understanding NCEA ~ māramatanga NCEA
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is the main qualification for secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand. NCEA is recognised by employers, and used for selection by universities and other tertiary education providers in New Zealand and overseas. Ellesmere College Te Kāreti o Waihora offers NCEA Level 2 and 3.
There are two types of standards that contribute to NCEA:
Achievement Standards — these recognise learning from National Curriculum subjects. Students can achieve these standards with grades of: Achieved with Excellence, Achieved with Merit, Achieved, Not Achieved.
Unit Standards — these recognise learning in other areas (such as vocational learning and te ao Māori). These standards usually only offer Achieved or Not Achieved grades (ie, they are either pass or fail).
Literacy and numeracy ~ TE PANUITANGA ME TE TAU
Literacy and numeracy are foundational skills and are an important part of NCEA.
Literacy or te reo matatini is the ability to read, write and speak. Numeracy or pāngarau is the ability to use mathematics in daily life.
To gain an NCEA qualification, students need to achieve a 20-credit co-requisite using the new Literacy and Numeracy standards. Students achieve these credits by sitting external Common Assessment Activities (CAAs).
External Literacy and Numeracy CAAs are digital-first, meaning students complete assessments online. Students have a minimum of 60 minutes to complete each assessment. Students can take as long as they need provided the assessment is delivered in a single session.
Schools manage the delivery of Literacy and Numeracy CAAs. They decide when to deliver an assessment, but it must be during the 2-week assessment periods the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) set.
Year 7-10 ~ Tau 7-10
At Ellesmere College/Te Kāreti o Waihora we put ākonga at the centre of learning and offer a self directed approach which allows ākonga to have the opportunity to co-design their learning. Our Junior school curriculum consists of three learning kete or spaces - Hapori, Ako and Connected Learning Modules (CLM).
Year 11 ~ TAU 11
Year 11 is divided into two semesters with no compulsory subjects. Students select six subjects each semester. Students complete internal assessments only and prepare for NCEA Level 2 by:
Learning various subjects
Gaining the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisite
Additional graduation requirements:
Engagement 3.2, 60% pass rate, attendance >95%
Year 12 ~ TAU 12
Year 12 students have no compulsory subjects. Students select six subjects similar to those available to Year 11 students. Students focus on NCEA Level 2 with 60 credits required to gain the qualification.
The credits must be minimum of Level 2 and the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisite must be attained. Students complete:
Unit Standards
Internal Achievement Standards
External Achievement Standards
Additional graduation requirements:
Engagement 3.2, 60% pass rate, attendance >95%
YEAR 13 ~ TAU 13
Year 13 students have no compulsory subjects. Students select six subjects similar to those studied in year 11. Students focus on NCEA Level 3 with 60 credits required to gain the qualification.
The credits must be a minimum of Level 3 and the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisite must be attained. Students complete:
Unit Standards
Internal Achievement Standards
External Achievement Standard
