NZQA Examination Timetable

Click here to view this year's NZQA examination timetable for NCEA and Scholarship examinations.

NCEA Online - Digital Exams

What you need to know:

• NCEA Online is offering 21 subjects across 58 exam sessions at Level 1, 2 and 3.
• In 2020 students completing NCEA Online will continue to be provided with a personalised exam paper as a backup if they revert to paper.
• Students enrolled in a digital exam can move to paper at any point before or during the exam. However, once students move to paper, they can’t go back to digital. Students need to keep this in mind if they intend to complete some standards digitally and some on paper. They will need to complete the digital standards first before moving to paper.
• Students with a SAC (Special Assessment Conditions) entitlement can sit a digital exam.
• Power banks can be used in the exam room. The student’s power bank must be stored in their sealed emergency evacuation pack under their desk. If they need to use it they must ask the supervisor to retrieve and plug in the power bank. Any instances of power bank use will be recorded by the supervisor. Power banks with wireless capability and/or memory storage capacity will not be allowed.
• Students will be able to use a different language, as appropriate for the subject, by switching the language keyboards. The language keyboards software packs must be downloaded and fully enabled prior to entering the exam. We recommend students become familiar with language keyboards throughout the year, ideally using the same device they will use in the exam.

• Students should complete practice activities on the device they will be using in a digital exam.

Derived Grades

A derived grade is available for a candidate who for an approved reason:

• has been unable to attend an NZQA external examination or submit a completed externally assessed portfolio
• attended an NZQA external examination session and their performance has been significantly impaired
• has been unable to attend an external assessment because of selection for National Representation in a sport, academic or cultural event.

Approved reasons include:

• a temporary acute non-recurring illness
• trauma – a significantly disturbing or distressing experience
• misadventure - an event beyond a student’s control or an exceptional circumstance
• a sudden and significant change to a long-term illness occurring at the time of the examinations

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

Candidates should sit the examination wherever possible. Where the candidate’s derived grade application is approved, and they sit the examination, the better result will be awarded.

The Principal’s Nominee, Ms Carolyn Lane, will be able to advise candidates on the eligibility criteria, who to see to support their application, and provide the candidate with an application form.