Ngā mihi raumati ki a koutou katoa.
Amanda Picken and the School Quality Assurance and Liaison team wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer break.
On this page
Derived grade application process
Derived grade applications are due to NZQA by 8 December.
NZQA may accept late derived grade applications exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the candidate.
Please email derivedgrades@nzqa.govt.nz explaining the reason for the late application and to request a Late Application Form.
Please note no applications can be accepted after results have been released in January (in accordance with Assessment Rule Schedule 2 3.1.5).
There are no derived grades for Literacy and Numeracy.
Seminars 2023
Leading National Assessment (LNA) seminars
This is an opportunity for Principals’ Nominees and senior leaders managing assessment to meet to discuss issues and receive updates on assessment initiatives.
Principals’ Nominees new to the role
Prior to the LNA seminars, we will running some online workshops for Principals’ Nominees new to the role.
It will focus on critical, need to know information. We strongly recommend that new PNs attend both.
Teachers new to NCEA/Managers of teachers new to NCEA
If you are responsible for supporting teachers new to NCEA, or you are new yourself, then these workshops will introduce you to the basics of Standards Based Assessment, how NCEA works and how it is changing.
Seminars will be held late February to early March 2024. Exact details for all seminars will be sent in January.
General administration and data
Change of postal addresses
NCEA Level 3 and NZ Scholarship Visual Arts students who have a permanent change of address after your final data file for 2023 is sent to NZQA need to contact us on 0800 697 296 before 19 December to update their details to ensure portfolios are returned to the correct address.
Remember that for any returning students, you will also need to make any address changes in your SMS before the first data file submission in 2024.
Analysing results by course or standard
The Candidates Entries and Results Report will provide added options for you to filter and sort students’ results for analysis, including being able to check for internal entries with no reported results.
This report can filter for assessment method (digital exam or submission) and export to pdf, html or Excel formats.
It can be found through your Provider Login at Reports/Candidate Entries and Results Report.
Students using NCEA overseas
You can find information about specific country requirements for the recognition of NCEA on our website.
Applying to study overseas with NCEA
This includes information on requirements for United States National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Scholarships.
Please continue to advise students to check international admission requirements for the education institution they plan to enrol in, including the credit and subject requirements needed for entry into competitive programmes.
International fee-paying students can download an Overseas Results Notice from the “order documents” section of the Learner Login.
If you or your students have any questions, please contact NZQA on internationalunit@nzqa.govt.nz.
Key Dates calendar and Wall Planners 2024
The 2024 Key Dates calendar will be published on the NZQA website here in mid-December and will include electronic versions (docx, pdf and CSV) that can be downloaded.
Key dates for secondary assessment
Physical copies will be sent to those schools who didn't opt out in the first week of Term 1 2024.
End of Year Examination Timetable 2024
The 2024 end of year examination timetable will be published on the NZQA website in mid-December.
National secondary examination timetable
NCEA fees for international students
In late September, schools were issued with invoices for international fee-paying students. Unpaid invoices are now overdue.
In January 2024 we will review international students’ data held by NZQA. Invoices will be issued for any international fee-paying students who have had results or entries reported to NZQA after 1 September, where the schools were not invoiced.
External assessment
Reconsideration application fees waived for students who meet income criteria
NZQA will waive the fee for students who meet the income criteria and apply for a reconsideration of an NCEA or New Zealand Scholarship result. The reconsideration fee waiver application form is available through the Student Login.
The fee will be waived for students:
- whose parent or guardian (or a person with relevant care responsibilities) is receiving a Work and Income or Study Link benefit; or
- where the joint family income would entitle the family to receive a community services card (as set annually by the Ministry of Social Development).
Information to students will be included with results release and alongside assessed responses on the NZQA website, so you do not need to take any action.
However, you may wish to use your own communication channels to also let students and their families know.
Some students may seek your advice about how to apply in February after their papers are available.
A Review Confirmation Process (RCP) is available for students who undertook assessment via the Common Assessment Activities (CAA) for Literacy and Numeracy. There is no charge for this review.
The RCP must be requested by the teacher and further details can be requested from LitNum@nzqa.govt.nz.
Results Publication and Return to Candidate Processes
Results will be available from 17 January, through the Student Login
Students who sat 2023 NCEA end of year exams will be able to use their Student Login details to access their digital or scanned paper exams online from 23 January.
Students who do not achieve the Literacy and Numeracy standards will be able to access a feedback report. Students’ will not be able to access their CAA.
Students sitting NZ Scholarship can access their digital or scanned paper exams and grade online from 9 February. These will be available online until the end of June 2024.
This includes any scanned blank paper answer books, but not blank digital ones.
Paper based exam booklets won’t be returned in the mail, with the exceptions of Level 3 and NZ Scholarship Visual Arts portfolios. Design & Visual Communication portfolios are returned to the school.
Digital submissions will not be returned.
Accessing marked digital and scanned exam papers
See the NCEA Results section of our website for more information.
Provisional 2023 NCEA statistics and Principal’s Reports will be available on 19 January 2024.
Feedback on 2023 external assessments
If you would like to provide feedback on the 2023 external assessments:
Submit this online feedback form (external link)
RAS pilot external assessment material
Level 1 RAS material for external assessments will be published on the NZQA website on the dates below.
| Resource | Location when published | Publication date |
|---|---|---|
| NZC New Level 1 achievement standards | Website resource search database (external link) | 12 December 2023 |
| NZC Level 1 assessment specifications | Website resource search database (external link) | 7 December 2023 |
| TMoA, NZC Kaupapa Ako Māori, and TRMP assessment specifications | Website resource search database (external link) | 12 December 2023 |
| RAS 2023 Exam papers and exam material | Website resource search database (external link) | By first week of December 2023 |
| RAS 2023 Digital exams | Past digital assessments search database (external link) | Early 2024 (date TBC) |
| RAS Assessment schedules | Website resource search database (external link) | After results release (end of January 2024) |
| RAS Assessment reports | Website resource search database (external link) | By first week of February 2024 |
| Exemplars from 2023 RAS external assessments or sample assessments | Website resource search database (external link) | By May 2024 |
Please note that 2022 pilot exemplar and 2023 sample assessment material previously available on our website will be removed.
The 2023 RAS resources should be used with caution as they are based on now-expired versions of achievement standards.
Please refer to the newest exemplars listed above.
The latest versions of achievement standards can be found on the NZQA website from 12 December 2023.
Search for an achievement standard (external link)
Previous versions of the new Level 1 achievement standards can be found on the Ministry of Education website.
NCEA Education website (external link)
During the development of Level 1 achievement standards, several versions were created. A list of these version numbers is available showing in which year of development each version was used.
Please refer to this list to compare the content of the current and previous versions of achievement standards.
List of version numbers for reviewed Level 1 achievement standards [PDF, 178 KB]
For more information on the Review of Achievement Standards, please refer to the Ministry of Education’s website.
NCEA results
Reporting amendments and additions to internally assessed results
You can amend or add 2023 internally assessed results from 12 December until 11.59 pm on 28 February 2024. Find instructions on how to do this in a Word document at the bottom of your Provider login page.
Check Data File Submission error messages to ensure that there are no results reported for which the school, or assessing provider, does not have consent to assess. Make sure you have used the correct external provider code or site code.
If you need to add a result for a standard for which you do not already have entries, please contact a NZQA Learner Records Advisor (schools@nzqa.govt.nz) or your School Relationship Manager.
Once your file has one entry for a standard, you will be able to report further results.
Note: Schools using the web entry process should refer to instructions sent to them about how they can add results.
New Zealand Record of Achievement (NZRoA)
The NZRoA for students will be updated with 2023 results when qualifications are released in January 2024.
It is then available in electronic format, or can be ordered in hard copy, through the Learner login.
Students are entitled to one hard copy free of charge, with further copies costing $15.30 each.
Updated guide to NCEA
Schools will be able to order updated copies of the Guide to NCEA from early 2024.
The updated Guide includes information for 2024 and 2025, including the 60-credit structure for NCEA and the Literacy, Numeracy, Te Reo Matatini me Te Pāngarau co-requisite.
Look for an email from SQAL early in the new year, with an order form for printed copies when these are available in mid-February.
Digital (PDF) copies of the updated Guide in English, Te Reo Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Niuean, Fijian and Kiribati will be downloadable from NZQA’s website in early February.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa
Navigating NZQA’s new-look website: Te Pā Mātauranga
Te Pā Mātauranga is the new landing page where you can find information and resources for:
- Field Māori
- Te Marautanga o Aotearoa wāhanga ako
- Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau
- New Zealand Curriculum – kaupapa ako Māori (Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Haka)
Visit Te Pā Mātauranga by clicking on the ‘Māori’ tab at the top of the NZQA home page and selecting Te Pā Mātauranga in the menu.
You can still access the subject pages via the:
Main NCEA subjects page (external link)
Te Arotake: Seeking your feedback
We are seeking feedback from kura who participated in the Review of Achievement Standards for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, NZC Te Reo Māori and Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau in 2023.
As part of understanding the requirements of our kaiako in delivering the new achievement standards we have developed a questionnaire.
We would appreciate if you could take 2-3 minutes of your time to complete this.