Myth 10 Courses and programmes

Myths

Students must take a course for a full academic year.
Standards assessed in a course must come from a single NCEA level and subject area.
Every student in a course must complete the same assessments.
A student achieving 14 credits in a Level 3 course will meet the requirement for one University Entrance approved subject.
A course must provide the opportunity for endorsement.
Schools can group standards that have already been assessed into a course to allow a student to gain an endorsement.
Course endorsements can include standards achieved over multiple years.
Students who change schools can’t get course endorsements.

a course outline should specify the learning and assessment available, preferably in a consistent format across all courses.
should offer a coherent, meaningful package of learning and assessment that supports students’ qualifications, goals and pathways.
can be full year, semester, or part-year.
may be designed to meet the needs of a student in an Individual Education Plan.
is made up of standards the school chooses and can include Achievement Standards and/or Unit Standards from a mix of NCEA levels, subjects, and assessing providers.
can include off-site practical or workplace assessment provided the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) of the standard are met.
does not need to offer an opportunity for course endorsement.

recognises the range and depth of understanding, skill and experience a student has achieved in a course within a single year.
can be achieved independently of achieving an NCEA qualification.
does not indicate that a course counts as a University Entrance approved subject. UE-approved subjects are determined by NZQA and universities and can be found on our website
NZQA awards a course endorsement:
- at the NCEA level of the lowest-level standard that contributed to the endorsement, at Achieved, Merit or Excellence
- where students achieve 14 or more credits at Achieved or Merit or Excellence within a single year, with a minimum of three externally assessed credits, and three internally assessed credits.
- courses exempted from the external assessment requirement include those comprised solely of standards from:
  - Level 2 Psychology
  - Level 2 and 3 Physical Education
  - Level 2 and 3 Religious Studies
  - Level 3 Visual Art.

Students transferring from one school to another during an academic year should not be disadvantaged in relation to course endorsement. Wherever possible, the new school of enrolment should set up students’ courses to accommodate standards already achieved at their previous school.
As a student’s NZQA achievement record reads: 'Course name' endorsed with 'grade', schools should give careful thought to course naming so they are clear, meaningful and do not include proprietary or sponsorship names.
The Consent to Assess guidelines require schools to systematically design and develop teaching and learning programmes that:
- meet New Zealand Curriculum and Workforce Development Council and other standard setting body requirements where appropriate
- are based on the needs of learners and other stakeholders and do not present unreasonable barriers to learning
- specify the learning outcomes and expected standards of achievement
- provide for learning outcomes that are achievable within the timeframe of the programme
- have appropriate content, teaching and learning strategies, teaching and learning resource requirements and assessments
- address equity issues
- integrate any off-site practical or workplace components.