To:
- Principal
- Principal’s Nominee
- All teachers
Updates to 2025 Assessment Specifications for NCEA and NZ Scholarship
Assessment specifications provide the annual parameters for each externally assessed standard and New Zealand Scholarship performance standard. They must be read alongside the applicable standards.
The assessment specifications for subjects externally assessed by examinations include the:
- method of the assessment
- equipment candidates can bring and use
- context for questions, where appropriate.
For the submitted portfolios or reports, they include the:
- format of the assessment
- portfolio/report specifications, including the type and volume of materials that may be submitted as evidence.
Some assessment specifications have been updated to provide further clarification of the requirements and conditions of the assessment. Assessment specifications can be found on individual subject pages:
Geography Level 1, 91935 will now be assessed solely through a paper-based examination and will not be available digitally.
Other assessment specifications have amendments, as follows:
| Subject | Level | Standard/s |
|---|---|---|
| Dance | 1 | 91938, 91939 |
| Design and Visual Communication | 1 | 92002, 92003 |
| Design and Visual Communication | 2 | 91337, 91338, 91339 |
| Design and Visual Communication | 3 | 91627, 91631 |
| Digital Technologies | Scholarship | 93604 |
| Drama | 1 | 91943 |
| Geography | 1 | 91935 |
| History | 1 | 92026 |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 1 | 91946 |
| Samoan | 2 | 91143 |
| Social Studies | 1 | 92050 |
| Social Studies | 3 | 91598 |
| Te Reo Matatini – Te Reo Torohū | 1 | 32413 |
| Te Reo Matatini – Te Reo Whakaputa | 1 | 32415 |
On this page
Design and Visual Communications assessment specification changes
These changes may have an impact on teaching and learning.
Achievement Standard 92003 - Use instrumental drawing techniques to communicate own product or spatial design outcome:
- Schools have the option of submitting material as a digital or physical submission.
- Students must ensure the resolution quality of their work is appropriate. If hand-drawn work is likely to lose quality when scanned, the portfolio must be submitted physically.
- The option of digital or physical submission will be an interim measure while NZQA works with the sector to explore how a digital submission can be universally implemented.
Achievement Standard 92002 will remain as a digital submission for 2025.
Achievement Standard 91339 - Produce instrumental perspective projection drawings to communicate design ideas:
- Schools must ensure the resolution quality of their work is appropriate. If scanning a hand-drawn submission is likely to reduce quality, the portfolio must be submitted physically.
- Submission instructions for both paper and digital submissions will be sent to schools on May 16, 2025.
Te Reo Matatini assessment specification changes
Unit Standard 32413 - Te Reo Matatini (Te Reo Torohū)
- Kete Manarua is no longer being offered.
- This standard will be assessed exclusively through Tūmahi Aromatawai Pātahi (TAPā).
- There are two TAPā assessment dates:
- TAPā 1: 19 –30 May 2025
- TAPā 2: 25 August – 5 September 2025
NZQA will provide the material to assess the TAPā and guidance and support will be provided for kura to confidently facilitate the TAPā.
Unit Standard 32415 - Te Reo Matatini (Te Reo Whakaputa)
- TAPā is no longer be available.
- There are two Kete Manarua submission dates instead.
- Evidence can be collected at any point in time throughout the year.
- There are two submission dates:
- Term 2 – Submissions close 30 May 2025
- Term 4 – Submissions close 29 October 2025.
NZ Scholarship
The following NZ Scholarship subjects have amended assessment specifications to reflect the option of a candidate being able to take the examination digitally:
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science, standard 93105
- Art History, standard 93301
- English, standard 93001
- History, standard 93403
- Religious Studies, standard 93603.
The following NZ Scholarship subjects are new in 2025:
- Digital Technologies, standard 93604: assessment must be taken digitally
- Psychology, standard 93405: candidates have the option of undertaking the assessment digitally or on paper.
Health and Physical Education NZ Scholarship changes
- The format and content of the report candidates produce for NZ Scholarship Health and Physical Education (standard 93501) has changed for 2025. These changes can be found in the new Assessment Specifications
Updated Assessment Specifications for Scholarship Health and Physical Education [PDF, 162 KB]
- Previously, candidates were required to access documents from external agencies for their reports. These documents are no longer useable.
- The assessment specifications have now been updated to include documents for use in 2025.
- These assessment specifications apply to all reports submitted for NZ Scholarship Health and Physical Education in 2025.
Enquiries
Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to your School Relationship Manager.
School Relationship Manager
School Quality Assurance and Support
Telephone: 04 463 3000