S2009/026 - 18 August 2009

Clarification of use of the "V" grade code in data files

This year, the Student Management System (SMS) vendors have added a “V” code as a reportable grade in the results data. “V” is the code for Standard Not Assessed. Some vendors have explained that this code may be used when students are entered for a standard but did not attempt the standard.

For clarification, this code should only be used after withdrawals from standards are no longer possible and where the student did not have an “adequate assessment opportunity”.

“Adequate Opportunity” Guidelines

The guidelines published in 2008 for reporting Not Achieved results when students have been given an adequate opportunity still apply. Where a student has presented work or evidence for assessment OR has been given an adequate opportunity to achieve the standard (consistent with school internal assessment procedures), the outcome of that assessment must be reported to NZQA as Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit or Excellence.

See SecQual circular S2008/003 Reporting Not Achieved Results (right).

The school definition of an adequate assessment opportunity should be published for both staff and students in their relevant assessment guidelines. 

Entries and Results timelines  

Schools should make any necessary changes to assessment programmes for individual students, in consultation with their teacher, prior to 1 September 2009 for externally assessed standards and 18 September 2009 for internally assessed standards. Withdrawals from all standards that will not be assessed must be made by these dates. After these dates withdrawals will not be accepted for internal or external standards.

A result is expected for each internal standard. Where the student has an adequate assessment opportunity, Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit and Excellence are the reportable grades.

The Standard Not Assessed or V code should only be used when the student was not given the expected adequate assessment opportunity after September 18. Where no result is reported, Standard Not Assessed (SNA) will be automatically recorded for internal entries, as it is for externals that are not attempted.  

Summary

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Previous circulars

• 025 - 18 August 2009 - Examination Period for 2010
• 024 - 3 August 2009 - Change Proposal for 2009 Compassionate Consideration Process
• 023 - 10 July 2009 - Managing Examination Clashes
• 022 - 3 July 2009 - New Rules & Procedures for Further Assessment Opportunities
• 021 - 3 July 2009 - Format of 2009 examination papers
• 020 - 11 June 2009 - 2009 National School Qualifications - Examination Centre Manager Recruitment
• 019 - 5 June 2009 - Special Assessment Conditions
• 018 - 26 May 2009 - NCEA Brochures
• 017 - 8 May 2009 - Fees and Financial Assistance - 2009
• 016 - 8 May 2009 - Alignment of Standards with the NZ Curriculum - Update
• 015 - 1 May 2009 - Top Art folio exhibition - full venue listing
• 014 - 1 May 2009 - Assessment Reports for the 2008 NCEA and Scholarship Examinations
• 013 - 29 April 2009 - 2009 National School Qualifications: Candidate Information Sheets
• 012 - 24 April 2009 - Memorandum of Agreement and Rebates for National Qualifications
• 011 - 3 April 2009 - New Statistics Online for Schools
• 010 - 30 March 2009 - Top Art folio exhibition on tour
• 009 - 27 March 2009 - Update: Assessment Specifications for the External Assessment of Levels 1, 2 and 3 Achievement Standards and Scholarship for 2009
• 008 - 13 March 2009 - Draft Guidelines for Further Assessment Opportunities
• 007 - 13 February 2009 - Survey of Teachers - NCEA External Assessments 2008
• 006 - 30 January 2009 - Feedback on the 2009 Top Art Touring Schedule
• 005 - 30 January 2009 - Key Dates for National Secondary School Qualifications 2009
• 004 - 30 January 2009 - School Information Collection 2009
• 003 - 30 January 2009 - Circular Distribution: Proposal to discontinue hard copy distribution
• 002 - 16 January 2009 - 2008 National Qualifications Framework Results Release
• 001 - 9 January 2009 - 2009 Examination Timetable

archive of previous circulars