Clarification details
Updated June 2026. This document has been updated to reflect Version 3 of the standard.
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 requirements 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.
Policy
For the intent of this standard, ‘policy’ refers to a rule, law, strategy, procedure, or plan.
To meet the Achieved criterion ‘explain the aims of the campaign and the desired policy change’, students must explicitly articulate the desired policy change of the social action.
Requirement to explain
Explanatory Note (EN) 2 has been updated in Version 3 of 91600. Students are now required to ‘explain’ their response. This is a change from Version 2, where students were required to ‘describe’ at Achieved.
To meet the threshold for an explanation, student evidence must demonstrate depth of understanding consistent with curriculum level 8. Features of an explanation may include:
- demonstration of causal thinking, considering how or why
- connections between ideas
- detailed, relevant supporting evidence or examples.
The 91600 exemplars available on the NZQA website further illustrate the expectations for explanation at Achieved.
Selection of social action method
When explaining the selection of social action methods in the chosen campaign, students must explain:
- the reasons for selecting the social action methods
- how the methods were intended to support the desired policy change.
Modifications and/or changes to the campaign
To meet Excellence requirements, students must consider modifications and/or changes to the campaign that would influence policy, not just modifications and/or changes alone.
Doubling up on standards
The social action used in achievement standard 91600 should be different from the social action used by a student as a basis for assessment in standard 91599.