Kāpiti College
NQF – procedures for NCEA and
other National Certificates
Information for students and caregivers
2015
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NCEA Credits
NCEA Level
Credits required
NCEA Level 1
80 credits (at Level 1 or above)
144
 10 Level 1 Literacy (minimum)
 10 Level 1 Numeracy (minimum)
80 credits
120
 60 at Level 2 or above plus 20 at any level
 10 Level 1 Literacy
 10 Level 1 Numeracy
80 credits
100
 60 at Level 3 or above plus 20 at Level 2
or above
 10 Level 1 Literacy
 10 Level 1 Numeracy
Achievement of Level 3 NCEA, including 14 credits from each of 3 approved subjects
+
UE Literacy - 5 + 5 reading and writing credits
 from specific standards at level 2 or
above
 from specific Level 2 or above te Reo
Maori standards
 from 2 specific level 4 English for
academic purposes unit standards
+
10 numeracy credits at Level 1 or abovefrom
specific achievement, or three specific numeracy
unit standards. (Level 1 Numeracy)
NCEA Level 2
NCEA Level 3
University Entrance
Scholarships
Endorsement certificates
and Course Endorsements
Average number of
credits available per
student
A scholarship is a monetary award to recognise top students in NZ. It does not attract
credits nor contribute towards a qualification but the fact that a student has gained a
scholarship appears on the Record of Achievement. It can help students gain access
to courses at Tertiary level.
Students have the opportunity to gain a scholarship by completing another
examination for each subject in Year 13.
Certificate Endorsements - Students require 50 credits at Excellence to gain an NCEA
endorsed with excellence and 50 credits at Merit (or Merit and Excellence) to gain an
NCEA endorsed with Merit. Credits can be gained over one or more years, but need
to be specific to the level of the certificate or above.
Subject/Course Endorsements – Students require 14 credits at Excellence (or Merit
and above) in a particular course. They must gain at least 3 credits externally and 3
credits internally. Credits must be gained in the same year.
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What is NCEA?
NCEA consists of three certificates: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
The table on the previous page shows the requirements for each certificate. The key points are:
 To get any certificate the minimum number of credits is 80
 A single subject will offer about 20 - 24 credits
 To qualify for Level 1 you have to gain 10 credits in English or Te Reo Maori, and 10 numeracy
credits, as part of the 80 credits.
 20 of your Level 1 credits count towards Level 2, and 20 Level 2 credits count towards Level 3, as
well as counting for the original certificate.
 Multi Level courses allow you to earn credits for more than one certificate - you can use Level 2 or 3
credits towards a Level 1 Certificate if you don’t have enough.
How does the system work?
Students studying for NCEA may attempt two types of standards – achievement standards and unit
standards. Each standard is worth anywhere between 2 and 8 credits usually, and will assess a particular
aspect of a subject.
Students attempting achievement standards are assessed according to 4 grades: Not Achieved (N),
Achieved (A), Merit (M), and Excellence (E). Most unit standards carry only two grades: Not Achieved (N)
and Achieved (A). All unit standards and some achievement standards are assessed internally – here at
school by your teachers.
Not-Achieved grade is awarded when a student has been given the opportunity to achieve but doesn’t turn
up for the assessment, misses the deadline or whose work does not meet the standard. The school is
required to report these Not Achieved results to NZQA. Please note: a student who passes with Excellence
gains no more credits than someone who gets Merit or Achieved, but each Excellence credits counts
towards a certificate endorsement, and a subject/course endorsement.
Some achievement standards are assessed by an examinationt at the end of the year – these are called
external standards.
A student who does not attempt a standard in an examination (either by being absent from the
examination or by not writing any answers in the question booklet) is not awarded a grade for that
standard.
What about other National Certificates?
Credits gained for the NCEA may be used towards meeting the requirements of other qualifications such
as:
 National Certificate in Computing (Level 2 and Level 3)
 National Certificate in Employment Skills (Level 1)
 National Certificate in Tourism and Travel (Introductory Skills)(Level 2)
 National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Parenting (Level 3)
 National Certificate in Cookery (Level 1 and Level 2)
These qualifications require 40 credits or more and contain both compulsory standards and some
restrictions. They may take two years to complete, and may be completed after the student leaves school.
There is additional fee over and above the NCEA fee for these Certificates.
Further details about these National Certificates is available on the NZQA website – http://nzqa.govt.nz/
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Course and Assessment Details
Students will receive a course outline for every subject they take. This contains:
 course aims and a list of topics
 For each standard offered in the course title, version, the number of credits, how it will be
assessed, approximately when the assessment will take place, whether a further assessment
opportunity will take place.
 For specific courses it will also indicate standards that contribute towards
 NCEA Level 1 Numeracy
 NCEA Level 1 Literacy
 UE Numeracy
 UE Literacy – reading
 UE Literacy – writing
 An assessment schedule
 Advice on how to succeed
 Authenticity requirements
It is very important that these statements are kept safe, and that an overall assessment plan is created so
that you know when several pieces of work are due at the same time.
Enrolling for NCEA
This is done by Kāpiti College. Early in Term 2 you will get a card with your NSI (National Student
Identification) – a 9 digit number unique to you, and information how to access the NZQA website.
Throughout the year you will be given progress reports. You need to regularly visit the NZQA website to
check your results are being correctly loaded and monitor your progress. All results are required to be sent
to NZQA, including Not Achieved.
By mid August you will be required to confirm the external standards you will be sitting at the end of the
year. After September 1 it is impossible to withdraw your entry from any external standard.
Fees NCEA results are available on NZQA website from mid- January 2016. You will only receive these if you
have paid the required fee by December 2015. Non-payment of this fee means you get no official record of
your credits. Financial Assistance is available, to all families who receive a benefit or whose income is at or
below the threshold for eligibility for a Community Services Cards. Information will be available in Term 2.
Scholarship exams require an additional fee per subject.
Special Assessment Conditions
These are available to students who have special learning needs which meet the criteria set down by
NZQA. This requires an assessment by a Level C assessor or similar. These generally need to have been
completed by the end of Y10. Approved SAC are available for internal and external standards. See HOD
Learning Support for more information.
Authenticity
Plagiarism is a breach of the rules and you are guilty of it when you use the work of another student or
published author (includes the use of maps and diagrams or succinct quotations) to support your own
statements without acknowledging the other person’s work or ideas in either footnote or bibliography.
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Therefore you are required to acknowledge resources you used, including the names of people you
consulted about your assessment with a brief description of how the person assisted you.
You may also be required to sign a declaration of authenticity when you hand in your work.
If a breach of the rules is suspected
 The teacher will retain the evidence of the breach and discuss the situation with the Principal’s
Nominee.
 The teacher will notify the parent/guardian of the alleged breach of the rules.
 The Principal’s Nominee will investigate the matter, keep a written record of the investigation and
consult with other relevant specialists as required.
 The PN will make the final decision and notify the student and the parent/guardian in writing of the
outcome of the investigation.
 The school will report Not Achieved if the breach is proven.
Guidelines concerning authenticity




Ideas obtained from written sources should be expressed in your own words.
If material is quoted word-for-word it must be shown as a quote by using speech marks, and the
source shown.
All sources, including internet addresses, must be listed in a bibliography set out as directed by your
teacher.
Art folios, music compositions, technology projects etc must be all your own original work. You
must not use elements which have been designed, created, or produced by someone else unless
specified by the teacher.
Late or Missed Assignments
Late work for assessments will not be accepted. Students need to keep tabs on what is due when and
when tests and fieldtrips etc are on. As a general principle these activities take precedence over other,
conflicting activities.
Where there is a conflict with another school-related activity (eg sports fixture, field trip, camp) you must
discuss the issue with your teacher before the clash arises, and see what can be done to reschedule the
assessment. You must also complete an Application for Extension form.
Sometimes you may be unable to be at an assessment or hand it in the day it is due, because of illness or
exceptional circumstances beyond your control. You MUST complete an Application for Extension form
within 48 hours of your return to school, and give it to your teacher. Failure to do this could lead to an N
result.
Further assessment and Resubmission
At Kāpiti College, one further assessment opportunity will be given for internally assessed standards,
where the department concerned has decided it is reasonable and practicable to do so.
Check your assessment statement to see which standards provide a further assessment opportunity.
Further assessment involves the student completing a new task or the same task in a different context,
and follows the following guidelines:
 One further opportunity for assessment of a standard can be provided each year. This does not
mean one must be offered, but if it is offered, it must be offered to all students, and all assessment
grades must be available.
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 A further assessment opportunity is only appropriate after additional teaching and learning has
taken place.
 The highest grade gained by a student is the one which will be reported to NZQA.
Resubmission takes place before feedback is given by your teacher, and no further teaching or learning is
provided. It is an opportunity for you to find and correct errors or mistakes in already submitted work.
Resubmissions follow these guidelines:
 A resubmission should be limited to specific aspects of the assessment and no more than one
resubmission should be provided.
 Students should be capable of discovering and correcting immediately.
 Any resubmission must not compromise the authenticity or validity of the work
 A resubmission can be offered after either the first or the further assessment opportunity or after
both.
Appeals
A student has the right to appeal any assessment decision. These include, but are not limited to, their
awarded grade, an allegation that they have a Breach of the Rules or a decision affecting their access to
assessment.
In the first instance the student should try to resolve the issue directly with the teacher concerned. If this
does not produce a satisfactory outcome for the student they should lodge a formal appeal. The student
should lodge this within five days of being notified of the initial assessment decision.
A student does not forfeit their right to appeal by acknowledging the return of their work or by sighting
their grade.
The Appeal Application Form must be used for the formal appeal.
Privacy of Results, Retention of Work and Use of Work as Exemplars
When an assessment is returned to you after marking you will be able to study it and check it but you will
not be able to keep it. This is because a proportion of papers will be checked by NZQA moderators to see
that our standards of assessing are in line with national standards.
You have the right to have your results remain private to you and your family, and you must give your
permission if your work is to be used as an exemplar to show other students.
Significance of Practice Exams and Tests for externals
If you are unable to attend an NZQA examination in November, because you are sick or have suffered the
effects of some exceptional circumstance, you may apply for a Derived Grade. These grades are based on
evidence you have produced during the year for the particular standards which are being assessed in the
examination.
This evidence must come from the end-of-topic test, and the practice exams we hold in August.
Therefore it is essential for you to achieve to the best of your ability in these tests and exams – do not treat
them lightly!!
Please Note: The forms mentioned in the information are all attached to this information, and they are available from the
Student Services Office at the end of the Staff Room, and on the Kāpiti College website.
If you have any questions regarding the information in this booklet, or need more clarification about NCEA and its processes,
please contact Kāpiti College Principal’s Nominee, Mrs Cathy Stewart (9025121 Ext 870); cathy.stewart@kc.school.nz
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Kāpiti College
Appeal of Assessment Decision
Fill in the top section, attach an appropriate letter or other relevant information and hand in to the office or your teacher
Name:
Form class:
Date of Application:
Subject and Name of Teacher:
Standard number and title:
Type of assessment (practical, assignment, test, etc):
Date of assessment or due date:
Circle to indicate the assessment decision that you are appealing:
1.The Grade
2. Missed/late assessment
3. Further assessment
4. A breach of the rules (eg. Misconduct, cheating, plagiarism)
5. Other ___________
Explain why you think the incorrect assessment decision has been made:
What do you think is the correct assessment decision?
(please state or attach any evidence that you have to support this)
Notes of person investigating:
Decision of person investigating:
Outcome communicated to student by _____________________ date
________________
Outcome communicated to other parties (please name) __________________ by
_______________________ date _____________
Signed _________________
Date: _______
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Application For Extension
Fill in the top section, attach appropriate letters or certificates and hand to your subject teacher. They will inform you of the
decision made, and file this application with your work.
Name:
Form Class
Date of Application:
Assessment details:
Subject and name of teacher:
Standard number and title:
Type of assessment (practical, assignment, test, etc)
Date of assessment or due date:
Reason for missing assessment: (please tick one)

Illness: medical certificate may be required; letter from home attached

Family/personal trauma/exceptional circumstances: documentation must be attached
(eg letter from parent, counsellor, or form teacher/dean)

School sporting/cultural activity: ______________________________
Signature of teacher-in-charge of activity: __________________
Decision by HOD/Principal’s Nominee:
Extension granted. New due date: ____________
New assessment date granted. New date: __________
Application denied. Comment _________________________________
The reason for this decision has been explained to me and I accept the decision
Signed: ____________________ (student)
Signed: __________________________ (staff member).
Date: _____________