Process for conferring Unspecified Credits for adverse events or exam booklet mix ups

These are the processes to follow and eligibility criteria for School Leavers to access Unspecified Credits in one of the following situations:

1. Adverse events
2. Exam booklet mix ups (following results release).

1. Processes for conferring Unspecified Credits for Adverse Events

1.1. Purpose

The purpose of the Unspecified Credits for Adverse Events process is to support Candidates affected by Adverse Events to be awarded the NCEA qualification they are enrolled in, by conferring up to 5 credits (unspecified) so that they can achieve the qualification. 

1.2. Eligibility Criteria

For the award of Unspecified Credits for Adverse Events, an affected Candidate must be enrolled in an NCEA qualification and must: 

1. be a School leaver; 
2. have experienced between 20-29 (inclusive) days of disruption by one or more Adverse events; and 
3. have achieved between 75-79 (inclusive) credits toward their NCEA qualification.

1.3. Triggering the Unspecified Credits for Adverse Events process

This process is triggered when the School: 

1. confirms that one or more Candidates are Affected Candidates; and
2. has put in place mitigation measures from at least three of the following intervention categories:
   1. adjusting assessment load:
   2. providing opportunities to achieve key standards for next steps: 
   3. evidence gathering for internal assessments: 
   4. recognition of prior learning where assessment has not been possible but where evidence of achievement exists.  

1.4. Responsibilities of Schools

The School triggering the process must:  

1. submit all Unspecified Credit applications by the relevant date published by NZQA; 
2. indicate whether they support the application; and
3. retain the application form and any supporting information, including attendance records for one year for audit purposes.  

1.5. NZQA decision-making process

NZQA will consider applications and will either:

1. request further information from the School in order to make a decision; or 
2. decline the application, and advise the Candidate and the School in writing of the decision together with reasons; or  
3. approve the application, advise the Candidate (through their NZQA learner log-in), advise the School (through the Provider Login), and award the NCEA qualification.  

1.6. How to request a review or appeal of the decision

1. Candidates or Schools may request a review of the NZQA Unspecified credit decision under clause 1.5 in writing to the Manager of School Quality Assurance and Liaison within 15 working days of the date the notification of the NZQA decision, providing reasons for the request.  
2. A Candidate or School may provide, and NZQA may request any of them to provide, any further evidence which supports the Candidate’s review request. 
3. Following a request, NZQA will review the decision together with any reasons and further evidence provided, then notify the Candidate and the School of the review outcome within 15 working days.  
4. Where the Candidate or School is not satisfied with the review outcome, the Candidate may appeal that outcome to NZQA’s Chief Executive.  
5. Appeals of review outcomes must be sent to NZQA within 15 business days of the date the review outcome was sent to the Candidate and a School.  
6. The Chief Executive will consider the merits of the appeal and notify the Candidate and the School of the Chief Executive’s decision, which will conclude the process.