NCEA Presentation

2026

Information for Whānau

What is NCEA?

• NCEA = National Certificate of Educational Achievement
• Administered by NZQA
• Internationally recognised
• Three levels

Old Versus New

How Does NCEA Work (currently)?

• Each year, students study a number of courses or subjects. E.g. Level 2 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. Explore data using a statistical enquiry process
• Schools use a range of internal (marked in school) and external (marked by contractors) 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 certificate.

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What are standards?

• 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. This is 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

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• Standards allow students to demonstrate specific skills, often in more authentic contexts than an exam.
• An example of an English standard is: 
• Construct and deliver a crafted and controlled oral text
• An example from Mathematics: Apply numeric reasoning in solving problems 
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What does a standard look like?

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

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How are assessments marked?

If the assessment is internal, the department will mark the assessment.

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NZQA has provided samples to show what each level looks like.

Each teacher’s marking needs to be checked to make sure it is correct.

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We have to send some off to NZQA for checking! This is how we know the marking is fair.

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Students can appeal their grades for internal assessments. They can see their hui ako or subject teacher who will explain the process.

What does my child need to pass NCEA at any level?

10 Literacy or Te Reo Matatini credits and

10 Numeracy or Te Pāngarau credits

What are the NCEA Co-requisites?

Students must meet requirements in Literacy and Numeracy as part of NCEA

The Co-Requisite sits next to NCEA - Students will only be awarded an NCEA qualification once they have met the co-requisite requirements. (Students can keep banking your credits though!)

You only need to meet the requirement for the co-requisite once, you don’t need to do it every year

There are two ways you can meet Co-Requisite:

• The Co-Requisite exams. You can attempt these as many times as you need to.
• A small number of NCEA standards count towards Literacy and Numeracy. If you use these for Literacy and Numeracy, they cannot count in your 60 credits. 

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Endorsements

Certificate Endorsement

NCEA Level 1,2 or 3 Endorsed with Merit

• 50+ credits at Merit or higher

�NCEA Level 1, 2 or 3 Endorsed with Excellence

• 50+ credits at Excellence

Course Endorsement

• 14+ credits (at A, M or E) in one course 
• (including 3 or more in external AND internal)
• Note that there are a couple of subjects that can be an exception to this and you can gain an endorsement entirely through internal standards eg Level 2 and 3 Physical Education

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What are the requirements for University Entrance?

My child is absent during an assessment – what should I do?

What happens if my child can’t come to school on the day of an internal assessment?

There are special circumstances where a student may be granted an extension, these are:

• Ill health or accident ( a medical certificate or other evidence will be required)
• Family emergency (bereavement, major medical)
• An absence that has been pre-approved by the Principal

Please ensure that communication has been made with the subject teacher regarding the absence.

• What happens if my child can’t come to an NCEA exam?
• Contact Rowan Taurima, tma@aotea.school.nz or call the school office asking to speak to me.
• You will be given a derived grade form to fill out. As part of this form, you will need to get a medical practitioner or other stipulated authority to fill out their section of the form.
• Return the form to the school. We will then apply to NZQA to use your child’s derived (practice) exam grades

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How can I keep track of how my child is doing?

Sometimes it can be hard to get detail out of your child about how they are doing. You can keep track yourself. You can login to our Whānau Portal through the school website or your child can check their results through NZQA (www2.nzqa.govt.nz).

Pathways Faculty

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Aotea Pathways Website

AoteaCollegePathways

WHO ARE WE?

Kristie Smith- Head of Faculty and Careers Advisor

Catherine Diamond - Gateway Coordinator

Corinna Joe - Aotea@Work Coordinator

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WHAT DO WE DO?

• Careers advice and pathway planning
• Secondary - Tertiary Programmes
• Gateway
• Short courses - STAR
• Modified programmes
• Aotea@Work - work exposure, exploration & experience
• Support for applications, enrolments, employment

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HOW TO CONTACT?

• Make an appointment
• KSH@aotea.school.nz

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Who do I contact if I have a question about NCEA?

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Hui Ako Teachers

The first point of contact for students and whanau

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Head of Faulty

Key people when you have a subject specific inquiry

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Whanau Leaders

For pastoral issues or advice

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Rachel Parsons

Deputy Principal in charge of Senior Curriculum

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Rowan Taurima - tma@aotea.school.nz

Principal’s Nominee

NCEA and assessment advice

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Anna Greaney

Assistant Principal’s Nominee

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