NCEA Important Information
IMPORTANT LINKS
Outlined below is some helpful information connected with your journey through NCEA.
Read each section carefully and ask your Kaiārahi or Kaiāko if you have any questions. This guide covers:
Authenticity
Breaches of the Rules
Extensions
Missed Internal Assessment
Appeals
Resubmissions
Further Assessment Opportunity
Special Assessment Conditions
Derived Grades
AUTHENTICITY
Authenticity means that all work that you submit for marking for an assessment must be your own work. The following will apply to ALL work presented for internal assessments for NCEA qualifications.
You must:
submit work that is entirely your own.
sign an authenticity declaration at the beginning of each academic year.
acknowledge all sources and evidence including direct quotes, paraphrases and ideas that are not your own with appropriate references.
ensure your data is accurate.
attend classes regularly to allow your teachers to see you working on your assessments and to discuss the work with you.
It is your responsibility to:
keep all drafts and working documents, and if required to, hand them to your teacher(s).
keep a record of all sources you used.
be prepared to discuss your work with your teacher(s).
You must not:
plagiarise, colloid, impersonate or cheat in any form during an internal assessment, external assessment or in class test or task.
share your work with other students or inappropriately help another student with any part of their work
use unauthorised materials or methods (i.e. Artificial Intelligence, commercially paid for assessments, etc.) to produce a whole assessment, or part of an assessment.
use unauthorised technology in a test or exam (e.g. non-approved calculator, cellphone, smart watch)
knowingly present material which is incorrect or misleading
You will be advised by your classroom teacher how ensure the authenticity of your work and assessments.
Use of Artifical Intelligence and Authenticity
In today's digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a valuable tool in various aspects of our lives, including education. AI can enhance your learning experience by providing personalized recommendations, offering instant feedback, and helping you explore complex concepts. It opens up a world of possibilities, making learning more interactive and engaging. However, while AI can be a powerful ally, it is crucial to remember the importance of authenticity in your academic journey.
Submitting your own work is not only an ethical requirement but also a valuable learning experience. When you complete assessments and projects independently, you develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. It allows you to showcase your unique perspective and creativity, fostering intellectual growth. The process of grappling with challenges and finding solutions on your own helps you become a more confident and capable learner.
To ensure the authenticity of your work, teachers may use plagiarism and AI checkers if they suspect the work is not your own. These tools are designed to compare your assignments against a vast database of resources, looking for any similarities or instances of copied content. While it may seem intimidating, the purpose of using plagiarism and AI checkers is to maintain academic integrity and ensure the work you produce is your own so that you get the grade you have earned. Remember, the aim is not to catch you in a mistake, but to encourage originality and honest efforts. Embracing this approach will help you grow academically, gaining the skills and knowledge that will benefit you in the long run.
So, if you are using AI in your learning journey, always remember the importance of authenticity.
BREACHES OF THE RULES
For breaches of the rules, the Principals' Nominee will decide the appropriate course of action in conjunction with the subject teacher and Poutiaki, based upon the evidence provided.
However, the following will be used as a guideline:
If you hand in work that is not your own, you may be disqualified from that standard. There may be no opportunity for further assessment.
If you permit your work to be copied or share your work with another student (which increases the risk of work being copied), you may receive no credit for that standard if it is not the first time.
For a breach of the rules such as having forbidden technology, communicating with another student or distracting other students during a test or examination, you may receive 'Not Achieved' for all the standards being assessed and receive no opportunity for further assessment.
A register of all breaches of the rules will be maintained by the Principal's Nominee.
EXTENSIONS
All work should be handed in on time and by the due date set by the subject teacher(s).
If you are planning to be absent, cannot submit an assessment on time, or cannot participate in an in-class test or activity, then you must apply for an extension, using the Missed Assessment Application Form, from your subject teacher(s) as soon as you know that you will be unable to participate, but no later than 48 hours before the assessment due date/time. For school related trips, you should apply for an extension at least one week in advance.
Self-interest leave, like family holidays, travel or part-time employment are not valid reasons to be granted an extension. Having too many assessment due around the same time is also not a valid reason to be granted an extension.
Any extension is given at the discretion of the subject-teacher and should be fair to all concerned.
MISSED AND LATE INTERNAL
ASSESSMENTS
You need to be well prepared when each assessment occurs and students are expected to submit assessments on time.
In Advance of the Due Date
Where you know that you will not be at school to meet an in-class assessment or a due date, you must liaise with their subject teacher as soon as possible to determine whether an extension will be granted (see Extensions).
After the Due Date has Passed
In the event that you miss an in-class assessment or a due date for unforeseen circumstances a Missed Assessment Application Form must be completed and submitted within ONE WEEK of the assessment time/due date
Valid reasons for requesting an extension of time or a new assessment date are:
Sickness: a medical certificate must be supplied.
Family trauma: a note from the parent/caregiver, guidance counsellor, Hub coach must be supplied.
School sporting/cultural activity: this is valid only if the teacher has been consulted at least a week in advance of the trip occurring so alternative assessment opportunities can be considered and approved.
Failure to submit an assessment, or provide a valid explanation as to why an assessment or due date was missed, will result in a Not Achieved grade being awarded.
APPEALS
You have the right to appeal any assessment-related decisions and you do not forfeit your right to an appeal by acknowledging the return of your work or by sighting your grade.
Appealing an assessment-related decision includes:
an awarded grade
a request for an extension or a new assessment date
access to a resubmission or further assessment opportunity (if manageable)
allegation of breaches to the rules.
You should use the following steps in the appeal process
Approach your subject teacher(s) and discuss your reasons for wanting to appeal. You and your subject teacher should attempt the resolve this together. This should be done within 10 days of the grade being returned.
If no resolution is found or you remain unsatisfied with the explanation/decision, then you should formally appeal to the Poutiaki of the subject using the Appeals Application Form. This should be done within 5 days of the first appeal.
Should you still not be satisfied with the explanation/decision, then the appeal is passed onto the Principal's Nominee who will have the work marked by a subject specialist outside of RSHS - this decision of the PN is final.
The Principals' Nominee - not NZQA - is the highest authority for internal assessment matters and has the final say concering all internal assessments.
RESUBMISSION
Subject teachers may offer a resubmission opportunity when a student can gain an Achieved grade by correcting minor errors or omissions in their work within a short period of time.
Resubmissions are only offered if your teacher judges that a mistake has been made by you in your assessment. However, you must be capable of discovering and correcting those mistakes yourself
Resubmissions apply to specific aspects of an assessment, not the assessment as a whole
No further teaching, learning or feedback can take place if a resubmission has been offered
The resubmission should take place in a supervised and timely manner
Only one resubmission opportunity can be offered per attempted standard, but a resubmission does not have to be offered to a whole class or at all and nor can you demand a resubmission
FURTHER ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITY
A maximum of one Further Assessment Opportunity may be offered to students an an academic year where it is practicable and manageable to do so.
It is the decision of subject teachers, in conjunction with Poutiaki, whether a further assessment opportunity will be offered for any standard in a course. If it is manageable to offer one then:
all students will be advised from the outset that there is further assessment opportunity and it will be made available to all students regardless of their performance or non-performance in the first opportunity
further teaching and learning will take place
a different assessment task will be offered for those that who accepted the opportunity
you will have access to all grades regardless of the grade awarded in the first opportunity.
The highest grade across both opportunities is reported to NZQA.
The conditions of the further assessment opportunity must be consistent with the conditions of the first opportunity.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (SAC)
Some students are eligible for Special Assessment Conditions. These are approved conditions that are offered by NZQA when they are undertaking internal assessment, practice external assessment and end of year examinations.
Special Assessment Conditions includes:
Reader and/or writer
Extra time
Rest breaks
Seperate accommodation
Computer use
Special paper (enlarged paper, braille paper, coloured paper)
Signer
If you are entitled to these, you should remind your teacher of the type of assistance you are allowed. You also have the right to delcine the use of any or all of your SAC approved conditions.
If you think that you might be eligible for special assessment conditions, you must discuss this with the Inclusive Learning Department as soon as possible.
Special Assessment Conditions are not available for temporary impairment such as a broken arm. See the Principals' Nominee in situations such as this (see Derived Grade Process below).
DERIVED GRADES (External Assessments Only)
A derived grade can be applied for if you are representing New Zealand at national level (in sport, culture or academics) or have been significantly disadvantaged because of temporary impairment or a non-permanent disability (like a broken arm) close to or during an external examination(s) and which will affect or had affected performance in the external examination(s).
The following are approved reasons to be granted a derived grade:
having a notifiable disease (such as COVID-19, measles, mumps, whooping cough, etc)
a temporary acute non-recurring illness
trauma (a significantly disturbing or distressing experience)
misadventure (an event beyond a student's control or an exceptional experience)
a sudden and significant change to a long-term illness occurring at the time of the examination(s)
The following reasons will not normally be granted a derived grade:
minor ailments or illness (common cold, headaches, etc)
stress or anxiety due to sitting examinations
self-interest absences or being on holiday
day-to-day family or school disturbances
death of a pet
minor traffic incidents
The following are not normally acceptable grounds for a derived grade:
Long term conditions
Chronic relapsing conditions
Ongoing personal trauma
Choosing to leave for a holiday or going overseas is not grounds for a derived grade.
Applying for a derived grade
If you are not able to sit an external examination cause you are representing New Zealand at a national level or your performance is or had been significantly impaired, and you meet the NZQA criteria you should contact the Principals' Nominee at pn@rhs.school.nz as soon as possible, to seek advice on the process and that you wish to apply for a derived grade.
You will need to gather some information to assist with the application:
For medical situations, getting your doctor, GP, counsellor, relevant professional or agency to fill in their part of the application form
Providing evidence of the event e.g. order of service, or funeral notice
The form will need to be returned to the Principals' Nominee as soon as it is completed for submission to NZQA.
The procedure is for RSHS to submit to NZQA a valid, standard-specific grade from the school's management system (KAMAR), obtained from an authentic assessment - usually, but not necessarily, a practice examination. NZQA then provides a result based on this information. It is therefore very important that if you are enrolled in any external assessments that you perform to your best in any derived grade examinations.
You can choose not to apply for a derived grade for an external standard where a Not Achieved grade will be reported. The Principals' Nominee will be able to advise you if a valid grade is available and what that grade is.
If you are absent during an assessment from which a derived grade can be generated, you must contact your subject teacher immediately as it may be possible to catch this up at another date and time.
Derived grades are NOT available for internal assessments or Scholarship examinations.
NZQA reserves the right to decline an derived grade application that does not meet their criteria. This is the decision of NZQA, not RSHS. This decision can be appealed.