Waiting over for NCEA results

OH, THE RELIEF: Gisborne Girls' High School head girl Alice Morton 17, was happy with her NCEA results when they were released this morning. She is one of around 1700 students in the Gisborne region and 145,000 nationwide, who waited anxiously to check the results of their November and December exams today. Picture by Liam Clayton

NEARLY 1700 students across the Gisborne region will find out today if they passed their NCEA 2015 exams.

Results for senior high school students were released this morning for the 693 who sat level one exams over November and December, 589 who sat level two and 413 who sat level three. Among them, 43 students who also sat scholarship exams.

In total 1695 students sat NCEA exams here last year. They are a small portion of the 145,000 who sat them nationally. Over summer a team of 1750 markers graded all papers with achieved, merit or excellence.

One student delighted to find she had her fair share of excellences was Alice Morton, 17, now head girl at Gisborne Girls’ High School.

“Overall I am pretty pleased. There are some areas where I would have liked to have done better but there always is I guess.

Focusing on the positives“There is always going to be a mark you are not happy about but you have to focus on the positives. There is always this year to try harder and improve.”

Last night she was feeling the pressure.

“I was nervous. My friend called me this morning and woke me up asking how I did, but it turned out quite well.”

Alice sat level 2 English, maths, drama and classics exams, with internal assessments for art and psychology.

Careers New Zealand’s Career Knowledge Hub principal adviser Pat Cody says results can be a mixed bag.

“For many students, results will confirm study or career pathways, but some will receive results that may be disappointing or unexpected.”

Mr Cody says exam results can mean a difficult time for students who do badly.

“Results can be particularly daunting for school leavers who can feel their future hinges on their marks. The reality is that there are always options and it is important for leavers to have a plan B, or even a plan C.”

“It is important to remember that a career is not the job a person does, it is also about developing skills that are transferable across industries — it is a journey through learning, paid and unpaid work and other aspects of their life.”