NCEA Information

Credits:

Every standard achieved is worth a set number of credits. A year long course is usually worth about 18-24 credits. Credits are like points toward your qualification, and they mount up till you achieve national qualifications. Note that credits can be gained over more than one year. It is important to ensure that you gain the necessary standards for automatic entry to subjects you wish to study in the following year.

To achieve NCEA Level 1 you must achieve 60 Level 1 credits and you must also must achieve 10 literacy credits and 10 numeracy credits . To achieve NCEA Level 2 you need to achieve 80 credits; 60 credits of which must be at Level 2. To achieve NCEA Level 3 you need to achieve 80 credits; 60 credits of which must be at Level 3. You also need to have achieved 10 literacy and 10 numeracy credits to achieve NCEA Level 2 and 3. 

Endorsements:

Your NCEA can be 'endorsed' if your results are good enough. For example, you could have "NCEA Level 1 with Merit". Your Record of Achievement will show you if you have been awarded an Endorsement. If you gain 50 credits at Excellence, your NCEA will be endorsed with Excellence. Likewise, if you gain 50 credits at Merit (or Merit and Excellence) your NCEA will be endorsed with Merit.

You can earn credits counting towards endorsement over more than one year and more than one level. However, they must be gained at the level of the certificate or above. For example, Level 2 credits will count towards endorsement of a Level 1 NCEA, but Level 1 credits will not count towards endorsement of a Level 2 NCEA.

Individual courses can also be ‘endorsed’ if you gain 14 or more credits at Excellence or 14 credits or more at Merit and Excellence in one course, in one academic year. At least three credits must be from internally assessed standards and at least three credits from externally assessed standards with the exception of Physical Education courses (14 internal credits) and Level 3 Visual Arts courses (either 14 internal or 14 external credits). Unlike certificate endorsement, the credits must be gained in the same academic year.