What are the different qualifications my child could achieve?
At what age will my child sit their first exam?
What are NCEA credits?
What’s the difference between unit standards and achievement standards?
How many NCEA credits do I need to get into university?
Where can I find out more information about NCEA?
What are the different qualifications my child could achieve?
The official qualification system for New Zealand secondary school pupils is National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
NCEA is part of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is New Zealand’s framework of nationally endorsed qualifications and standards (national diplomas, certificates, degrees and post-graduate degrees). It is made up of three levels, which correspond to levels 1-3 of the NQF (there are ten NQF levels; levels 4-10 can be achieved at tertiary level):
- Level 1 is studied in Year 11
- Level 2 is studied in Year 12
- Level 3 is studied in Year 13
To gain each NCEA Level, students must achieve (i.e. pass) a minimum number of credits (What are NCEA credits?) through a combination of internal assessments and examinations. (A minimum number of credits must also have been achieved at each level in order to gain entrance to University. See How many NCEA credits do I need to get into university?)
To obtain these credits, students need to achieve what are known as standards (See What’s the difference between unit standards and achievement standards?)
When a student achieves a standard at a particular level, they gain credits toward that level of NCEA. Some standards can also go towards an industry qualification. For example, if a student is studying materials technology at school, they can gain a certificate in their NCEA level class which can also contribute to gaining the National Certificate in Elementary Construction Skills (a tertiary level qualification).
For more information see the New Zealand Qualifications Authority website.
Some schools offer alternatives to NCEA:
Cambridge International Exams (CIE)
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is a three-year programme of study offered at some schools around New Zealand as an alternative to NCEA. CIE begins in Year 11 and is useful for students who perform better in formal examinations as it is largely examinations based. There are examinations each year
- International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), taken at Year 11
- AS levels: introduced as half A levels to allow you to split a full A level programme of study and exams across Year 12 and 13 to gain University Entrance, instead of taking full A levels only in year 13
- A levels: taken in Year 13; is equivalent to University Entrance
To see where CIE is offered in New Zealand, visit the Association of Cambridge Schools in NZ (ACSNZ) website.
The International Baccalaureate programme
The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme is a programme of study which is offered by schools around the world. There are three sections – the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. The Diploma programme is the international equivalent of NCEA – our national programme for senior secondary school students.
In the Diploma Programme, students choose one subject from each of the six sections offered – language, second language, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics and computer science, and the arts. Three are studied at a higher intensity representing about 240 teaching hours and three are studied at a standard intensity representing about 150 teaching hours. There are three core requirements to each of the subjects studied
- the extended essay: students independently research an in-depth question and write an essay on their findings
- theory of knowledge: students study a topic by looking at different ways of knowing and different types of knowledge
- creativity, action, service: students are sent out to complete real tasks in the subject
At the end of the programme, students sit a written examination and complete assessment tasks in the school. All are either marked or moderated by IB examiners.
If your child’s school offers IB and you want your child to participate in the IB programme, you should talk to your child’s teacher or dean. More information is on the IB website.
To find out what your child’s school offers, and which option is best for your child, get in touch with their teacher or with the school careers counsellor.
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At what age will my child sit their first exam?
This depends on the school your child goes to. Some schools begin internal exams in Year 7, while NCEA exams begin in Year 11.
What are NCEA credits?
Each achievement standard and unit standard (see What’s the difference between unit standards and achievement standards?) is worth a certain number of credits. So when a student achieves a standard, they get a certain amount of credits depending on what the standard is worth.
- each standard is normally three to four credits
- each school subject normally has five to eight standards
- usually each school subject requires 18 to 25 credits to pass
The number of credits needed, to gain NCEA at different levels are
- NCEA Level 1
- achieve 80 credits at any level (Level 1, 2 or 3)
This has to include eight credits in literacy and eight in numeracy
- NCEA Level 2:
- achieve a minimum of 60 credits at Level 2 or above and
20 credits at any level
- NCEA Level 3:
- achieve a minimum of 60 credits at Level 3 or above and 20 credits at Level 2 or above
What’s the difference between unit standards and achievement standards?
Standards are skills or knowledge that you’re expected to achieve or know in a subject. Each subject is broken down into a mixture of two types of standard, unit standards and achievement standards.
Unit standards are gained from studying traditional subjects (e.g. English, maths) and industry subjects (e.g. materials technology) and are tested internally at school by teachers, and have two possible grades
- Achieved if you pass
- Not achieved if you don’t pass
Achievement standards are gained from studying traditional subjects and can be tested internally by teachers, externally by exams, or by a combination of both. There are four possible grades for achievement standards
- Excellence for outstanding performance
- Merit for very good performance
- Achieved for a satisfactory performance
- Not achieved if you don’t pass
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How many NCEA credits do I need to get into university?
To qualify for entrance to a New Zealand university, you have to have at least
- Level 1 or higher: 14 credits in maths or pangarau (Maori immersion maths)
- Level 2 or higher: eight credits for English or Te Reo Maori – has to include four credits for reading and four credits for writing
- Level 3 or higher: 42 credits – two of these subjects (14 credits each) have to be from the NZQA list of approved subjects
The NZQA website has a list of approved standards and a list of approved subjects.
Where can I find out more information about NCEA?
You can find out more about NCEA from:
- talking to your child’s teacher if you have any specific questions relating to your child and their studies. The school might also have pamphlets designed to help parents understand NCEA
the NZQA website has lots of information about NCEA and the different levels your child can work towards and there is a 
pamphlet for parents online.
- Career services website has information for parents and how the NCEA system works, as well as tips for helping your child plan their school subjects.