Changes to NCEA for 2020

NZQA will implement three key changes for 2020: 

  • Students working towards an NCEA can gain additional credits, based on the number of credits they achieve during the 2020 school year.  For every 5 credits a student achieves towards their NCEA through internal or external assessment, they can be awarded an additional 1 credit.  Students at NCEA Level 1 are eligible for up to a maximum of 10 additional credits while those at Levels 2 and 3 are eligible for up to a maximum of 8 additional credits.  These will be known as Learning Recognition (LR) credits.   
  • Students will be awarded a certificate endorsement if they achieve 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, rather than the usual 50.  Students achieving 12 credits at Merit or Excellence level in a course – rather than 14 – will be awarded a course endorsement.   
  • Current UE requirements have been reduced to 12 credits in three UE-approved subjects, from 14 credits in three approved subjects.  Students still need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet the literacy and numeracy requirement to be awarded University Entrance.