Sometimes unforeseen things happen during the exam period. You can apply for a derived grade if you have illness, trauma or misadventure at the time of the NZQA external assessments in November.

The school provides a grade based on (or derived from) pre-existing, standard-specific evidence produced during the year by the student (such as from the parallel examinations or formal tests).

Students should sit the (external) examination wherever possible. Where your derived grade application is approved, and you sit the examination, the better result will be awarded.

Who do I talk to about a derived grade?

Let the school know by talking to your school’s Principal’s Nominee (Miss Dunn) in the first instance and let your subject teacher know. They will be able to advise you on the eligibility criteria, who to see to support your application, and provide you with an application form or you can find one on the Google Classroom in the Classroom section.

Who makes the decision?

NZQA approves derived grades based on the information provided in a candidate’s application.

Will NZQA accept late applications?

Under very exceptional circumstances NZQA may accept a late application (made after the closing date in early December) but not after the release of results in January.

What about Covid 19?

Students / ākonga required to isolate because they have COVID-19 and are unable to sit their examination(s) should apply for a derived grade. Evidence could include, for example, a text of the PCR result, text from Ministry of Health acknowledging Covid report, photo of the positive RAT result. Please note: household contacts may not apply for a derived grade as they are no longer required to isolate.

If you should have a temporary illness, injury, trauma or a serious event occurs immediately prior (within a week of the candidates first examination) or during the examination you will need to provide some evidence of that in order to be considered for a derived grade. Independent professional evidence is required confirming that this had a significant clear and observable detrimental effect on performance or attendance in the examination and was beyond the candidate's control.

A temporary illness, injury, trauma or serious event could include:

· COVID-related isolation

· gastroenteritis

· notifiable disease, eg measles, whooping cough

· hospitalisation of a parent with a serious medical condition

· death of a grandparent

· flooding causing a bridge closure with no alternative route for candidates to get to their examination

Significant conditions (after 1 October) or events could include:

· a life-threatening illness e.g. meningitis diagnosis

· accident causing a significant concussion diagnosis

· hospitalisation for a serious medical condition

· death of close family member e.g. parent/sibling.

This can be for portfolio subjects too.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE:

· stress or anxiety due to having to sit examinations

· minor ailments, such as a cold or headache

· self-interest absence or parents being on holiday

· day-to-day family or school based disturbances

· death or euthanasia of a pet

· minor traffic incidents.

Any illness, chronic condition or trauma being present and/or managed that has been affecting a candidate prior to 1 October is regarded as ongoing and does not meet the eligibility criteria.

Candidates with a long-term illness, condition or trauma can only be approved if there is a documented current and significant change to the managed condition/illness. The change must occur immediately (within a week) prior to the examinations or during the examinations. The change must be documented by a consultation with a registered professional at the time of the examinations.

Examples of long-term and ongoing illnesses and conditions include:

· long COVID

· concussion symptoms

· physical disability

· anxiety and depression

· epilepsy

· anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders

· chronic relapsing conditions (e.g. glandular fever, Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME))

· ongoing personal trauma.