Examination Update - Marking close to completion

Examination Update - Marking close to completion

Marking of nearly 2 million NCEA and 9000 NZ Scholarship examination papers is almost complete with results due with candidates by mid-January, as normal.

Results for the 140,000 examination candidates will be mailed out on the same day but delivery dates may vary in different parts of the country. Online results will be available on the NZQA website on the afternoon of the day after mailing.

Candidates can access their results via their secure log-ins – for which they must first have registered. Candidates can register online (https://secure.nzqa.govt.nz/for-learners/records/login.do) or Call Free on 0800 697 296.

During marking, results are monitored as usual to assess trends in candidate performance using Profiles of Expected Peformance (PEPs), which are based on historical trends, the number of candidates in a given year, and the professional judgment of examiners and marking panel leaders.

PEPs do not set a pre-determined target for results but allow monitoring to take place to ensure an examination paper sets the same standard from one year to the next.

“The goal is to ensure that a standard is no more or less difficult in different years,” NZQA Deputy Chief Executive, Qualifications, Bali Haque said.

“The same level of performance should receive the same result, no matter what year the standard was attempted.”

When monitoring of results indicates these are falling significantly outside PEP ranges, the reasons for such variations are investigated. If there are valid reasons for the variations, for example, changes in the format of papers leading to improved performance, no adjustments to marking schedules are made.

This year three standards, required partial re-marking: Level 1 Science 90189 - Describe aspects of chemistry – one part of one of four questions re-marked.

Level 2 Science 90768 - Use physics concepts and principles to describe the behaviour of light – one of three questions re-marked.

Level 2 Chemistry 90310 - Describe thermochemical and equilibrium principles – one question of four re-marked.

“Re-marking is not carried out to make results fit a pre-set pattern,” Mr Haque said. “It is carried out to ensure students get appropriate credit for their performance.”

(In 2008, parts of two papers required re-marking, with six cases of re-marking in 2007.)

ENDS

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