NZQA has a stated aim of offering digital assessments to all NCEA candidates by 2020. Roncalli College is proud to be early adopters of digital examinations.

In recent years, students have been able to volunteer for digital assessments and the experience of those candidates has been overwhelmingly positive. Keeping our sample of students in these digital exams small has allowed us to test our readiness for digital transformation and has shown us that we are now ready to fully participate in what NZQA calls the “Future State.”

In 2018, NZQA is offering Level 1 English students the option of participating in both its Digital Trials and Pilots. The English Department would like to provide all Level 1 students the opportunity to complete both their Term 3 practice and end-of-year NCEA external assessments through NZQA’s digital platform.
Digital Trials are practice exams that will take place during our Term 3 assessment week. These are administered by NZQA but marked by Roncalli English staff. They are not worth credits; however, students are able to use their performance in them for the purpose of derived grades in the exact same way they are able to do now. Digital Pilots are the NCEA externals that take place in November. These are digital versions of the paper exams that students would otherwise attempt. They are administered and marked by NZQA and carry credits with them.

The English Department, in consultation with the Academic Advisor and Digital Lead Teacher, has decided to enter every Level 1 student into NZQA’s Digital Trials in Term 3 assessment week (17-21 September). The rationale behind this is that our current Level 1 students will be attempting Level 3 in 2020, and we want them to be as prepared as possible for inevitable digital assessment.

There are some points to consider:

• Currently, NZQA is asking only for students to participate in the Digital Trials. Students are not yet enrolled in the end-of-year Pilots. Students completed the first set of practice exams on paper and sitting the Trials digitally will enable them to choose which version they prefer.

• We are offering Digital Trials as the default option. If students are uncomfortable with this and want to attempt the paper version, they can opt out and we will provide them with a printed copy. To enable adequate supervision and resourcing, students need to let their teacher know in advance if they want to sit the paper copy of their exams. Please note, however, that this may mean that they will not be able to participate in the digital exams next year.

• As we are not yet fully BYOD, the College cannot offer a computer to every student to use. Students are able to use their own device and we will, in fact, rely on some students to do so. These students will complete their exam together in a supervised room.

• If a student has special assessment conditions, these will still be met. For example, if a student is entitled to separate accommodation, then they will be placed in separate accommodation with an exam supervisor. If they are entitled to a reader-writer, then they will be placed in separate accommodation with a reader who will act as a supervisor. Please note that NZQA considers an electronic device a substitute for a physical writer. This means that if a student who is entitled to a writer wishes to sit the Digital Trial, then they cannot revert to a human writer. I will encourage all teachers to discuss the issues with these students in order to find the solution that works best for the student.

NZQA provides information about its Future State, including the Digital Trials and Pilots, here: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/future-state/digital-assessment-trials-pilots/

I encourage you to talk about this opportunity with your student and if you have any questions or concerns about the process, then please do not hesitate to contact either myself or your student’s English teacher directly.

Nāku iti noa, nā,

Andrew Williamson

Curriculum Leader, English