Final Draft

LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL

Assessment for National Qualifications Student and Parent Information Booklet 2014
NCEA

The National Certificate in Educational Achievement is one of the qualifications from the National Qualifications Framework. The NCEA is the certificate that all students should attempt. Assessment is made against Achievement and Unit standards. There are internal standards (eg tests) and external standards (exams.). For each achievement standard you will get one of four grades and the credit value of the standard if you achieve it: Achieved Achieved with Merit Achieved with Excellence Not Achieved For each unit standard you will get one of two grades and the credit of the standard if you achieve it. Achieved Not Achieved

NCEA Level 1

You achieve Level One if you gain 80 credits at Level 1 or higher. You must have 10 credits in approved literacy standards and 10 in approved numeracy standards.

NCEA Level 2

You achieve Level Two if you gain 60 Level 2 or higher credits, plus 20 at Level One. You can reuse last years level 1 Credits There are no literacy or numeracy requirements for this award, but there are University Entrance requirements.

NCEA Level 3

You achieve Level Three if you gain 60 credits at level 3 or higher, plus 20 credits at Level Two. You can reuse last years Level 2 or 3 Credits There are no literacy or numeracy requirements for this award, but there are for University Entrance.

University Entrance

These are the new University Entrance requirements from 2014. Achieve Level 3 with 60 Level 3 Credits plus 20 Level 2 Credits. Including 14 Credits in each of three approved Level Three subjects Also including 10 credits at Level Two or higher that show 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing skills in English or Te Reo Maori. Also including 10 credits at Level One or higher in Numeracy .

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CONTENTS
General Information Information For Students On: Assessment Resubmissions Reassessment Appeals Absences Late or missed Assessments Deadlines Privacy Authenticity Recording Results Compassionate Considerations Special Assessment Conditions Rules and Breaches of Procedures Entry to Courses Course or Certificate Endorsement

Forms Authenticity Declaration Late or Missed Assessments Request Form Appeals Form Tracking Sheet Summary

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INFORMATION FOR PUPILS There are two types of Standards; Unit Standards and Achievement Standards. Unit Standards are internally assessed while Achievement Standards are either internally or externally assessed depending on the standard. Unit Standards are graded after assessment as either Achieved or Not Achieved while Achievement Standards are graded as; Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit or Excellence. Standards are not a complete course in themselves, as teachers still have to complete any curriculum or prescription requirements where these are laid down in the national documents. A teacher can decide to base assessment entirely around Unit Standards or Achievement Standards or do a number from both types of Standards throughout the year. Assessments Assessments will be able to be attempted twice if practicable. A Maximum of 1 further Assessment opportunity on that standard in a year. Assessments can be written/oral or visual as can the resubmission or reassessment whatever fits the needs of the assessment. The results of the assessment are communicated to the student but the assessment is not returned until all students in the course have completed the 2 attempts. The assessment must be seen to be fair. Assessments (Resubmission or Reassessment) can be re-sat (if practicable) if students do not achieve at first attempt. Resubmissions are used only when the grade is Not Achieved. They cant be used to move an Achieved to a higher Grade. Reassessments can if available be used to move to a higher grade. Subject teachers must give students a full assessment statement and course information at the beginning of the year that details the value and the type of each assessment to be used during the course. If an assessment statement changes during the course, the students will be informed of the change If the student decides not to hand in an assessment then the subject teacher will contact the parents or caregivers to inform them of the situation. Resubmissions Resubmission is when you just have to answer those questions or parts of questions that were not correct. Resubmission does not have to include those questions/elements that the students got correct except where they lead into the parts that were incorrect. Reassessment Reassessment is when a whole new assessment task is set and is usually later in the year after more teaching has been done. The student can move to a higher grade Appeals If the students think that the assessment result is unfair on them then they can appeal the assessment first to the teacher then to the NZQA Liaison teacher then to the Principal. See Appeal Form. Absences All absences are recorded by the form teacher and the office will ring home if no reason is known. If a student is late for any class this will be noted by the subject teacher.
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If a student has missed large sections of the standards work which includes milestones that go towards the final grade then the assessment could be graded as Not Achieved and counted as an attempt with a chance at a later assessment attempt if available. The Liaison Teacher can rule that the student is ineligible for standard completion and will inform NZQA that the student is withdrawn from that standard. Parents will be informed of this decision

Missed or Late Assessments Non submission of assessments will be communicated to parents. Students who are absent for summative assessments and have a satisfactory reason eg illness, family bereavement will be given the assessment opportunity as soon as possible on their return to school. This is not their reassessment opportunity. If there are Authenticity concerns then the student may have to be given a different assessment activity from the other students. Students who are absent for summative assessments and dont have a satisfactory reason will not be given the assessment opportunity. They will have the opportunity to gain credit through reassessment if available, Students who miss the assessment can apply to their teacher who will discuss this with Management and the Liaison teacher. There is a late or missed assessment form. Medical Certificates and/or other supporting evidence (e.g. a note/phone call from home giving reason for absence) will be requested. Absences on the day of assessment because of Dental Appointments, Doctors Appointments and other personal Appointments do not give the student the right to take the assessment at a later date. Deadlines There is no such thing as late work" The date work is due must be met otherwise the grade will be Not Achieved The deadline will be 3:30pm unless another time is specified in the assessment Extensions can applied for but only for school approved reasons; illness, school events and important family occasions. Extensions must be applied for in advance except for illness or an emergency Use the form available. Privacy The school has an appointed Privacy Officer to ensure that the principles contained in the Privacy Act are adhered to. The Privacy Officer is Pauline Taylor. Each student will be allowed access to all their personal information which the school is holding and is able to question any information which is held, by contacting the Privacy Officer. The school will not disclose any personal information to any third party without the authorisation of the individual concerned. Parents and caregivers are considered to be authorised agents of their children and have the same rights as their children relating to personal information which the school is holding about their children. Authenticity Year 11-13 students are required to sign an Authenticity Declaration at the start of each school year, stating that work which they submit for assessment purposes is their own. This is to be signed by parents/caregivers. 5
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Students will sign and date an authenticity slip or stamp, which will be attached to each assessment. If students are found to produce work which is not their own, they are referred to the NZQA Liaison Teacher who will investigate the situation and take any necessary action. The student(s) involved and their parents will be informed of the action taken by the Liaison Teacher, along with the teacher concerned, the Subject Head, the appropriate Form Teacher, and the Principal. Examples of Authenticity Issues: Cut and Pasting from the Internet, Using cheat sites, Student to student conversations which relate directly to the work, non referencing of information taken from other sources, non-compliance with teacher instructions, refusing to let teachers look at their work Workbooks, Practise assessments, class work and mock exams can all be used to authenticate work this why they are very important to be proven to be your own work.

Recording Results Students are required to sign a marks record to show that they accept the results of an assessment(See Form) Results will be recorded on student reports and copies will be stored in their file boxes. Classroom Manager (MUSAC) will be used to store results and transmit them to NZQA. Students should keep a record of their own results on the Sheet and also check the NZQA website. Compassionate Consideration Students who feel their performance to be unfairly impaired in the external exams may apply for a Compassionate Consideration. If a student applies for Compassionate Consideration in November the school will be asked for evidence as to the standard of the students work in the particular standards. The school looks at the mock exams and any practise assessments that the stude nt has done in those standards. This is why all practise assessments should be sat to the best of the students ability. Workbooks, mock exams, practise assessments and all class work in that standard can be used as evidence towards Compassionate Consideration Special Assessment Conditions There are provisions that can be made for students with special identified needs. These are identified during the Barriers To Learning and Special Needs Analysis that staff do during Terms 1 and 3. These are identified prior to Year 11. The Students do all assessments with the the previously identified solutions in place. Parents can help identify the needs. Senior Management make the final decision about eligibility. Rules and Breaches of Procedures( see also Authenticity) All Formal Assessments and Practise Exams are to be run under formal exam rules e.g. no communication between students, no cell phones, Calculators checked etc. Open Book just means that student can use previously prepared notes or textbooks, all other normal rules apply. Breaches of rules are referred to both Management and the P.N. All material will have the breach noted on it . Management will decide the final action to be taken, the Assessment Appeal Rules will apply. Punishment could range from a warning through Detentions to non awarding of
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Credits Parents will be informed of the breach and the decision.

Entry to Courses All Level 1 courses are open entry but some discussion Between Students, Parents, Teachers and the Careers Teacher might be necessary. Entry to Level 2 and 3 Subjects will be (for the Traditional school subjects) with discussion between Students, Teachers, Parents and the Careers Teacher. It will depend on the achievement at the previous level and Students Career Path. For Non Traditional School Subjects e.g. Level 3 Tourism then Entry will be discussed with the Careers Teacher, Students and Parents. Course or Certificate Endorsement It is possible to get course or certificate endorsement in most subjects that use Achievement Standards as the form of assessment. It is possible to get both. The following are the criteria that are needed: Course Endorsement: (Minimum) 14 Credits at Merit/Excellence in a subject 4 Credits in Externals at Merit/Excellence 4 Credits in Internals at Merit/Excellence All Credits must be achieved in 1 year Certificate Endorsement 50 Credits in Excellence endorsement is Excellence 50 at either Merit or Excellence endorsement is Merit Credits can be achieved over a number of years.

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AUTHENTICITY DECLARATION I ... state that all work that I submit for assessment is my own work and not the work of others. It is my responsibility to ensure the authenticity of my own work and not to allow others to use or copy my work. If I am found to submit work which is not my own, I will not receive any credits or marks for the assessment and accept any disciplinary procedures which may be instigated against me. Signed: Signed: Date:
Student

Parent/Caregiver

These declarations will be held by the Principals Nominee.

Below is an example of Authenticity Statement that will be stamped onto your work or attached to it.

STUDENT WORK
AUTHENTICITY DECLARATION I declare that the work being submitted for assessment is my own work and not the work of others. Signed: Dated:

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LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL LATE OR MISSED ASSESSMENTS REQUEST FORM

All late work must be accompanied by the Request Form completed and signed by parent/caregiver
Name of Student: Due Date of Assessment: Title of Assessment: Reason for Lateness or Missing of Assessment Date:

What action has been taken by student to ensure work is on time ?

Doctors Certificate Attached If necessary other supporting documentation If Yes, please list

Yes Yes

No No

.. ..

Student Parent Teacher

. . .

Date Date Date

. . . .

NZQA Liaison Teacher

. Date

Additional copies of the Late or Missed Assessment Request Forms are available from subject teachers

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LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL STUDENT APPEAL OF ASSESSMENT Name of Student: Date of Appeal: Title of Assessment: Teachers Name: Reasons for Appeal (written by student)

Student Teacher Outcome of Appeal

. .

Date Date

. .

NZQA Liaison Teacher . Date .

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LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL NCEA TRACKING SHEET Student Name: Subject: Standard Version Number Level Grade Year Level : Date: Signature Student Teacher

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Summary
Set some goals and consider the credit values in your course. Make certain you know the amount that is needed at each level. Set more goals beyond the basic certificate. How many merits and excellences to achieve? You must be well organised and aware in order to do well. Record your results and check the website. There is no such thing as late work. You must apply for extensions in advance. You must be aware of how other things are affecting your work. Your work must be your own and no ones but your own. You may appeal any assessment decision. If you do not think that something is fair then you are encouraged to give the school the chance to make it right. Consult to make certain that the subjects that you are taking will get you to your goals for when you leave school.

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