NCEA – notes from Kay
|
Certificate |
Total Credits needed |
Other requirements |
| Level 1 Certificate | 80 credits: 80 from Level 1 or higher |
|
| Level 2 Certificate | 80 credits: at least 60 must be from Level 2 or higher, but 20 credits can be from Level 1 | No literacy or numeracy requirements for Level 2 or 3 |
| Level 3 Certificate | 80 credits: a least 60 must be from Level 3 or higher, but 20 credits can be from Level 2 |
| Entry to University | 42 credits at Level 3 made up as:
|
Essential Points About Gaining Credits for NCEA
Standards, Levels, and Credits: Each subject in each of the 3 NCEA levels has certain “standards” (or work objectives) which the student has to meet in order to earn a number of credits, and these credits can go towards an NCEA Certificate. The satisfactory completion of work for most standards will earn on average about 3-4 credits.
TCS Workbooks: When a student enrols in a particular subject, they receive a series of workbooks throughout the year to study, complete and return. A single workbook may cover the work required of single standard, or sometimes more than one standard. Occasionally, several booklets may need to be completed before a standard is met, and credits gained.
Unit and Achievement Standards: Some standards are “Unit Standards” and some are “Achievement Standards.” The main difference is that Achievement standards are graded as Achieved, Merit or Excellence, and may require external assessment by way of an exam (or portfolio for subjects such as art or technology). Unit standards on the other hand, are simply passed or not passed, and if they are not passed, there is usually the opportunity to repair the problem.
The Correspondence School Programme Selection Guide: This lists all the subjects and the standards that can be obtained at each level, together with the number of credits that can be earned, and whether they are unit/achievement or internal/externally assessed.
Enrolling at TCS: It pays to talk to one of the student or enrolment advisors before enrolling. The course and level your student takes will depend on their goals, career choices, preferences, abilities and previous experience. I would also recommend you don’t begin with Level 3, as you and your student will need a settling in time to get used to both TCS and NCEA without the pressure this final year would bring. Also plot carefully so you meet all the requirements needed for certificates, or future career or study choices, if known.
Starting and progressing through NCEA levels: As a general principle, students can start at any NCEA level, and do not necessarily need complete a level, or gain a certificate, before attempting the next one up. (However, take care because some subjects such as graphics may require previous learning). In any one year a student can study credits at a combination of levels, they don’t need to be studied sequentially or in order. For example, he could do English at Level 3 and Maths at Level 1 in the same year. Or he can start the year doing English at Level 1 and then move up to Level 2 part way through if he finds it too easy. Note that Maths is always tested to determine the appropriate level.
Minimum number of credits for each Level of NCEA: There are a minimum number of credits needed to achieve a certificate at each NCEA level. But this is only the minimum, both in terms of number and level of credits gained. For example, while a student needs 80 credits for Level 1, the credits can be obtained from subjects taken at Level 2 or 3, as well as Level 1. They can even come from higher learning/tertiary level. For example, after leaving school an apprentice studying at Level 4 or 5 can put those credits towards an NCEA certificate at Level 1, 2 or 3 as needed.
Failing to get the 80 credits for an NCEA level: If a student cannot complete the full 80 credits for a certificate, they don’t have to repeat the year. They have the option of completing only the missing credits the following year, or simply moving upto the next NCEA level taking 20 credits from the previous level with them.
Transferrable Credits: Credits don’t disappear or get used up just because they were put towards a certificate at a certain level. Providing they meet the criteria, the same credits can be used over and over for any number of certificate possibilities.
About The Correspondence School (TCS)
TCS has two types of enrolment – one for “eligible” students who meet strict criteria (such as distance or health) which prevents them attending local schools. For them, TCS is their version of a free, fully funded and entitled education from age 5 to 19.
The other are “feepaying” students who don’t meet the strict criteria. These are typically foreign students, exempted students (homeschooled), or adults aged 16 and over. The fees are set out differently depending on the age.
- Exempted domestic (Homeschooled) or foreign children under 16 pay about $1000 per subject.
- Students 16 and over are Adult students:
- For those aged 16-19 (Young Adults), the fee is currently set at zero. Until a couple of years the fee was $80, and the change represents an intiative to draw early school leavers back to complete their education.
- For those aged 19 and over (Adults) the fee is $100.
Homeschooled students who are in possession of an exemption certificate when they turn 16 are able to get their homeschooling allowance up until the end of the year they turn 19, so long as they are still “homeschooling” as if they were still under s.21 of the Education Act. In other words, they must still be completing their secondary education, and would not have entered tertiary education or employment fulltime. Enrolling at TCS as a Young Adult student does not change this – you are still entitled to receive the allowance. If you are in any doubt, please contact Kay on 266 9218.
Contacts and Further Information
Qualification Fact Sheet – information about different NCEA and other certificates
http://www.correspondence.school.nz/student-toolkit/earning-qualifications
NZQA site – overview of how NCEA works
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/index.html
Student enrolment at TCS for Adults and Young Adults 16 years and over
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/Schools/CurriculumAndNCEA/NationalCurriculum/CorrespondenceSchoolEnrolmentPolicy/Adult_Enrolments.aspx
The Correspondence School (TCS)
Website: www.correspondence.school.nz
Email: info@correspondence.school.nz
Freephone: 0800 65 99 88
Note: A copy of the “Programme Selection Guide” can either be posted, or found online at TCS website.
