Earth and Space Science

Science|New Zealand Curriculum

About Earth and Space Science

Earth and Space Science explores the interconnections between the land, ocean, atmosphere, and life of our planet.

This page contains resources and tools to help support: 

  • internal and external assessment (exams)
  • teachers delivering this subject
  • learners taking this subject.

Physics, Earth and Space Science at Level 1

Physics, Earth and Space Science, a new subject on the New Zealand Curriculum, is now available at NCEA Level 1.

Go to the Physics, Earth and Space Science (Level 1 only) subject page

Assessor Support

See how our online resources and workshops can support and improve your assessment practice.

Assessor Support home

Earth and Space Science standards

Level 2 standards

Earth and Space Science achievement standards

Find Level 2 standards

Level 3 standards

Earth and Space Science achievement standards

Find Level 3 standards

NZ Scholarship standard

Find NZ Scholarship standard

Exemplars, reports, past exams and assessment schedules

Level 1

Past exams, exemplars assessment schedules and reports

Level 1

Level 2

Past exams, exemplars, assessment schedule and reports

Level 2

Level 3

Past exams, exemplars, assessment schedule and reports

Level 3

New Zealand Scholarship

Past exams, exemplars and assessment schedule

NZ Scholarship

Cut scores

Past scores for exams for all levels

Get cut scores

Assessment specifications

Level 2

Get the latest assessment specifications

Level 2

Level 3

Get the latest assessment specifications

Level 3

New Zealand Scholarship

Get the latest assessment specifications

NZ Scholarship

2025 assessment specifications

View next year's assessment specifications

Assessor support materials for internal assessment

Internal exemplars

See exemplars for internally assessed Earth and Space Science standards

Go to exemplars

National moderator's report

Annual reports on issues and trends in assessment

View moderator's report

Clarifications

Updates on assessment and moderations

Find Earth and Space Science clarifications

Request clarification form

Teachers can request clarification of a standard with this form

Open request clarification form

Remote assessment matrix

Guidance for teachers if learning and assessment needs to be completed remotely

Remote assessment matrix [PDF, 158KB]

Alternative evidence gathering templates

Templates for student results when direct assessment is not possible

Get templates

Earth and Space Science resources on Pūtake

Online learning modules available for this subject

Go to resources

Tools

Level 1 assessment matrix

Use this Physics, Earth and Space Science matrix on NCEA.education with new standards in 2024

Go to the matrix

Level 2 and 3 assessment matrix

Use this Earth and Space Science matrix for Level 2 and 3 standards

Download matrix [DOCX, 38 KB]

Career guidance

Career information and tools to help your students on careers.govt.nz

Go to careers.govt.nz

Log in to MyNZQA school portal