Information for the 2022 school year
Following continued disruption from Covid-19 this year, changes have been put in place to help give you a fair opportunity to get your NCEA or University Entrance (UE).
As in 2020 and 2021, these changes include Learning Recognition Credits (LRCs), which are based on the number of credits you achieve during the 2022 school year.
You are entitled to 1 LRC for every 5 credits earned through assessment, up to a maximum of:
| NCEA Level | Maximum LRCs |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 8 |
Find out more about earning and using Learning Recognition Credits
To receive a Certificate Endorsement, you will need 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, instead of the usual 50.
To be awarded University Entrance you will need 14 credits in each of 2 UE Approved Subjects, and 12 credits in a third UE Approved Subject. You also need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet literacy and numeracy requirements.
The submission dates for some externally assessed portfolios have also been moved back one week. NCEA and NZ Scholarship examinations will go ahead as planned.
Where your learning needs to extend into 2023, NZQA will work with your schools to facilitate you being awarded your qualification earlier in the year.
What else you need to know
LRCs will be calculated based on all the credits you have achieved in the 2022 academic year – including credits you earned in the first two terms, and in your end of year exams.
In the meantime, keep working to make sure that you achieve the standards you need for NCEA. Remember that if you continue to achieve you will be able to gain LRCs that will count towards your NCEA.
You don’t need to do anything else. NZQA will do the calculations before you get your results.
If you still need a few credits for NCEA or UE at the end of the year and achieve them next year, you can be awarded your NCEA or UE shortly afterwards, rather than having to wait until the end of 2023.
On this page
Information for the 2021 school year
All New Zealand students have experienced disruption from COVID-19 this year, and changes have been put in place to help give you a fair opportunity to get your NCEA or University Entrance (UE) this year.
As in 2020, these changes include Learning Recognition credits (LRCs), which are based on the number of credits you achieve during the 2021 school year.
In addition to these changes, end of year exam and portfolio submission dates for all students have been delayed, providing more time for teaching, learning and assessment.
The different tiers of support for different groups
Download the table showing the tiers of support:
NCEA support for COVID-19 disruption during 2021 – as at 20 October 2021 [PDF, 277 KB]
The same information showing the different tiers of support is provided in the links below:
What else you need to know
LRCs will be calculated based on all the credits you have achieved in the 2021 academic year – including credits you earned before the COVID-19 lockdown, and in your end of year exams.
In the meantime, keep working to make sure that you achieve the standards you need for your NCEA. Remember that if you continue to achieve you will be able to gain LRCs that will count towards your NCEA.
You don’t need to do anything else. NZQA will do the calculations before you get your results.
Schools should continue providing NZQA with grades from valid standard-specific evidence. This can be used for a Derived Grade or unexpected event grade if students are unable to sit end of year exams for a reason beyond their control.
An NCEA achieved or UE awarded in 2021 will be regarded the same as one achieved in any other year, allowing you to progress to the next level of study (including university for UE recipients) in 2022 or beyond.
Information for the 2020 school year
There were several changes made in 2020 to help students affected by COVID-19 to gain qualifications or awards.
On 8 September, the Minister of Education announced additional changes for students in Auckland.
Changes to NCEA in 2020 for students in Auckland
An NCEA achieved or UE awarded in 2020 is regarded the same as one achieved in any other year, allowing you to progress to the next level of study (including university for UE recipients) in 2021 or beyond.
Changes to NCEA in 2020
If you are working towards NCEA you can gain additional credits, based on the number of credits you achieve during the 2020 school year (after 1 March 2020).
These additional credits will be known as Learning Recognition credits.
Students in Auckland
For students in Auckland, you will earn 1 extra Learning Recognition credit for every 4 credits you achieve through internal or external assessment.
- If you are mainly studying for NCEA Level 1, you can get up to 16 Learning Recognition credits.
- If you are mainly studying for Level 2 or Level 3, you can get up to 12 Learning Recognition credits.
Students outside of Auckland
Students outside of Auckland will earn 1 extra Learning Recognition credit for every 5 credits you achieve.
- If you are mainly studying for NCEA Level 1, you can get up to 10 Learning Recognition credits.
- If you are mainly studying for Level 2 or Level 3, you can get up to 8 Learning Recognition credits.
If you don’t complete your NCEA this year, your Learning Recognition credits will count again in 2021.
Your teachers will help you to track your progress.
If you need any more information talk to your teacher or ring NZQA on 0800 697 296.
Changes to NCEA in 2020 for students outside Auckland
Certificate endorsements and course endorsements
To get a certificate endorsement this year you need 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, instead of the usual 50. Auckland students will need 44 credits.
Your Learning Recognition credits can’t count towards an endorsement.
To get a course endorsement this year you need 12 credits at Merit or Excellence level in a course rather than 14.
You still need to achieve at least 3 credits in externals and 3 in internals.
Changes to exam dates and portfolio due dates
Portfolio due dates and exams for NCEA and NZ Scholarship have been moved later to give you more time to learn and prepare.
If you take subjects where you submit a portfolio (like Design and Visual Communications), the due date for your portfolio is now 12 November 2020.
Changes to University Entrance in 2020
UE requirements have been reduced from 14 to 12 credits in three UE-approved subjects. You will still need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet literacy and numeracy requirements to be awarded University Entrance.
It is still important that you complete the standards necessary for the course of study you want to undertake at university.
Check any important prerequisites with the University you want to attend.
Temporary allowance for the provision of NCEA offshore in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic created considerable uncertainty about the continuation of New Zealand study pathways for international fee-paying students studying in New Zealand in 2020, as well as for the New Zealand schools that host and educate them.
To provide more certainty for these students and schools, the Education and Training Act 2020 temporarily allowed the Minister of Education to approve state and state integrated schools to provide education to their eligible students while they were offshore.
Read more about the temporary allowance for the provision of NCEA offshore in 2020