Some students gain both NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 by the end of their Year 12 studies.

To achieve NCEA Level 2, a student needs 80 credits 

• 60 credits at Level 2 or above
• 20 credits at any level 
• the Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements must also be met

NB many students get their 20 credits at any level and Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements in Year 11. All of these credits may have already counted towards Level 1.

Students should also try to get their University Entrance (UE) Literacy in Year 12. UE Literacy consists of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing at Level 2 or above. These credits (particularly the writing credits) are only available in a limited number of standards. 

Credits are earned through standards. 

Standards are internal (school designed assessments during the year) or external (NZQA designed assessments at the end of the year).

Each school's internal standard assessments must comply with NZQA requirements. This includes check-marking where teachers check each other's marking to ensure consistency. Check-marking is one of the main reasons why students do not receive their grades quickly.

Students may receive a progress grade for a standard. These are most commonly used to show student attainment for a practice external standard. NZQA will request this grade if a student is unable to sit the external assessment and the student applies for a derived grade. A progress grade may also indicate how a student is going when an internal assessment is spread over a lengthy period.

Each subject has its own guidelines, describing what standards a student needs to attain before progressing in the subject to a higher level. These guidelines are set by Roncalli College staff and students should be mindful of them.

Students should consistently aim for Merit and Excellence grades to ease their progression to a higher level of study.

Further information about NCEA can be found on our website.