Earning NCEA credits at Polyfest
Students can earn NCEA credits at Polyfest when schools assess their performances against standards.
Performing at Polyfest, and even preparing for Polyfest, can meet some of the requirements for a range of standards. For example:
- Sione sings an original composition. His teacher assesses his performance against a Music standard focused on composition.
- Mele gives a speech in Lea Faka-Tonga. Her teacher assesses her performance against a Lea Faka-Tonga standard focused on speaking.
- Ana spends many hours creating her team's costumes. Her teacher assesses her work against a Materials and Processing Technology standard focused on developing an outcome.
There are also some Dance standards that are assessed entirely through performance:
- 91937 (Level 1)
- 91209 and 91207 (Level 2)
- 91592 and 91591 (Level 3)
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Students don't need to take Dance
If students dance at Polyfest, they can earn NCEA Dance credits, even if they don't take Dance as a subject.
There are Dance standards in levels 1, 2 and 3 that are entirely assessed through performance, there are no extra requirements.
Assessing NCEA credits at Polyfest
Schools and teachers have flexibility to choose standards and design assessments that best fit their students' performances.
When developing or adapting tasks and assessment schedules, teachers must make sure that performances meet a standard's criteria. For example:
- Mary knows that her Level 2 students must perform 3 separate dances (2 minutes long) for standard 91209. She adapts the assessment task to make this clear. Mary's students had planned to do 2 dances at Polyfest, and have now included a third item for their performance and assessment.
- Ari knows that their Level 1 Music students must perform long enough (2 to 4 minutes) to collect evidence for standard 91949. Ari's students are performing a 90-second piece at Polyfest, and know to repeat the piece for the assessment.
Teachers don't need to assess students at the Polyfest event. Instead, we suggest assessing performances during rehearsals, where teachers can comfortably record the performance for moderation purposes.
If students are not already entered for the selected standards, talk to your Principal’s Nominee. The Principal's Nominee can enter students for standards in subjects they're not already studying.