In 2019 NZQA will be offering 14 subjects digitally, across NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3, with the range of subjects set to expand in 2020 and beyond. In total, 35 standards will be available digitally in 2019.

This is optional for students, and in preparation, some subjects will offer Digital Exams in our school practice examinations this term. English and History are among the subjects where students will be able to choose to use their laptops to complete their exams, many others are using these for in-class assessments.

NZQA have done trailing and piloting of online exams and have considerable feedback. This is available here https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/news/nzqa-ramping-up-for-ncea-online-exams-this-year/

‘Online exams fit with the way students are doing much of their learning and how they interact with the world, and it helps to prepare them for their next steps after school’, say NZQA. Among the feedback on the Pilot exams, students who responded to the survey overwhelmingly preferred digital to paper, particularly because of the typing and editing opportunity.

These simple instructions for students will apply for the school exams:

1. Your computer must be on silent

2. Notifications must be turned off for the duration of the exam

3. Your computer must be fully charged

4. You may not wear headphones during the exam

5. You must not navigate away from the exam paper

It will NOT be possible to charge your device, or have it connected to an electrical socket during the exam due to Health and Safety requirements.