Myth 9: Derived grades

Myths

Results from internally assessed standards can be submitted as derived grades.
Evidence for derived grades can be partial and naturally occurring in learning activities.
A teacher can collect a derived grade after a student misses an NZQA exam.
Derived grades from practice assessments do not need to be quality assured.
I can predict the grade based on my professional judgement.
Unmodified NZQA exam papers can be used to generate a derived grade.
A student cannot apply for a derived grade if they sat the examination.
The Principal's Nominee approves derived grade applications.

Derived grades can only be used for external assessments because they provide a result for a student who couldn’t attend an external exam or assessment or submit a portfolio, or attended an external assessment but their performance was significantly impaired.

Schools must collect evidence for derived grades in a way that mirrors how NZQA assesses an external standard. The format and conditions should be similar, for example, formal practice assessments.
Sufficiently modifying past NZQA assessments and keeping commercially produced practice assessments secure helps to maintain authentic evidence.
Students should sit their exams and assessments whenever possible because NZQA will award the higher of the exam grade and the derived grade.
NZQA approves derived grades. If a school does not support a student’s application, they must still submit it to NZQA.
Students selected for national representation in a sport, cultural or academic event must apply for pre-approval.
Students can appeal to NZQA when derived grade applications are declined.
Evidence for a derived grade must be pre-existing (collected before an NCEA assessment), authentic and standard-specific. It should also be quality assured through verification or justification.

Senior management is responsible for ensuring that all derived grades are based on valid, authentic evidence and have been subject to quality assurance processes.
Like all external assessment results, derived grades are provisional until confirmed by NZQA.
A student making an individual application may choose not to apply for a derived grade when reported grade would be 'Not Achieved.
The derived grade process is not available for New Zealand Scholarship as it is a competitive award.
Derived grades are for events at the time of the external assessment, for example, temporary illness, injury, bereavement or misadventure.
Students suffering from long-term or recurring conditions may
- be entitled to Special Assessment Conditions
- be eligible for a derived grade if there is a sudden or significant change to their condition just before an external assessment
- have to accept that results from practice assessments may be affected by their conditions and that derived grades wouldn’t be appropriate.