This is controlled by NZQA who facilitate and mark the assessments and report the grades back to the students and school at the beginning of the following school year.

The school is required to provide evidence to NZQA for a derived grade, should a student not be able to complete their NCEA exam.

If you miss your external exam due to illness, or other events, you must complete the Derived Grade Application. NZQA will only notify you if your application is NOT accepted.

Derived Grade Process  (End of year final external exams only)

A derived grade is to be given to a candidate who has been clearly disadvantaged through illness or misadventure, or who considers that their performance in an external assessment has been seriously impaired because of exceptional circumstances beyond their control. This includes the death of a family member or close acquaintance, or national representative duties that have prevented them from sitting examinations or otherwise presenting materials for external assessment.

This process highlights the importance of the derived grade school exams. If a student has to apply for a derived grade due to unforeseen circumstances, a grade will be derived from these school exams if all the conditions set by NZQA are met.

• Derived Grade Process & Info