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Student handbook
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Student Qualification Guide
The Senior Manager - Curriculum is Mrs Holmes
The NZQA Data Manager is Mrs Taylor (front office)
Downloadable Forms
Introduction
This guide contains important information for students studying for Level 1, 2, 3 NCEA. It explains the regulations and procedures covering these senior school qualifications.
The procedures outlined in this document are school wide. Individual subject areas may also have subject specific procedures relating to aspects such as the storage and authentication of work. It is important that you check with your subject teachers to become familiar with these as well.
The overall aim is to ensure that all school assessments are valid and fair, and carried out in accordance with national regulations and standards. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is the body that has legal responsibility for administering all national qualifications including senior secondary school qualifications.
The following people can help you if you need more information about the qualifications you are studying for:
- Your subject teacher
- Your Form teacher
- The Careers advisor
- The Senior Manager - Curriculum
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Internal and external assessment
Internal assessment means that your subject teacher sets and marks the assessments for that subject. The standards are monitored by a national moderation system.
External assessment means that the grade given is determined by a national external assessor. Examinations are set and graded by people outside the school.
Many courses have both internally and externally assessed components, as well as activities that are internally assessed and then externally moderated (verified) for national comparability purposes.
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Unit standards (U/S) and Achievement standards (A/S)
Achievement standards allow students to achieve, achieve with merit or achieve with excellence. Unit standards differ in that only grades achieved and not-achieved are available. Every element in a unit standard must be achieved before the standard has been successfully completed. Credits in unit standards have the same value as those of achievement standards for the purposes of NCEA. All unit standards are internally assessed while achievements standards can be either internally or externally assessed.
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National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA)
NCEA consists of internal, external and combined assessment procedures. Assessment will occur throughout the year. You will need to ask your subject teachers for how this will operate within the subject you are studying.
Level 1 - 80 credits are required to achieve NCEA at level 1. Of these 80 credits 8 must be in Mathematics (numeracy) and 8 must be in either English or Te Reo Maori (literacy).
Level 2 - Requires 80 credits of which at least 60 must be at level 2.
Level 3 - Requires 80 credits of which at least 60 must be at level 3 and 20 from level 2 or above.
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University Entrance - Requires that 14 credits are achieved in at least three subject areas at level three with two of these being from an approved list. Students must also have 8 credits in English at level 2 and 14 credits in Mathematics at level 1.
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National Certificates
National Certificates are available in many subjects, such as in Computing, Electronics, Hospitality, Pathways, Retailing, and Tourism. Individual subject areas provide details of these.
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Start of the year
At the beginning of the course your subject teacher should provide a course outline which includes:
- A summary of the topics covered during the year;
- Assessment values and when these will occur;
- Qualification details including titles, code numbers, levels, type of assessment, due dates, and credit values.
This information is critical and should be stored in a safe place. You should refer to this when managing your time, monitoring your progress, and checking that you are entered for the correct standards with NZQA.
Throughout the year your subject teacher should provide:
- Advance warning for the exact dates of tests and other assessment deadlines;
- Information about assessment criteria (exactly what each requires to achieve at each of the levels possible in the course);
- Prompt return of marked work (normally within two weeks of the date of assessment). You should immediately check that there are no errors and query any grades you think are unfair. If necessary you can appeal against the grade you have received.
- Regular feedback on your progress, particularly if you are in danger of not completing the course;
- Access to all information and records about YOUR assessments (the Privacy Act prevents unauthorised disclosure of marks or grades, so your records are confidential and may not be revealed to another student).
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Non-award of a qualification
If you miss deadlines, or do not attend sufficient classes, you may be in danger of a non-award of a qualification. However, you should talk to your subject teacher FIRST if you are concerned about not completing a course. DO NOT JUST GIVE UP. If you are having trouble coping with the workload (eg, several assignments due in the same week), TALK to your subject teacher(s) BEFORE the due date.
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Course changes and late commencement
In extreme cases a course may be changed before 1st March. The Senior Manager - Curriculum will need to be consulted or informed about any course changes.
You will be expected to catch up on all work and assessments missed. Course changes after the 1st March are not encouraged as they invariably mean your grade is disadvantaged.
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Withdrawal from courses
No unauthorised withdrawal from a course is allowed. The Senior Manager - Curriculum and/or the Year level Dean will deal with exceptional cases. You must continue to attend and complete set work in all your time tabled classes, up to the end of October, even if you choose NOT to complete your qualification entry and pay fees.
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Non-achievement of standards
When a student has no chance of achieving a given unit or achievement standard, the teacher may recommend that the student be withdrawn from that standard. This should only be done after all efforts to achieve the standard have been exhausted.
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Misconduct
Misconduct in formal assessment activities may result in a not-achieved grade for that standard. It is important that you follow all instructions from staff during these assessment opportunities and refrain from disturbing or communicating with any other student during the assessment. During any formal assessment students may not communicate with the examiner or use inappropriate language.
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Authenticity
Many subjects will have assignment/research work that is completed outside class supervision. In each circumstance it will be necessary for the student to sign an authentication statement assuring that you and no one else completed the work. If there is doubt over the authenticity of a student's work the subject teacher will begin an investigation that may include:
- An interview regarding your understanding of the material
- Viewing of rough notes or drafts (all such items should be kept safe until the final mark is verified)
- Requiring all sources of information to be open and acknowledged
- Recording your live performances
- Monitoring and checking work in progress
If the subject teacher, HoD and Senior Manager - Curriculum are not satisfied that your work is original you may receive a not achieved grade or be withdrawn from the standard.
This may occur if you:
- Copy another student's work
- Allow your work to be copied
- Copy (without acknowledgement) from published sources including the Internet
- Allow other people to complete your work
- Cheat in any other manner.
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Moderation
Moderation refers to the system that is used for checking that marks or grades are being awarded consistently and at the appropriate level for the course. Moderation ensures that the results achieved at one school are equal to those achieved at another. For courses that are fully or partially internally assessed, NZQA operates systems of external moderation to check that teachers are using appropriate assessments and applying prescribed standards correctly.
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Compassionate consideration - Internally assess standards
Students who consider that their performance has been seriously impaired, by circumstances beyond their control, may apply to the Senior Manager - Curriculum for compassionate consideration. You must apply in writing, using the official form on the school's intranet. A medical report in the case of illness or injury, and documentary evidence in the case of other compassionate considerations, must accompany your application.
In considering whether to grant improved grades for any assessment, the Senior Manager - Curriculum will take advice from the subject teacher and consider:
- The applicant's marks for other assessments in that course
- The quality of work actually completed by the applicant for the assessment
- Evidence gathered in the criteria for that standard
The following conditions are not normally considered grounds for compassionate consideration:
- long-term conditions (eg physical disability, epilepsy)
- chronic relapsing conditions (eg glandular fever, ME)
- on-going personal trauma.
However, an application could be appropriate if a long-term or recurring condition impairs a candidate's ability to perform on the day of the assessment or duration of assignment to the level that they have been able to perform at during the year.
Results from compassionate considerations must reflect a candidate's actual performance during the year. Candidates suffering from long-term or recurring conditions may have to accept that their overall results will be affected. In some of these cases applications for special assessment conditions may be more appropriate.
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Externally assessed achievement standards (examinations)
Students who have been unable to sit the examination, or who consider that their performance has been seriously impaired by circumstances beyond their control, may apply to NZQA to be granted a grade on the basis of compassionate consideration. See the Senior Manager - Curriculum for details of this procedure. You must apply in writing, using the official form available from October on the NZQA website, before the closing date early in December, and your application must be accompanied by medical or other documents that provide evidence about your claim.
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Special Assessment Conditions
Special Assessment Conditions are available for internal and external standards where a need can be identified and verified by a competent professional. Application must be made through the CALS Department or SSC to the Senior Manager - Curriculum. There are two main criteria.
- Candidates identified as having permanent or long-term conditions such as a:
- physical disability
- sight impairment
- hearing impairment
- medical condition
- significant proven reading or writing difficulty.
- Medical conditions cover long-term illnesses such as eating disorders, depression, diabetes and epilepsy.
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Appeals
If you wish to appeal a grade for internally assessed courses you need to
- Approach your teacher first for an explanation of your grade
- Lodge your appeal with the Senior Manager - Curriculum within FIVE school days of receiving your grade
- Submit in writing, the reasons for your appeal on the form available from the Senior Manager - Curriculum, using the official form on the school's intranet.
Your work will then be remarked by the HoD and teacher concerned.
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Further assessment opportunities
Further assessment opportunities (reassessment) are only available for internally assessed standards.
There will be no opportunity for further assessment opportunities in the case of externally assessed standards. For internally assessed standards the subject teacher and/or HoD may provide further assessment opportunities if and when appropriate and/or practicable. You will need to check with your subject teacher to see how this will affect the course you are studying.
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Extensions
Extensions cannot be granted for externally assessed standards.
Extensions can only be granted in the case of internally assessed activities. These are entirely at the discretion of the Senior Manager - Curriculum who will determine whether or not an extension is warranted. The reasons for granted extensions will be kept by the subject teacher. If you are experiencing problems due to circumstances beyond your control you should
- Apply for an extension at least 24 hours before the assignment is due, (where circumstances are beyond the student's control a variation of this 24 hour rule will be considered); and
- Provide a written reason outlining why you need an extension and support this with medical or other documentary evidence.
If an extension is granted (by no means automatic) you must complete the work by the agreed date.
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Late work
Late work will result in a not-achieved result.
Students may be provided with an opportunity for further assessment opportunity. This is by no means guaranteed and is dependent on the specific policies and procedures of the subject.
All work handed in counts towards course requirements, up until the last assessment day.
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Absence
The key word in regard to your absence from senior courses is COMMUNICATION. Your subject teacher needs to know why you are absent and how you intend to make up for any work or assessments missed. Detailed guidelines covering different kinds of absence follow.
Absence due to accident, illness or bereavement:
With adequate explanation, such absence would not normally result in a student being disadvantaged.
Where a student is ill on the day of a test or the day an assignment is due the student or guardian should contact the school office to leave a message for the teacher concerned. If possible get someone to hand in an assignment to the school office. An "explained absence" is recorded in the roll book. A satisfactory written explanation is required on return to the school. A medical certificate may be required. In this circumstance a student will be eligible for compassionate consideration if no further assessment opportunity is available.
Longer-term absence through illness or accident could result in compassionate consideration. Independent medical documentation is necessary for compassionate consideration.
Absence due to attendance at a school activity
It is your responsibility to inform your subject teacher in advance about such absences, and apply for an extension to make up for work and assessments missed.
Wilful Absence (Truancy)
This means you are absent from school without adequate reason. If you have not generated sufficient evidence to meet the assessment criteria and no further assessment opportunities are available you will receive a grade of not-achieved.
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Homework
To achieve at a high level in senior course students are expected to complete at least two hours of homework per subject per week. Homework activities may include
- Reading and researching topics covered in class
- Completion of work started in class
- Completion of assignments
- Practising techniques or learning content covered in class
- Catching up on work missed through absence
- Specific activities set by the subject teacher.
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Return of internally assessed work
Your assessed work is retained by your teacher during the course of the year until you sign to verify that the grade awarded is the correct one. By doing this the school protects you from losing the work should, for example, you choose to appeal the grade awarded.
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Results and records
You are responsible for recording your results in the student diary and on the course outline given to you at the beginning of the course.
You will be responsible for verifying the accuracy of your results before the final internal results are sent to NZQA. You can access your result records on the NZQA website at any stage once you have a National Student Number (NSN).
No student but you has access to information and records about YOUR assessments (the Privacy Act prevents unauthorised disclosure of marks or grades, so your records are confidential and may not be revealed to another student). You are entitled to view your records at any time and you should regularly discuss your progress with your teacher to have a good understanding of where you stand in terms of your expected final grade.
For all senior course components your teacher will have a complete record of your achievement including NCEA student progress and results sheets.
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Fees
Our school has a late fee of $25 for payments after the notified final payment date accepted at school.
Entry fees for all school qualifications must be paid to NZQA. The school collects fees on behalf of students and these may be paid to the school office from the start of the school year up until the end of week 1, term 3. After that date the fees must be sent directly to NZQA, Box 160, Wellington.
A late fee of $50 will be added to entries received in Wellington after the notified deadline.
The fee schedule for achievement standards and unit standards in 2006 is
Financial assistance is available for NZQA fees.
If you wish to apply for financial assistance with NZQA fees, an application form is available from the NZQA Data Manager, in the front office, from mid March. It must be returned to school by the notified deadline (usually by the end of term three).
For information and questions relating to qualifications (results, fees, record of Learning, etc.) see the NZQA Data Manager, in the front office first.
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