Auckland Grammar School, which is a state boys’ high school, has decided that NCEA does not suit their boys. NCEA means National Certificate in Educational Achievement. In Year 11, students do Level 1 NCEA, in Year 12 they do Level 2, and in Year 13 they do level 3. This is a New Zealand assessment (tests and exams) based on the New Zealand curriculum.

NCEA replaced an end-of-year examination system in 2004. A lot of the work that students do in class is assessed by the teacher many times during the year. This encourages students to work hard all year. There are some end-of-year exams as well. Students who pass do not get grades or marks. They achieve (this is a pass), or get merit, or if they are very good, they get excellence.

The headmaster of Auckland Grammar said that this suits girls who like to work hard all year but boys do better with an end-of-year exam. Boys are more competitive he said. They like marks. The school this year will offer Cambridge O and A level exams instead of NCEA, for nearly all of their students. Cambridge is a British exam. It has a different curriculum.

The Minister of Education, Anne Tolley, is happy with this decision by Auckland Grammar.

Questions

1. Auckland Grammar is a state school. Do you think Anne Tolley should force a state school to use the New Zealand NCEA?

2. Do you think students should have internal assessment (tests in class during the year) or are end-of-year exams better?

3. Is there a difference between girls’ and boys’ study habits? 4. Two thirds of tertiary qualifications in New Zealand are achieved by females. Why?