Assessment and Examination Rules and Procedures for Secondary Schools - 2010
6.1.3 Special Assessment Conditions
- Special assessment conditions are approved by NZQA to give eligible candidates with a permanent or long-term medical, physical or specific learning disability that directly impacts on their ability to be fairly assessed, access to assessment for national qualifications. These conditions allow eligible candidates to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in assessment, without providing unfair advantage over other candidates.
- Evidence of need must be established by a current report from an independent, registered professional recommending special assessment conditions to address the candidate's specified needs. The report should be completed in time for the first year of assessment for national qualifications, and remains valid for three years. Where schools do not have evidence from an independent, registered professional, but have appropriate alternative documented evidence, this should be submitted annually to NZQA with the application for approval.
- Schools must make application to NZQA for special assessment conditions for candidates to meet published timelines, and confirm conditions for specific external standards before final entries for externally assessed standards are due at NZQA. Schools are responsible for managing approved conditions.
- Late notification of an application for special assessment conditions is possible for any candidate including but not limited to those with newly-identified medical conditions or candidates new to the school.
- NZQA reserves the right to amend and/or decline applications. Approval of special assessment conditions in one year does not necessarily mean that approval will be given in subsequent years.
- Schools and NZQA can offer appropriate special assessment conditions from the list below:
- Standard conditions
Reader assistance
Writer assistance
Reader/writer assistance
Separate accommodation
Computer use
Extra time (not available when the time allowed for external standards entered is 150 minutes or less)
Enlarged papers (to A3 only)
Braille papers
- Exceptional conditions
Special papers
Rest breaks
Home Supervision
Signer - Special assessment conditions are not appropriate for reasons of validity where:
- the integrity of the assessment may be compromised
- they compromise the assessment objectives of the standard in question
- there is an exclusion of assistance.
- Conditions must reflect the candidate's normal way of working, for which there is documented evidence of need, unless such conditions would affect the integrity of the assessment
- Standard conditions
- Special assessment conditions will not be granted for speaker of English as a Second Language, even in conjunction with a specific learning disability.
- Special assessment conditions will not be granted for candidates identified only with "low intellectual ability" and no specific learning disability.
- All applications must be made by the school by published dates and endorsed by the Principal's Nominee.
- A school may not continue to provide special assessment conditions for candidates whose applications have been declined, unless that decision is under appeal.
- Schools must ensure that examination assistants including those providing reader, writer or signing assistance for candidates:
- receive appropriate training before they begin working with candidates
- provide support for candidates without compromising the validity of the assessment.
- A school or candidate may appeal the decision made about special assessment conditions by writing to the Manager, Secondary Assessment and Liaison within 14 days of the date of the notification of the decision.
- If not satisfied with the outcome of an appeal the school or candidate may write to the Chief Executive within 14 days of the date of the notification of the decision. The Chief Executive will make a judgement and that decision will be final.
- Each year a selection of schools will have their special assessment policies and procedures audited by NZQA.
Application for Entitlement to Special Assessment Conditions: 
|
Screening Checklist for Identification of a Possible Specific Learning Difficulty for Special Assessment Conditions
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| Special Assessment Guidelines |
| Best Practice Guidelines Summary and Timeline |
| Documentation requirements to support applications for Special Assessment Conditions |
| Special Assessment Conditions Applications |
| Annual Needs Analysis |
| Home Supervision |
6. NZQA-based Assessment Rules and Procedures
6.1 General Conditions for External Assessment
6.1.1 Examination Centres
6.1.2 Examination Supervision
6.1.3 Special Assessment Conditions
6.1.4 Derived Grade Process (Formerly Compassionate Consideration)
6.1.5 Assessment of Graphics, Information Management, Technology, Visual Arts and Level 3 Education for Sustainability
6.1.6 Return of External Assessment Material
6.1.7 Review or Reconsideration of External Assessment Results
6.2 New Zealand University Entrance Provisions
6.3 Scholarship 2010
6.3.1 Scholarship: Fees
6.3.1.1 Scholarship: Supplementary fees
6.3.2 Scholarship: Monetary Awards
6.3.2.1 Scholarship: Eligibility to receive a monetary award
6.3.3 Scholarship: Special Assessment Conditions and Derived Grade Process
6.3.4. Scholarship: Use of Technology and Equipment for Scholarship Assessment Purposes
6.3.5 Scholarship: Reporting
6.3.5.1 Scholarship: Return of External Assessment Material
Last updated: 09 March 2010