Beginner's guide to the NCEA

What is the NCEA?

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement. It replaced School Certificate (students now sit NCEA level 1), Sixth Form Certificate (level 2), Bursary (level 3). The NZ Scholarship (level 4) is a separate qualification.

How does it work?

Students take courses in units, which are worth a certain number of credits. They need 80 credits to pass each level, plus minimum credits in literacy and numeracy. For university entrance students need an NCEA qualification with at least 42 credits at level 3 or above.

How is it marked?

There are two types of courses. Achievement standards have excellence, merit or achieved awards - roughly equivalent to A, B and C passes. Unit standards are pass/fail only.

Do students still sit exams?

Most students sit a mixture of exams and internal assessment. A sample of students' work in every subject at a school is checked by an external marker to ensure nationwide uniformity.

Is NCEA working?

Yes, say supporters. Last year 87 per cent of school leavers had some qualification - up from 83 per cent in 2001, the last year of the old system.

No, say opponents. Many parents, students, schools and employers do not trust or understand NCEA. Last year 5000 students sat 13,870 subjects in the alternative Cambridge Exams.

Worst moments

* 2002: In NCEA's debut year, teachers threaten to strike over "shoddy implementation". Results show huge numbers failed level 1.

* 2003: Criticism flares up again over the non-reporting of "not achieved" results - a decision that is later reversed.

* 2004: Cambridge High School becomes the NCEA's success story with a 100 per cent pass-rate. Principal Alison Annan later leaves under a cloud, after allegations of "manipulation of results" and revelations children picked litter to gain credits.

* 2005: It emerges there has been "significant variability" in the numbers passing, particularly in Scholarship, but also at other levels. A catalogue of errors surface, including

Feb 1: A Kings College student passes Scholarship geography without a single lesson in the subject.

Feb 10: The entire Rangitoto College level 3 graphics cohort fail, despite aceing every other test in the subject.

Feb 17: Former University of Auckland chemistry associate professor, science textbook author and bursary examiner John Packer tests himself by sitting NCEA level 3 chemistry. He can't finish the paper.

March 12: A top Taumarunui High School student fails level 1 history. The paper is remarked and she scores the highest award possible.