Details of NCEA replacement confirmed
Key details:
From 2028 NCEA will be replaced with a new National Qualification.
2028 – Foundational Award at Year 11
2029 – NZCE at Year 12
2030 – NZACE at Year 13
These qualification changes are being developed alongside the new knowledge-rich senior secondary curriculum so that what students learn and how they are assessed are properly aligned.
Students in Years 12 and 13 will study at least five subjects each year, with a pass in a minimum of three subjects required to achieve each qualification.
NZCE and NZACE will require a student to have foundational literacy and numeracy skills gained through the Foundational Award, which is benchmarked at Year 11, and typically sat in Year 11, although it can be sat at any time.
The Foundational Award can also be awarded if a student passes English or Mathematics in year 12 or 13 instead of the year 11 assessment.
Transitional arrangements will be in place for two years, so that students can use the current literacy and numeracy corequisite to be awarded the Foundational Award. It will be clearly stated on a student’s record of achievement if they used the corequisite to gain the award.
Records of Achievement will clearly show how many subjects a student has passed, eg. NZCE 4, NZCE 5, NZCE 6 to encourage students to strive to achieve their personal best.
A clear six-point grading scale (A+, A, B, C, D and E) will apply across every subject, making results easier to understand and giving parents, employers, and tertiary providers a much clearer understanding of student achievement
Students who achieve strong results across all five subjects will also be eligible for two endorsement awards recognising outstanding academic performance and encouraging students to aim high and achieve excellence across more subjects.
Every subject will include internal assessments and an external examination, with the weighting of the examination varying depending on the curriculum area and the nature of the subject.
From 2028, Science | Pūtaiao will become a compulsory subject in Year 11 alongside English | Te Reo Rangatira and Mathematics | Pāngarau.
This qualification is designed to reward hard work, encourage young people to strive to do their very best, and properly recognise their achievements.
Students currently in Year 9 will be the first cohort to progress through the new qualifications, supported by a clearer curriculum. The new qualifications are, rigorous, credible, internationally comparable, and set students up for success.