NCEA dates moved back by two weeks

The dates for end of year NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams are to be moved back by two weeks, due to the disruption COVID-19 has caused to secondary students, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday.

Exams will now be held between Monday 22 November and Tuesday 14 December.

NCEA subjects where students prepare a portfolio instead of sitting an exam – like Design and Visual Communication – will have the due date for these portfolios also pushed back by two weeks.

The NCEA Level 1 Mathematics Common Assessment Task (MCAT) will be delayed for two weeks.
Schools will not have to provide portfolios from students sitting NCEA Level 1 or Level 2 Visual Arts for NZQA to verify.

New Zealand Qualifications Authority said, “These changes will give students and schools more time to prepare for the end of the year.”

Adding, “As the length of time New Zealand might remain in Alert Level 4 or Alert Level 3 becomes clearer, there are extra steps the Government might take, such as reintroducing Learning Recognition Credits, or making changes to the thresholds for Endorsements and University Entrance.

“NZQA and the Ministry of Education are working with the Minister’s Professional Advisory Group and schools about whether more changes might be needed.”