Key dates and information
1 August
Data file submission: should contain all external entries (including NZ Scholarship)
- final date for submitting entries for Digital Practice Exams
- final date for requesting translation or marking in Te Reo Māori for external entries
- final date for confirming dates for DCAT and MCAT in Key Indicators – candidate entries will need to have already been made
- include as many exam entries for SAC candidates as possible and continue to keep it up to date.
4 August
Deadline for requesting Braille papers for external exams.
14 August
Results release for Literacy, Numeracy, Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau.
New Assessment Circular
NCEA Level 1 Mathematics and Statistics 91027 Common Assessment Task in 2023
Reminders from previous EmaiLinks
If a school is new to teaching Visual Arts at either or both Levels 1 and/or 2, or have lost their blue or red bag(s) to submit verification samples, the school must complete the online order form by 1 August.
On this page
Web entry schools
Web Entry functionality will be changing. It will enable you to update student records more instantaneously and select assessment opportunity where relevant. We are in the final stages of development, and we expect to introduce this to you in late September. We will be in contact with you by mid-August with further updates.
Student names and NSN cards
NZQA is required to use a student’s legal name and gender as provided by their school, and this is reflected in their records, including NSN cards. If a student legally changes their name and/ or gender, please forward a copy of their documents confirming this to NZQA so that we can update their record.
NZQA do not re-print NSN cards. Principals’ Nominees may print replacement information through MyNZQA> Searches> Learners by choosing View PDF Instructions for learner login. The PN should also sign the letter to verify the candidate is who they say they are.
Literacy and Numeracy - Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau co-requisite
Entries for Term 4 assessment opportunity
Please send in the majority of your entries by 1 August 2023. These entries will be for students who may not have been ready or were not able to participate in the first assessment opportunity.
As results for the June assessments are not released until the week of 14 August, we can accept entries up until 1 October 2023 to give students a further opportunity if they did not achieve in the first assessment.
International students
Schools are advised to check that the entry data they provide to NZQA accurately reflects the NCEA assessment programme for their international students. This includes reporting results for any internal assessment undertaken. After 1 September, NZQA will invoice the school to cover the relevant fees for all international students entered in assessment standards, including New Zealand Scholarship.
Schools must pay the invoice by 31 October. The relevant fees are set out in the Fee Schedule.
Payment of fees for International Fee Paying candidates to NZQA (external link)
SAC update
Attachment of SAC entitlements to external standards
Attaching SAC entitlements to external standards can be a lengthy process to complete and is essential if your Exam Centre Manager is to plan appropriately. Note that external entries must be submitted to NZQA before SAC can be attached to exam sessions. You can find a video explaining the process at the bottom of the main SAC page on our web page:
Special Assessment Conditions (external link)
Braille papers
SAC needs to be attached to the exam sessions for students requiring Braille papers as soon as possible and must be submitted to NZQA by Friday 4 August. No applications for Braille papers will be able to be approved after this date as there is considerable time required to create them.
If you have any students completing the MCAT assessment or the second assessment event for the Co-requisite standards later this year and who need the assessments in Braille, please email sac@nzqa.govt.nz with their details before Friday 4 August.
Using Generative AI in schools
Here are some points regarding Generative AI from the Ministry of Education that schools and teachers may find useful.
Generative AI (external link) - Ministry of Education
Remember that an online learning module on authenticity - titled “Tāku Reo, Tāku Mahi - My Voice, My Work” - is also available on Pūtake in the Short Courses category, and includes strategies to address AI evidence. The aim of this module is to emphasise the importance of students submitting their own work for assessments.
Change of exam centre
Students are able to sit their exams at other exam centres if they are unable to attend their usual exam centre, for example, if they are out of town.
Accessing draft NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards in preparation for 2024
For information on the draft-for-pilot NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards and associated materials, please visit the Ministry of Education’s NCEA Education website, the primary channel for all communications about changes to NCEA.
The draft-for-implementation Level 1 Achievement Standards will be available on the NCEA Education website by the beginning of Term 4.
Understanding How NCEA Requirements Are Changing (external link) - ncea.education.govt.nz
The Ministry’s NCEA Education website also contains information subject teachers and heads of departments need to plan NCEA courses for 2024. Staff may also find this recently published Ministry of Education communications resource useful in locating the information they need to support planning. The Ministry advises that the latest iterations of the materials were published in Term 2 of this year, and, for the most part, are ready to enable curriculum planning.
Planning Level 1 teaching and learning (external link) - ncea.education.govt.nz
Digital practice exams
This year, we are offering Digital Practice Exams (DPE) in Assessment Master for the following subjects and standards.
- English NCEA Level 1 - 90849, 90850, 90851
- Te Reo Māori NCEA Level 1 - 91087, 91088
- Te Reo Rangatira NCEA Level 1 - 91659, 91662, 91664
These DPEs will be available to schools for 3 weeks between 4 and 22 September.
Your students must have specific DPE entries in your SMS, or in the School Portal for Web Entry schools. These entries should be submitted to NZQA by data file as soon as possible. Entries are open until 1 August. This is the same process as last year.
Bookmark the NZQA digital practice exams 2023 web page to see:
- what’s involved in DPEs
- available resources
- where to get help.
NZQA digital practice exams 2023 (external link)
Please let our Assessment Centre and your School Relationship Manager know by email if you would like to nominate someone other than the Principal’s Nominee to be the key contact/administrator for these DPEs as this will assist NZQA in managing support for schools. Email us at assessment.service.centre@nzqa.govt.nz
NZQA will begin uploading the user manuals, eLearning modules and job aids for schools that have submitted entries from 25 July.
Digital submission on MyNZQA
Please be aware, NZQA has updated MyNZQA to pilot Digital Submissions under Exams and Assessments.
Every school will see the link PESS digital submissions pilot as a new addition to their menu, but only schools who are taking part in the Physics Earth and Space Science Level 1 RAS pilot will need to use it. This pilot will commence on Monday 31 July 2023 and finish on Friday 25 August 2023.
