Who is eligible for Special Assessment Conditions
Students may be eligible for SAC if they have:
- permanent or long term sensory
- physical or medical conditions or
- a specific learning disorder.
A student is eligible if they meet these requirements:
- The condition or disorder must directly impact on the student's access to fair assessment for national qualifications.
- The school must determine that the student is otherwise capable of attaining a national qualification.
- The special assessment conditions the school applies for must reflect the student's normal way of working.
- The student must consent to the school submitting the SAC application.
On this page
When providing SAC may be inappropriate or not allowed
SAC is not appropriate where:
- the integrity of the assessment may be compromised
- the assessment objectives of the standard may be compromised
- the SAC will provide unfair advantage over other candidates.
Types of SAC available
Find a list of learning, medical, physical and sensory impaired conditions matched with possible SAC support:
SAC support for some student needs
SAC for the Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite Common Assessment Activities
Schools don’t have to apply for SAC support for a student if, within a year, the student is only being assessed for the Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite Common Assessment Activities.
SAC provision for Literacy and Numeracy and Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau
Evidence schools need to make a SAC application
To submit a SAC application on behalf of a student, the school must provide:
either
Appropriate documented evidence from school-based testing or observations during the student's time at secondary school, or an attestation by the school that supports the specific SAC requested
or
Report from an appropriately qualified independent registered professional that recommends special assessment conditions to address the student's specified assessment needs. Any report from before the student's time at secondary school may need additional current evidence.
Making the first SAC application for a student
Approving or declining a SAC submission
There are details on the approvals process, messaging system and appeals in the:
SAC online tool guide [PDF, 1.9 MB]
If the school uses the Notifications Gateway, the SAC application is automatically approved. The school doesn’t need to upload any supporting evidence.
Schools must keep the supporting evidence for the application. NZQA may need this evidence if we review the process.
If the school uses the Approvals Gateway, NZQA will assess the application and approve or decline it (fully or partially).
When NZQA approves an application
If NZQA approves the SAC application:
- Inform the student and their parents or caregivers of the outcome.
- Inform teachers and make sure they check the assessments where students can use SAC:
When you can't apply SAC to assessments - Attach SAC provisions to external entries at the designated time.
When NZQA declines an application
If NZQA declines or partially declines the application, the school can decide whether to lodge an appeal of the decision or not.
If so, consult the SAC online tool guide for how to make an appeal.
Students can continue to use SAC during any appeal process until NZQA makes a final decision on the application.
Once NZQA has made a final decision, inform:
- the student and their parents or caregivers of the outcome
- teachers of the outcome.
Rolling over SAC provisions to the current year
Consult with the student and decide whether to roll over or change their SAC provision for the new year.
Schools only need to give extra evidence if they are requesting a change to the SAC provision.
Find out more about the process in the:
SAC online tool guide [PDF, 1.9 MB]
When not to roll over an application
An application should not be rolled over to the current year if the current application was declined (unless the school is requesting a change).
Conduct a needs analysis
Schools need to do an annual needs analysis to confirm whether:
- the student still needs the current SAC provision
- the SAC provision needs to change
- the student’s assessment load needs to be changed for example, changing the number and nature of standards.
A needs analysis could include:
- an interview with the student
- a review of the student’s actual use of SAC for assessments
- a review of comments from teachers, assistants and parents
- further testing if needed.
Students who transfer school
Transfers of SAC provision do not happen automatically.
Email NZQA’s SAC team (sac@nzqa.govt.nz) with the student’s name, NSN and the transfer details so the record can be updated if a student has:
- moved to another school
- enrols at your school and claims to have a SAC provision at another school.
NZQA will update their SAC records and transfer their SAC provisions.
The new school must hold evidence that SAC is required for the student, either sourced from the previous school or newly collated evidence.
NZQA's Rules for Special Assessment Conditions
NZQA annually publishes the rules about who is entitled to Special Assessment Conditions.
Read the relevant rules in the Assessment and Examination for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship Rules:
Go to Schedule 3: Candidate Special Assessment Conditions Processes