National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)

·       National Certificate in Educational Achievement is the main New Zealand qualification for Secondary school students.

·       Most NCEA subjects are assessed using a combination of internal assessment (during class time) and external assessment (end-of-year exams or outside marking of portfolios), with “credits” earned going towards the NCEA qualification.

·       Knowledge and skills assessed using “Achievement Standards” are recognised at four levels:

• not achieved
• achieved
• achieved with merit
• achieved with excellence.

·       NCEA  is awarded at Level 1 (Year 11) when 80 Level 1 credits are earned. The 80 credits need to contain:

o  L1 Literacy (10 credits in English or Te Reo) and

o  L1 Numeracy (10 credits in Mathematics)

·       NCEA is awarded at Level 2 (Year 12) when 80 credits are earned – with at least 60 at Level 2 or above, plus L1 Literacy and L1 Numeracy.

·       NCEA is awarded at Level 3 (Year 13) when 80 credits are earned – with at least 60 at Level 3 or above, plus L1 Literacy and L1 Numeracy.

·       U.E is gained by a combination of:

                i.         Level 3 NCEA plus

               ii.         U.E. Literacy plus

              iii.         L1 Numeracy plus

             iv.         At least 14 credits in three approved L3 subjects.

New Zealand Scholarship

New Zealand Scholarship is a separate award from NCEA, and is assessed by way of end-of-year external examinations.  The examinations are separate from the Level 3 examinations. Students can gain awards in individual subjects, and various other special awards.

·       More information on NCEA can be found at:

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new-zealand/secondary-school-and-ncea/