To:
Principal
Principal's Nominee
All teachers
As outlined in a letter to Principals from NZQA Chief Executive, Dr Grant Klinkum in June, and the June EmaiLink, we are making changes to the provision of paper-backups available to students entered for NCEA digital end of year examinations.
From 2025, personalised paper-backups will no longer be provided for students entered for NCEA digital examinations.
Personalised paper-backups will remain for NZ Scholarship examinations, as it is a competitive examination with no derived grade option.
What does this mean?
Accuracy of entries is critical
It is important that student entries are as accurate as possible, as personalised paper-backups will not be provided for students entered for NCEA digital examinations. All entries for an individual candidate for a particular session need to be either digital or paper, not a combination of both.
Special Assessment Conditions
Any paper or digital entries (as of 1 September) with Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) of reader/writer will continue to receive an additional paper for the reader/writer to use. Students requesting an Enlarged Paper SAC will receive a personalised version, regardless of whether they are entered for paper or digital. These papers are provided in addition to the general paper or digital buffer.
Resource booklets
Printed resource booklets will continue to be provided as a paper copy for all students entered in a digital examination.
Digital buffer packs
An increased number of non-personalised buffer packs equivalent to 15% of the number of students entered, or 2 papers (whichever is the highest), will be provided to support students in the event of device failure, or other circumstances preventing them from completing the examination digitally on the day. These digital buffer packs provided are in addition to the general paper buffer packs.
Widespread disruption
In the event of widespread disruption to a digital examination, schools will not be expected to print additional papers for each student.
If there is a digital disruption that is significant and beyond a student’s control, then derived grades at scale will apply. This is the same process schools would follow for other widespread disruptions, such as significant weather events.
Schools must report quality assured grades through their student management system (SMS) before the external examination period starts, in case a derived grade is required.
Optional school printing: Principals’ Nominees, with support from Exam Centre Managers, may choose to print additional papers to enable students to continue the examination on paper. Additional printing would be at the school’s cost and must adhere to NZQA instructions to ensure that student responses are identifiable. Updated guidance on managing and labelling used non-personalised papers will be provided to Exam Centre Managers.
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
Email: firstname.lastname@nzqa.govt.nz