NCEA
June 6, 2025 2025-06-09 7:05NCEA
NCEA
How NCEA Works
What is NCEA?
This year most senior students will be working towards a National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) at Level 1, 2 or 3. Each course has a set of achievement or unit standards which give credits when you provide evidence you have met the criteria for the standard. A Standard is a statement which defines what a student must know and be able to do in order to gain credits towards qualifications on the NZQF.
- Achievement Standards: outcomes are graded into: Not Achieved (NA), Achieved (A), Achieved with Merit (M), Achieved with Excellence (E).
- Unit Standards outcomes are graded into Not Achieved (NA) or Achieved (A)
- For each standard in which you gain „Achieved‟ (or higher) you will be awarded credits.
- Some standards will require evidence from work done in class (internal) - other standards are awarded through assessment from outside school (external e.g. exams).
Credits You Need to Earn NCEA Certificates at Levels 1, 2, and 3
Credits required for a certificate
| NCEA Level | Total Credits Required | Credit Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 80 credits | 80 Level 1 or higher
including credits to meet both literacy and numeracy requirements (see below) |
| Level 2 | 80 credits | At least 60 credits from level 2 or higher
+ 20 from Level 1 |
| Level 3 | 80 credits | At least 60 credits from level 3
+ 20 from Level 2 |
The certificate can be endorsed with Merit or Excellence if 50 credits are gained at that level or higher.
The outcome for a course can be endorsed with a Merit or Excellence Course Certificate if 14 credits are gained at that level or higher, with at least three of these credits from both internal and external standards.
Meeting NCEA Level 1
Meeting the Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy requirements
For 2012 students can achieve the literacy and numeracy requirement for NCEA Level 1 by meeting one of two credit requirements