Following issues with the digital assessment platform during 2023 end-of-year examinations, NZQA commissioned an external review into the root causes, along with how we can improve the delivery of digital assessments.
The review findings acknowledged the benefits of digital assessment for students and schools, while highlighting that digital assessment is not only a technology challenge, but also an organisational and system wide one.
During 2024 and 2025, NZQA implemented an Action Plan focused on strengthening governance and assurance, reviewing vendor arrangements and improving how NZQA plans for peak assessment events, while building capability across the organisation to support integrated, end to end assessment delivery.
Through this time, new records for digital participation were set without any recurrence of the 2023 platform issues.
NZQA continues to work to reduce the potential for future disruption, and ensure digital assessment continues to support fair, reliable, and accessible assessment for all students.