Examination Update

18 November, 2008

Two errors in examination questions have been identified among the 43 examination papers sat to date (up to and including Tuesday morning, 18 November).

Candidates' results will not be affected by the errors, which will be taken into account during marking.

Deputy Chief Executive, Qualifications, Bali Haque said examination papers were checked multiple times but occasionally errors appeared.

"We want to be clear that where an error occurs in an exam paper, candidates will not be disadvantaged. We will endeavour to announce these as soon as they are identified because we want to be as transparent as possible about the examination process."

Errors have been identified in one level 3 biology paper and the level 3 calculus formula sheet provided to candidates.

Level 3 Calculus (Tuesday, 18 November)

Brackets were missing in the Simpson and Trapezium rules on the formula sheet.

The particular formulae involved can be used in question 2 of the calculus standard 90636 - Integrate functions and use integrals to solve problems.

This is a numerical question which will give a different solution if the formula is applied without the appropriate brackets. Candidates who correctly use the information from the question, and apply the formula given on the sheet correctly, will be given credit for this question.

Candidates who realise the brackets are absent and apply the correct formula will also be given credit for the question.

This question is a stand alone question; no other question in the paper is dependent on the solution to this question.

Level 3 Biology (Monday, 17 November)

90716 Describe animal behaviours and plant responses in relation to environmental factors

Question 3 related to the movement of crab larvae within the water column. A graph showing the vertical movement of the larvae included arrows indicating expected high tide times. These indicated an interval of approximately 12 hours between high tides. The actual interval between high tides is approximately 12.4 hours.

As the question related to the pattern of movement of crab larvae, not the precise measurement of the time between high tides, this is not anticipated to have a significant impact on candidate answers.

For more information contact:

Steve Rendle
Communications - NZQA
DDI: 04-463-4240
Mobile : 0274-575783