For all our students and whānau who are experiencing the new NCEA level 1 this year, here are some key changes you need to be aware of:

• To pass NCEA level 1, a minimum of 60 credits, gained across a range of achievement/unit/skills standards within your subjects, is needed. To make sure you are successful, keep a track of how many credits you have achieved and how many you have left as you go through the year.

• In addition, a separate requirement is to gain 10 credits in Numeracy, 5 in reading and 5 in writing (which totals 10 credits in Literacy). No NCEA qualification (at any level) can be achieved without both literacy and numeracy.

• The main difference here is that Numeracy and Literacy are assessed via 3 separate assessments (exams) called CAA’s (in reading, writing and numeracy)

Almost half of our year 11 students passed these assessments last year whilst in year 10. There are two opportunities to attempt these this year, one in May and one in September. If you are a year 11 student without Literacy or Numeracy you will be automatically entered this year if teachers assess you as ready.

• There are internally and externally assessed assessments in your subjects. Internals are marked by the school and then moderated (checked) by NZQA. Externals are marked by NZQA.
• In term 3 there are externals that are worked on at school but sent to NZQA to mark. These are called submissions, and may ask you to work with resources sent from NZQA through the term and then ask you to make a portfolio, write a report or response to questions.
• Exams at the end of the year are all externals.

As assessments run throughout the year it is important that students understand when they have assessments due.

Your teachers are on board to help you achieve NCEA.

Good attendance is step one towards success at NCEA – you can’t learn if you are not here! This is especially true for term 3 when students will be working on the new submission’s externals.

Key assessment dates for NCEA are attached as PDF to this newsletter.