NCEA Literacy is the ability to:
- make sense of and critically engage with a range of written texts and other sources of information that ākonga are exposed to
- write fluently and effectively for different audiences, purposes, and contexts, using language conventions appropriately to support this communication.
Literacy is embedded in all learning areas. The Literacy Pedagogy Guides (LPGs) showcase ways that the reading and writing skills and strategies can be applied within your learning area, and provide guidance on how you could strengthen these learning opportunities.
Making literacy more visible in your learning area allows ākonga to:
- develop knowledge and confidence in applying reading and writing skills and strategies to a range of contexts and environments.
- understand the literacy connections across subjects.
- build the discipline-specific literacies needed as ākonga progress in subjects.
- have more time to practise skills.
- understand that literacy is essential and connected to their everyday lives.
- connect their own culture, knowledge, and experiences to what they read and write.
You can choose to integrate a specific literacy tool into your planned programme or seize opportunities (teachable moments) to highlight strategies or tools as they come up.
Assessing Literacy
From 2024, to gain an NCEA qualification, ākonga must pass both Literacy standards:
- US32403: Read written texts to understand ideas and information
- US32405: Write texts to communicate ideas and information
The Literacy standards will be assessed online through a Common Assessment Activity (CAA) using the NZQA assessment master platform.
The CAAs will be available multiple times a year so ākonga can be entered for each assessment when they are ready. Your feedback on ākonga literacy development can inform assessment readiness.
A facilitator or co-ordinator who is responsible for organising the CAAs should be appointed at your school. This may be a logistical role, or one which includes supporting other kaiako to implement the teaching and learning changes for NCEA Literacy.
More Information
About NCEA Literacy - An overview of the changes to NCEA Literacy for school leaders and kaiako.
Effective Practices that Support Literacy - This guide outlines practical, evidence-based steps you can take to integrate literacy into your practice.
Literacy Pedagogy Guides (LPGs) - A set of guides that unpack the Unpacking Literacy document in specific NCEA learning areas and subjects. These may be useful when considering how you can weave literacy into your classroom.
About Te Reo Matatini - Find out more about the Te Reo Matatini standard ākonga can sit as an alternative to the Literacy standards.
Numeracy in Your Classroom - A guide for subject kaiako on how the changes to NCEA Numeracy will impact you.
NCEA Literacy is the ability to:
- make sense of and critically engage with a range of written texts and other sources of information that ākonga are exposed to
- write fluently and effectively for different audiences, purposes, and contexts, using language conventions appropriately to support this communication.
Literacy is embedded in all learning areas. The Literacy Pedagogy Guides (LPGs) showcase ways that the reading and writing skills and strategies can be applied within your learning area, and provide guidance on how you could strengthen these learning opportunities.
Making literacy more visible in your learning area allows ākonga to:
- develop knowledge and confidence in applying reading and writing skills and strategies to a range of contexts and environments.
- understand the literacy connections across subjects.
- build the discipline-specific literacies needed as ākonga progress in subjects.
- have more time to practise skills.
- understand that literacy is essential and connected to their everyday lives.
- connect their own culture, knowledge, and experiences to what they read and write.
You can choose to integrate a specific literacy tool into your planned programme or seize opportunities (teachable moments) to highlight strategies or tools as they come up.
Assessing Literacy
From 2024, to gain an NCEA qualification, ākonga must pass both Literacy standards:
- US32403: Read written texts to understand ideas and information
- US32405: Write texts to communicate ideas and information
The Literacy standards will be assessed online through a Common Assessment Activity (CAA) using the NZQA assessment master platform.
The CAAs will be available multiple times a year so ākonga can be entered for each assessment when they are ready. Your feedback on ākonga literacy development can inform assessment readiness.
A facilitator or co-ordinator who is responsible for organising the CAAs should be appointed at your school. This may be a logistical role, or one which includes supporting other kaiako to implement the teaching and learning changes for NCEA Literacy.
More Information
About NCEA Literacy - An overview of the changes to NCEA Literacy for school leaders and kaiako.
Effective Practices that Support Literacy - This guide outlines practical, evidence-based steps you can take to integrate literacy into your practice.
Literacy Pedagogy Guides (LPGs) - A set of guides that unpack the Unpacking Literacy document in specific NCEA learning areas and subjects. These may be useful when considering how you can weave literacy into your classroom.
About Te Reo Matatini - Find out more about the Te Reo Matatini standard ākonga can sit as an alternative to the Literacy standards.
Numeracy in Your Classroom - A guide for subject kaiako on how the changes to NCEA Numeracy will impact you.