Clarification details
Updated March 2026. The sections on Text Types, Authenticity, and Further Support have been updated to address new issues that have arisen from moderation.
The purpose of clarifications
We create clarification documents to help people understand the current requirements of achievement standards. Clarifications do not introduce new criteria, change the intent of the standard, or change what we expect from assessment.
These documents unpack and explain the language and intent of the standard so people interpret and apply the standard consistently. We provide examples or guidance as illustrations only. They are not prescriptions or requirements.
For official requirements, always refer to the current version of the achievement standard as published by NZQA.
Selection of writing
A range of draft writing (sometimes called a writing portfolio) is developed as part of the English programme. Students select their best two pieces of writing and craft them to publication standard. If using shorter text types, e.g. poetry or song lyrics, more than two pieces of writing may be selected.
After students have reworked and reshaped their two best pieces so that each is a planned whole, teachers will award each piece a grade. If the two pieces are significantly different in terms of their grades (i.e. one piece best fits Merit while the other best fits Achieved), the student has only met the ‘selection’ requirement at the lower grade, i.e. Achieved.
Submissions of assessed work for moderation require only those selected pieces for which the grade was awarded.
Text types
The text type, including the identified purpose and specified target audience, must be sophisticated enough to provide students with the opportunity to produce writing at level 7 of the curriculum. Successful text types include:
- Articles and editorial/opinion pieces for a newspaper, magazine, or website.
- Personal letters and diary entries.
- Speech or interview transcripts that have been re-crafted into articles or opinion pieces.
- Poetry and short stories.
- Reviews, including film, book, travel, or other experiences.
Integrated writing
Writing tasks can be integrated with other parts of the English programme, although the writing will require further crafting before it is ready to be assessed against this writing standard. The use of written language to create effects is not a requirement of other standards, so this must be considered when offering programme integration.
Crafting may involve restructuring the piece so that a central idea/thread/argument is sustained. It will also require reworking the piece so that the language is appropriate for the selected text type.
For Achieved, this involves:
- Appropriate, deliberate, and precise selection of a wide range of vocabulary.
- A variety of sentence length and structures.
- Accurate use of text conventions.
Authenticity
Students can use standard spell check functions and basic editing functions, such as those available in:
- Word
- Google Docs
- Exam.net
- Grammarly (free version).
For writing, students should avoid using any form of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Paid programmes such as Grammarly Pro or Quillbot provide a level of support that may invalidate the authenticity of the student evidence.
Further support
The Ministry of Education has recently updated the Conditions of Assessment for this standard. The Conditions of Assessment provide new guidance on good assessment practice and rules about providing feedback, to better ensure the authenticity of student writing.
Conditions of Assessment for Level 2 English (external link) - TKI