NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (NCEA) LEVEL TWO

NCEA Level 2

NCEA Level 2 requires a minimum of 60 credits at Level 2 or above and 20 credits at any other level.  There are no literacy or numeracy requirements for this qualification.

A student’s year-end NCEA slip will reflect the subjects studied, which achievement standards they sat and the ranking for each one.  Some students could also sit Unit Standards Assessments.  These will also be recorded on the year-end NCEA slip.

Achievement Standards (A/S) and Unit Standards (U/S)

These are the two types of standards that can be used to assess students in senior courses.  Both are assigned credits that contribute towards a student’s overall achievement in NCEA.  Some subjects use all achievement standards or all unit standards.  Some subjects use a combination depending on the work to be assessed.

Achievement Standards (A/S) – Achievement Standards give students a ranking for their work:

Unit Standards (U/S) – Unit Standards do not give a ranking, but the criteria tend to be very specific.  They are either:

Not Achieved        Has not achieved the standard required.  (No credits awarded)

Achieved               Has achieved the required standard         (the credits are awarded)

Endorsement of National Certificates at All Levels:

In July 2007 The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) announced details for the endorsement of National Certificates in Educational Achievement (NCEA).  Students require 50 credits at excellence to gain an NCEA Certificate endorsed with excellence, and 50 credits at merit or merit and excellence to gain an NCEA Certificate endorsed with merit.  Credits counting towards endorsement may be gained at the level of the certificate or above.

Further improvements to NCEA include endorsing single subjects for merit or excellence.  This is currently under consideration.  The details are still to be released.

The purpose of endorsements is to encourage students to strive to produce work of a high quality and to recognise high levels of achievement.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN EMPLOYMENT SKILLS (NCES)

The NCES qualification will show employers that students have achieved a range of skills which are important in the work place and are ready for the workforce.

What areas are covered by the NCES?

To complete the NCES, Unit Standards in the following are required:

        

           

Year 12 students may take:

Level 2 NCEA Achievement and Unit Standards

National Certificate Units (refer to page 71 of this booklet)

Year 11 Subjects – Level 1 NCEA Achievement and Unit Standards

All Year 12 students must study five subjects from the Level 2 list or from other lower levels.

They must study English -

Plus 4 other subjects chosen from the Level 2 list below (or Level 1):

These subjects below are arranged in “Lines” on the Course Choice Form

according to the draft timetable for 2009.

            Accounting/Economics

            Art - Painting

                   - Photography

            Biology

            Chemistry

            Design Technology

            Dramatic Arts

            Early Childhood Education

            ESOL 1

            ESOL 2

            French

            Gateway

            Geography

            Graphics and Design

            History

            Hospitality and Tourism

            Independent Living / Career Search

            Information and Communication Technology

            Maori

            Mathematics 1, 2 and 3

            Music – Sound Arts

            Outdoor Education

            Physical Education

            Physics

            Rural Pathways

            Tourism and Travel

It is important for students to note that when applications are made for places in Tertiary Hostels during Year 13, Year 12 grades are used to measure a student’s academic achievement.