NCEA: How do I gain qualifications?
Through the year students will sit various assessments and examinations. If they achieve (pass) in these standards, they gain credits. Some standards may be assessed during the year (internally assessed) and others through examinations held at the end of the year (externally assessed). At all times Students should be aiming to achieve the highest gardes possible towards NCEA qualifications.
Course Endorsement
From 2013 you can gain course endorsements at merit or excellence.
Requirement:
- 14 or more credits at merit or excellence in that course in one year
- a minimum of 3 credits from an external exam in merit or excellence
- a minimum of 3 credits from an internal assessment in merit or excellence
For more detailed information about NCEA go to: www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea
Level 1
80 credits at level 1 or higher with 10 of these credits from numeracy standards and 10 from literacy standards. There are two pathways for achieving the literacy and numeracy requirements.
All students take English or EAP (English for Acadmic Purposes) and mathematics. It is recommended that students also take level 1 science, as some understanding of science comes into many courses beyond school.
Level 2
80 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at level 2 or above and 20 credits at any other level
Students should choose their subjects for level 2 based on previous study in level 1, interests, strengths and future direction. Please pay close attention to the prerequisites for the subjects you choose. A course in English or EAP is necessary.
Level 3
80 credits of which 60 credits must be at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or above
Students should be choosing their subjects for level 3 based on previous study in level 2, interests, strengths and future direction.
Gaining NCEA with Merit or Excellence
If you gain 50 or more of the required 80 credits at excellence level, you will earn an NCEA with excellence.
If you gain 50 or more credits at merit level (or a mix of merit and excellence), you will earn an NCEA with merit.
Scholarship
Students who have achieved a significant number of excellence results in any level 2 subject should consider entering scholarship in that subject. Scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top students.
It will not attract credits nor contribute towards a qualifaction but the fact that a student has gained a scholarship will appear on their Record of Achievements.