Te Poutāhū logo

Approved standards reflect skills and competency in te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy, and numeracy

The full list of standards approved for use to achieve the NCEA co-requisite during 2024 and 2025 is now available.
  • NZC
  • TMoA
  • Literacy and Numeracy
  • Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau

The full list of standards approved for use to achieve the NCEA co-requisite during 2024 and 2025 is now available.

From 2024, all learners undertaking NCEA will need to complete the NCEA co-requisite using either five dedicated standards for te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy, and numeracy – or a set of standards approved for use in 2024 and 2025.

Access full list: Standards approved for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025

In 2020, Cabinet agreed to strengthen the NCEA literacy and numeracy requirements in place since 2013. This included formally separating the literacy and numeracy requirements into a 20-credit co-requisite. From 2024, achievement of the co-requisite becomes mandatory for the awarding of an NCEA qualification at any level.

Learners can achieve the co-requisite in English – literacy and numeracy, or in te reo Māori – te reo matatini and pāngarau. The co-requisite is a one-off requirement. Once a learner has achieved the 20-credits, they do not have to repeat the requirements at subsequent levels of NCEA.

The five new dedicated standards for the co-requisite are set against a benchmark from the national curriculum (both The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa). The new standards are assessed using online Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) during the year and alongside end-of-year external exams. A portfolio assessment option – Kete Manarua – is also in place for te reo matatini and pāngarau. The assessments for the dedicated standards were piloted by the Ministry and NZQA in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 all NCEA providers can ‘opt-in’ to use the new standards and assessment.

The scale and pace of change for the co-requisite requires all NCEA providers – secondary schools, kura, tertiary, and alternative education providers to make significant adjustments to support learners.

Evaluation of the 2022 pilot made it clear kaiako, schools, kura and other NCEA providers need more time, support, and guidance to transition to the co-requisite assessments. Areas for attention include supporting learners in non-school settings, lifting digital literacy to help learners complete the online assessments, and shifting away from the flexibility of the current NCEA literacy and numeracy requirements.

Transitional period – 2024 and 2025

In April 2023, the Minister of Education announced a transitional period for the NCEA co-requisite. This provides a two-year timeframe for schools, kura, and other NCEA providers to make the shift to the co-requisite standards and new assessment approaches.

In addition to the five dedicated standards, a list of additional assessment standards can be used during 2024 and 2025.

Access full information: Standards approved for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025

Teaching and learning in NCEA years

Hautū of the Ministry’s Te Poutāhū (Curriculum Centre), Deputy Secretary Ellen MacGregor-Reid, says national priorities to lift teaching and learning in English, literacy, Mathematics and Statistics, numeracy, Te Reo Māori, te reo matatini and pāngarau will positively influence achievement of the co-requisite.

“The transitional period responds directly to insights gained through two years of piloting the CAAs across schools, kura, alternative education and tertiary providers. It will also create time and opportunity for the senior secondary sector to benefit from the Common Practice Model and Ako Framework currently in development. These new approaches are priority actions under Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna and the Literacy & Communication and Maths Strategy.

“Over the next two years ākonga in the NCEA years will be able to receive the benefits from these priority actions to improve foundational skills for te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy, and numeracy at all levels of teaching and learning.”

Ms MacGregor-Reid says ‘flicking the switch’ on the co-requisite was too much, too soon for some parts of the secondary and tertiary sector. At the same time, momentum towards the change is building with more than 50,000 individual learners involved in NCEA co-requisite assessment events this month.

“The two-year transition gives everyone more time and helps us all to make sure no one is left behind in this crucially important change. While we’re taking more time to implement the NCEA co-requisite I absolutely encourage everyone to learn more about the dedicated assessments and access the regional and national support available to get involved.”

Schools, kura and other NCEA providers can also enter learners who are ready for assessments in October/November 2023.

The Ministry is prioritising support for groups who already experience lower NCEA attainment rates – including Māori and Pacific learners, and learners with disabilities.

The list was confirmed in direct consultation with the Minister’s NCEA Professional Advisory Group.

Read more: NCEA co-requisite standards

Summary list and questions and answers: NCEA co-requisite – Standards approved for use in 2024 and 2025

Read full list: Full list of additional assessment standards for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025

The full list of standards approved for use to achieve the NCEA co-requisite during 2024 and 2025 is now available.

From 2024, all learners undertaking NCEA will need to complete the NCEA co-requisite using either five dedicated standards for te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy, and numeracy – or a set of standards approved for use in 2024 and 2025.

Access full list: Standards approved for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025

In 2020, Cabinet agreed to strengthen the NCEA literacy and numeracy requirements in place since 2013. This included formally separating the literacy and numeracy requirements into a 20-credit co-requisite. From 2024, achievement of the co-requisite becomes mandatory for the awarding of an NCEA qualification at any level.

Learners can achieve the co-requisite in English – literacy and numeracy, or in te reo Māori – te reo matatini and pāngarau. The co-requisite is a one-off requirement. Once a learner has achieved the 20-credits, they do not have to repeat the requirements at subsequent levels of NCEA.

The five new dedicated standards for the co-requisite are set against a benchmark from the national curriculum (both The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa). The new standards are assessed using online Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) during the year and alongside end-of-year external exams. A portfolio assessment option – Kete Manarua – is also in place for te reo matatini and pāngarau. The assessments for the dedicated standards were piloted by the Ministry and NZQA in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 all NCEA providers can ‘opt-in’ to use the new standards and assessment.

The scale and pace of change for the co-requisite requires all NCEA providers – secondary schools, kura, tertiary, and alternative education providers to make significant adjustments to support learners.

Evaluation of the 2022 pilot made it clear kaiako, schools, kura and other NCEA providers need more time, support, and guidance to transition to the co-requisite assessments. Areas for attention include supporting learners in non-school settings, lifting digital literacy to help learners complete the online assessments, and shifting away from the flexibility of the current NCEA literacy and numeracy requirements.

Transitional period – 2024 and 2025

In April 2023, the Minister of Education announced a transitional period for the NCEA co-requisite. This provides a two-year timeframe for schools, kura, and other NCEA providers to make the shift to the co-requisite standards and new assessment approaches.

In addition to the five dedicated standards, a list of additional assessment standards can be used during 2024 and 2025.

Access full information: Standards approved for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025

Teaching and learning in NCEA years

Hautū of the Ministry’s Te Poutāhū (Curriculum Centre), Deputy Secretary Ellen MacGregor-Reid, says national priorities to lift teaching and learning in English, literacy, Mathematics and Statistics, numeracy, Te Reo Māori, te reo matatini and pāngarau will positively influence achievement of the co-requisite.

“The transitional period responds directly to insights gained through two years of piloting the CAAs across schools, kura, alternative education and tertiary providers. It will also create time and opportunity for the senior secondary sector to benefit from the Common Practice Model and Ako Framework currently in development. These new approaches are priority actions under Hei Raukura Mō te Mokopuna and the Literacy & Communication and Maths Strategy.

“Over the next two years ākonga in the NCEA years will be able to receive the benefits from these priority actions to improve foundational skills for te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy, and numeracy at all levels of teaching and learning.”

Ms MacGregor-Reid says ‘flicking the switch’ on the co-requisite was too much, too soon for some parts of the secondary and tertiary sector. At the same time, momentum towards the change is building with more than 50,000 individual learners involved in NCEA co-requisite assessment events this month.

“The two-year transition gives everyone more time and helps us all to make sure no one is left behind in this crucially important change. While we’re taking more time to implement the NCEA co-requisite I absolutely encourage everyone to learn more about the dedicated assessments and access the regional and national support available to get involved.”

Schools, kura and other NCEA providers can also enter learners who are ready for assessments in October/November 2023.

The Ministry is prioritising support for groups who already experience lower NCEA attainment rates – including Māori and Pacific learners, and learners with disabilities.

The list was confirmed in direct consultation with the Minister’s NCEA Professional Advisory Group.

Read more: NCEA co-requisite standards

Summary list and questions and answers: NCEA co-requisite – Standards approved for use in 2024 and 2025

Read full list: Full list of additional assessment standards for NCEA co-requisite in 2024 and 2025