ways: seminars, group tasks, tests, projects, exams. Some standards' skills may be assessed during the year (internally assessed) and others through exams held at the end of the year (externally assessed)

Credits awarded
Aim to gain highest grade possible. You may be able to resubmit work to improve your grade. This may be in written form or you may be able to verbally explain your answers. You may also be given a reassessment opportunities as time and manageability permit.

Quality Credits and Endorsements
It is important to always try to gain the highest grade possible to achieve each level of NCEA with endorsed certificates. For a merit endorsement you need to achieve 50 credits at Merit or Excellence at the same level, or higher, than the level of the certificate being awarded. For an excellence endorsement you need to achieve 50 credits at Excellence at the same level, or higher, than the level of the certificate being awarded.

Level 1 NCEA

 * 80 credits in total.
 * Must include 10 literacy credits from various achievement standards. There are lots that count in English and some across other subjects that have a literacy component also.
 * You will need 10 numeracy credits from various achievement standards. There are lots that count in maths and some across other subjects that have a numeracy component also. You will also need this for university entrance later if studying for a degree later.

Information from the NZQA site is here

Level 2 NCEA

 * 80 credits
 * 60 credits from level 2 or higher, (the additional 20 can come from any level).
 * You will need 8 English credits in reading and writing from level 2 or higher if studying for a degree later.

Level 3 NCEA

 * 80 credits (of which 20 can come from level 2).

University Entrance
The common entrance standard to enter a degree course requires that you gain at least 42 credits at level 3 or higher. This is in addition to the level 1 mathematics requirement (14 credits) and the level 2 English requirement (8 credits in reading and 8 credits in writing). Check out this link to University Entry information on the NZQA site. Some universities/tertiary providers offer restricted courses with special requirements. See the Careers/Transition department for further information. Follow the links for some admission criteria: Admission criteria at Auckland University (Shows prerequisites for most courses offered) General admission at Massey University (Note some courses, such as Design, are limited entry) Note that some courses have an initial semester of papers, then competitive entry based on these results. Success in these papers would be supported by alignment of the subjects you choose to study while still at school. For example Veterinary School.
 * 14 credits must come from each of two of the subjects on the approved list PLUS
 * 14 credits must come from no more than two domains or an approved subject on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

Scholarship
Scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top students. It is not a qualification and does not contribute credits to NCEA. However, if students gain scholarship passes they will be acknowledged on their record of achievement.