NCEA and NZ Scholarship examinations underway

Issue: Volume 96, Number 20

Posted: 13 November 2017
Reference #: 1H9g7J

NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship examinations began last week, with approximately 143,000 students throughout the country entered for one or more examinations.

The first examination was New Zealand Scholarship Drama on the morning of 9 November.  NCEA Level 1 English, on 13 November, is the examination with the largest number of entries – more than 47,000 students have entered for this examination. The last examinations are scheduled for the afternoon of Friday 1 December.

This year, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has employed more than 1,600 subject matter experts to mark examinations, including six digital examinations. Just over 5,100 students have been entered for digital examinations. Fifty-five schools are participating in Digital Pilot examinations, which are available in English, media studies and classical studies at NCEA Level 1 and for selected schools at Level 2.

A Digital Pilot examination is the digital version of the printed paper, and therefore does count towards NCEA. Digital Trials, conducted during term 3 and early term 4, are digital examinations that do not count towards a student’s NCEA but may provide evidence towards a derived grade.

End of year examinations are a significant event in the school year. NZQA begins planning for each examination round 18 months in advance. In addition to markers, NZQA employs examination centre managers and supervisors for the 119 examinations, held across more than 400 examination centres.

NZQA’s deputy chief executive for assessment, Kristine Kilkelly, says NZQA has procedures in place for students and schools should there be a large-scale disruption during the examination period, such as the Kaikōura earthquake and flooding that severely affected some areas of the country last year.

“The well-established and streamlined emergency grade process will ensure that NCEA students can achieve an authentic grade for their work if they are unable to sit one or more of their scheduled examinations, or their performance is impaired as a result of the event.”

If a significant event occurs, NZQA will be in direct contact with schools. Students and whānau are encouraged to check their school’s website or parent portal for any updates, or NZQA’s website and social media pages.

Provisional NCEA results will be released in mid-January, with the exact date to be confirmed after examinations finish in December. New Zealand Scholarship results will follow in February.  

Did you know?

Approximately 620,000 personalised examination booklets and 1,834,000 pieces of examination material have been printed for this year’s examinations.

More than 8,000 students are entered for one or more of the 26 New Zealand Scholarship examinations.

Approximately 500 students in 1,100 examination sessions will have papers in te reo Māori.

New Zealand Scholarship Latin, on the morning of Wednesday 29 November, is the smallest examination, with entries from 22 students.

BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz

Posted: 9:00 am, 13 November 2017

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