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LEARNING Q&A with Nicole Hoy, NCEA Principal’s Nominee At QMC, we offer a dual-qualification pathway to our students once they reach Year 12. Students can elect to take one of two amazing qualifications, New Zealand’s National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. All Year 11 students sit NCEA Level 1. In our October 2018 issue we talked to our IB coordinator Holly Payne. Read our chat with our NCEA Principal’s Nominee Nicole Hoy, below. 1. What is NCEA and why should students consider taking it? “NCEA is designed to challenge students of all abilities in all learning areas. NCEA provides feedback in the way of credits and grades (Achieved, Merit or Excellence) upon the assessment of specific sets of skills and knowledge. “NCEA allows for a certain amount of flexibility which means instructors and students can work together to design courses of study that best meet the learner’s needs. The qualification is the benchmark for selection by universities and polytechnics in New Zealand and is also readily accepted at overseas universities.” 2. What key skills do students develop through NCEA? “NCEA assesses knowledge and skills derived from the New Zealand Curriculum described in a number of achievement standards. Achievement standards define the learning outcomes (what the learner will be able to do, understand or communicate) upon successful completion of the standard. “Some achievement standards are assessed internally during the school year. Internal assessments are often used to assess skills involved in presenting speeches, carrying out scientific investigations, completing research projects or doing artistic performances. Other skills are assessed externally in examinations at the end of the year. NCEA also includes basic literacy and numeracy skills.” 3. What is the importance of passing NCEA with Merit or Excellence credits? “Students can gain one of four grades in each achievement standard: Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit or Excellence. Motivated learners can aim to achieve with Merit (which indicates a very good performance) or Excellence (for outstanding performance). “Course endorsements in Merit or Excellence recognise exceptional learner achievement and consistently high levels of performance in an individual course and appear on the student’s Record of Achievement. Certificate endorsements with Merit or Excellence can be gained at each Level of NCEA. A certificate endorsement reflects overall commitment and success throughout the entire year. “Some universities use a rank score system for guaranteed or preferential entry into courses of study with limited or competitive entry. Students with more Merit and Excellence grades at NCEA Level 3 will achieve a higher Guaranteed Entry Score than students with mainly Achieved results.” 4. What have some of our NCEA graduates gone on to achieve? “Most of our NCEA graduates go on to tertiary education and pursue a variety of areas of study. We have had graduates go on to become research scientists, engineers, lawyers, chefs and performers.” 5. Will this qualification help a student get into any university or course? “The minimum New Zealand University Entrance Requirements for school leavers are set by the NZQA and include NCEA Level 3, three subjects at NCEA Level 3 comprising of at least 14 credits each and literacy and numeracy requirements (covered in NCEA). Other New Zealand tertiary education providers also base their entry requirements on the University Entrance Requirements. “Overseas universities and tertiary providers usually require international students to achieve the university entrance requirements set by their home country. New Zealand qualifications are generally accepted in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.” 21 Queen Margaret Calling :: ISSUE 63 :: May 2019