The “NCEA Change Package” has introduced new corequisite standards that directly assess foundational Literacy and Numeracy. These standards are in the format of a “Common Assessment Activity” (CAA) and are intended to ensure students have the foundational skills to support them in further studies, work, and life.

The CAA’s are an online assessment that will take place during the normal school day, during Weeks 4 & 5 of Term 2, (21st-31st May). Whilst there are three assessment tasks in total, initially, Year 10 students will only sit Numeracy & Reading whilst senior students will sit the standards they are yet to achieve.

The three standards are:
1. Numeracy - Use of mathematics and statistics to meet the numeracy demands of a range of situations - 10 credits
2. Literacy | Reading - Read written texts to understand ideas and information - 5 credits
3. Literacy | Writing - Write texts to communicate ideas and information - 5 credits

Sample papers are available via the NCEA website. Whilst these papers do not include graphics, due to copyright reasons, visiting the links will give you a general idea of the types of questions asked and the structure of the digital papers.
Numeracy - https://tinyurl.com/PHS-Numeracy
Literacy | Reading - https://tinyurl.com/PHS-Reading
Literacy | Writing - https://tinyurl.com/PHS-Writing

Students are encouraged to bring their own device (Chromebook or laptop) to school each day to practice the digital assessments. Students will be using their Wānanga and study lessons to prepare and practice past papers. If students do not have access to a device we will look to provide them with a school Chromebook. Further details around the exact timing for your child's assessment will be sent to you directly, via email.

Students who are approved for “Special Assessment Conditions” will have their specific needs catered for and these will be planned through our usual processes.

If students do not experience success in the CAA’s, there will be another opportunity in Term 3. If students are ill during the assessment weeks, please let us know through our usual processes and we will advise you of an alternative plan. There is no limit to the number of times a student sits the digital examinations and opportunities will continue to be offered beyond 2024.

What can you do to support your student?
Encourage your student to read and write at home or in their day-to-day activities.
Recognise when numeracy skills are used. For example: calculating prices; interpreting tables, maps, bank statements, timetables, graphs, and diagrams; using a degree of precision appropriate to the situation (estimating); and explaining the reasonableness of answers.
Encourage your student to ask for help from their subject teachers when they need it.
Familiarise yourself with the following links:
https://ncea.education.govt.nz/literacy-and-numeracy/numeracy/learning
https://ncea.education.govt.nz/literacy-and-numeracy/literacy/learning

If you would like to discuss your students' involvement in the CAA’s, please make contact with Lynette Archer via e-mail, arl@papanui.school.nz

Thank you for supporting the NCEA changes.