SAC information for schools

How schools can support students by making a SAC submission, what SAC is available and how to make a submission

About SAC

Submissions for Special Assessment Conditions (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

Who is eligible for SAC?

Students may be eligible for a submission for SAC if they have permanent or long term sensory, physical or medical conditions or a specific learning disorder.

To be eligible to submit the:

  • condition or disorder must directly impact on the student's access to fair assessment for national qualifications
  • school must determine that the student is otherwise capable of attaining a national qualification
  • special assessment conditions applied for must reflect the student's normal way of working
  • student must consent to the application being submitted.

Types of SAC available

Find descriptions of SAC available and what it includes

SAC list

Evidence needed for SAC

To make a SAC submission on behalf of a student, the school must supply one of the following:

  • Appropriate documented evidence derived from school-based testing or observations during the student's time at secondary school.
  • 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 to come with additional current evidence.

Choosing the right SAC for your student

Find a list of learning, medical, physical and sensory impaired conditions matched with possible SAC support. It's a good idea to check these with your school's guidance counsellor and nurse.

Find support

Assessments where SAC provision is not appropriate 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.

More information

Assessments where SAC provision is not appropriate or not allowed

Making a new submission for SAC

Step 1: Identify the need for SAC

You determine need for SAC from:

  • current and previous knowledge and records of learning support provided for the student
  • professional reports
  • results from school-based testing, for example, reading and writing
  • teacher comments and observations
  • trialling the use of SAC.

Step 2: Decide on the submission category

Submissions can be made under 1. or more categories: Sensory, Medical, Physical or Learning.

If possible, use the Sensory, Physical or Medical categories as the evidence thresholds for these are more straight-forward.

Step 3: Gather the evidence

Gather the evidence available for the selected category of SAC. Select enough evidence only.

Do not over-assess students. For example, the results of one reading test are usually enough evidence.

Step 4: Seek permission from the student to submit the application

The form for the student to use is at SAC Forms and Guides. The form must be signed by the student and kept by the school.

Step 5: Complete the online SAC submission

The complete SAC Online Submission Guide can be found at SAC Forms and Guides.

To complete the online submission:

  1. check with the school’s Education Sector Login (ESL) Authoriser that you have the rights to access the SAC submission process through your school’s NZQA portal
  2. check the SAC Timeline for submission deadlines
  3. follow the submission process in the SAC submission guide
  4. save the submission as a draft regularly to make sure data is not lost if the system times out
  5. submit the application.

Once the application has been submitted, click on the student's National Student Number (NSN) to open the submission and attach any documents in support of the application.

Once the submission has been sent, the student is entitled to use the requested SAC during the approval process until NZQA informs you otherwise.

Email us if you have any problems with SAC submission:

sac@nzqa.govt.nz

The approvals process

Read the SAC Submissions Guide to find out the approvals process, messaging system and appeals.

If the application has been approved:

  1. inform the student and their parents or caregivers of the outcome
  2. inform teachers and make sure they check the assessments that allow the use of SAC:

Assessments where SAC provision is not appropriate or allowed

3. attach SAC entitlements to external entries at the designated time.

Declined submissions

If the submission has been declined or part-declined, decide whether to lodge an appeal of the decision or not. If so, consult the Guide for the process to use.

Students can continue to use SAC during any appeal process until a final decision on the submission is made by NZQA.

Once a final decision is made inform:

  1. the student and their parents or caregivers of the outcome
  2. teachers of the outcome.

Rolling over SAC entitlements

Your school consults with the student and decides whether to roll over or change their SAC entitlement for the new year.

A guide to extending or changing SAC can be found in the SAC Online Submission Guide.

Step 1: Conduct a SAC needs analysis for each SAC student

After the needs analysis, decide if the:

  1. student still needs the previously approved entitlements
  2. entitlements need to change
  3. student’s assessment load needs to be changed for example, changing the number and nature of standards.

A needs analysis could be:

  • 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.

NZQA does not require re-testing or the submission of further evidence for previously approved SAC entitlements.


Step 2: Confirm the rollover status with the student


Note the rollover decision in the student’s record. Best practice is to have signed confirmation from the student.

Step 3: Complete the rollover process


Consult the SAC Submission Guide to understand how to access rollovers and change applications.

There are 3 choices for changing or confirming a SAC application:

  • Existing Special Assessment Conditions are confirmed again. This will roll existing SAC entitlements over with no changes.
  • Changes to Special Assessment Conditions are needed. This will create a new draft application for the current year. The draft will contain previously submitted evidence and entitlements.  Update the draft and submit it to NZQA for consideration.
  • The student has left school or does not require Special Assessment Conditions anymore. SAC entitlements will not roll over to the current year.

Students who transfer schools


Email our SAC team with a student's details if a student has:

  • moved to another school
  • enrols at your school and claims to have a SAC entitlement at another school.

We will update their SAC records and transfer their SAC entitlements.

Email our SAC team:

sac@nzqa.govt.nz

Readers, writers and typists for exams and assessments

Students with relevant SAC entitlements can have 2 types of assistants:

  • Assessment Assistants act as readers, writers or typists during internal assessments.
  • Exam Assistants act as readers, writers or typists during external assessments, or exams.

Find out more

Reading and writing assistants for assessments and exams

Reader assistance for deaf or hard of hearing hearing students

Being an effective assessment assistant (external link) - Ministry of Education

The school is responsible for the recruitment, training and use of both Assessment and Exam Assistants.

Resources

SAC forms and guides

SAC forms and guides for schools and parents

Find forms and guides

SAC timeline

Go to timeline

SAC and external assessment (exams)

Exam information

Contact the SAC team

If you have a question or feedback, contact the SAC team at sac@nzqa.govt.nz

Go to the main SAC page