About SAC
Submissions for SAC are made by schools to NZQA on behalf of students. SAC support is available for both internal and external assessments (exams).
Some examples of SAC:
- special papers for vision-impaired students
- writers or readers for students with learning disorders, such as dyslexia
- rest breaks for students with diabetes
- separate accommodation for students with anxiety disorders.
NZQA's SAC rules
Our rules about the provision of Special Assessment Conditions are published annually.
Read the SAC Rules in Schedule 3 of the Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards, and Candidates 2023:
Go to Schedule 3: Candidate Special Assessment Conditions Processes
On this page
Who is eligible?
Special assessment conditions (SAC) can provide extra help for otherwise capable students in addressing various barriers to achievement in assessments for NCEA or New Zealand Scholarship.
Students with a permanent or long-term sensory, physical, medical or learning difficulty that directly affects their access to fair assessment for national qualifications may be eligible for SAC.
Who approves or declines applications?
All submissions are assessed by NZQA. The final decision to grant or decline SAC entitlements rests with NZQA.
What SAC is available for students
SAC is available for both internal and external assessments, such as exams.
How to find the right type of SAC support:
SAC categories for registered professionals
There are 4 categories under which applications may be submitted for SAC:
- sensory (vision, hearing)
- physical
- medical
- learning.
For the Learning category only, registered psychologists and New Zealand Council of Educational Research (NZCER) approved Level C assessors may assess students for SAC.
For all 4 categories, registered professionals are those who are registered with the regulatory authority appointed under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 in respect of their professions.
The principal purpose of the Act is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their profession.
Ministry of Health: Responsible authorities under the Act. (external link)
Professions regulated under the HPCA Act 2003 Profession Responsible authority
Who can provide evidence for SACs
Two types of submission are accepted:
- A submission based on school evidence
- SENCOs, RTLB and other learning support staff collect appropriate evidence from school-based testing and teacher observations or comments for the use of Special Assessment Conditions from the student’s time at secondary school.
- School applications may be based upon the historical findings of a registered professional, with the school requesting continuation of assistance by showing current need.
- A submission supported by a report from an appropriately qualified independent registered professional that recommends Special Assessment Conditions to address the student’s specified assessment needs
- A report for a specific learning disorder (SLD) that predates the student’s time at secondary school may need to be supplemented with additional current evidence.
- A report for sensory, physical and medical conditions should date from the most recent specialist visit.
Types of evidence required
Evidence for sensory, medical or physical submissions
Reports by appropriate health professionals should be as recent as possible, specify the disability and, if possible, state which SAC would be appropriate.
Evidence for learning submissions
Reports must result from standardised cognitive and academic testing and clearly state which SAC is recommended.
Tests must be run and scored following the relevant examiner’s manual.
As well as the assessment report, completion of the SAC Declaration Form is recommended. This will quicken the application process for schools.
Contact the SAC team
If you have a question or feedback, contact the SAC team at sac@nzqa.govt.nz