Various methods of Academic grading in New Zealand are shown below.
[edit] Secondary schools
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement, the current national secondary school qualifications, uses standard-based assessment. Assessment for Achievement Standards uses a four-grade system, the lowest being a failing grade, while Unit Standards use a simple achieved/not achieved (pass/fail) grade system.
| Official Name |
Common Name |
Abbreviation |
Definition |
| Achievement with Excellence |
Excellence |
E |
The candidate has demonstrated in depth understanding of the material tested |
| Achievement with Merit |
Merit |
M |
The candidate has met the criteria of the standard which demonstrates substantial knowledge of the material tested |
| Achievement |
Achieved |
A |
The candidate met the criteria of the standard to a level which demonstrates adequate understanding of the material tested |
| Not Achieved |
Not Achieved |
N / NA |
Fail |
Several schools in New Zealand, predominantly in Auckland, also offer the CIE (Cambridge International Examinations) Program in addition to NCEA.
[edit] Previous qualifications
[edit] School Certificate
The predecessor to NCEA Level 1, School Certificate used a norm-based five-grade system.
| Grade |
Percentage |
| A |
80% - 100% |
| B |
65% - 79% |
| C |
50% - 64% |
| D |
30% - 49% |
| E |
0% - 29% |
[edit] Universities
New Zealand universities generally award letter grades (i.e. A to E) to students, with +/- variations. These letter grades correspond to percentage mark bands, though these vary between universities (common cut-offs for A+ include 90% and 85%, and even within a university, an A+ from one department may vary from an A+ from another, with the actual cut-off subject to discretion). D and E grades are failing grades, corresponding to work receiving less than 50%. However, for Honours degrees, the letter grades also correspond to degree classes, with A+/A/A- grades corresponding to a first, B+/high B corresponding to 2:1, etc.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
