Students Entering Year 12

As you have enrolled out of our traditional enrolment period we need you to bypass our usual selection process and email your choices directly to us.  To make this as smooth as possible, please read ALL of the information below carefully before you get in touch with us.

Email your choices to: Lead Timetable Coordinator Vicki Young

All Year 12 Students take six subjects

At this level of study, no course is compulsory, but you need to look carefully at what course of study will best suit your future needs.

Ready to start choosing subjects?  Read Finding and Selecting Courses to get started

Do you need a refresher on how NCEA works?  Our school website might be a good place to start:

>> Curriculum page of website with NZQA links

If you need guidance we have a Careers Advisory service, run by Mrs Williamson:

>> Transition Pathways, Gateway and Careers page of website

NCEA Level 2 is to be achieved by using 20 credits gained at Level 1 and achieving a minimum of 60 Level 2 credits or higher. A National Certificate will be awarded when 80 credits are gained in total.  

There is no requirement for students to gain Literacy and Numeracy credits to attain the Level 2 NCEA certificate.  However, for those students wishing to study at a New Zealand University, University Entrance must be met.  

University Entrance 

This requires a minimum standard of Literacy and Numeracy. In addition to the 10 credits each at Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy, Students are required to gain 10 designated University Entrance (UE) Literacy credits at Level 2 or Level 3 (five reading and five writing). 

When constructing your programme of study, please check that you have chosen courses that will enable you to achieve entrance to university.  

Some students will study a multi-level course to complete their Level 1 certificate requirements and/or meet the prerequisite requirements for a Level 2 and above course. 

NCEA – Endorsement of Certificates 

Endorsement of Certificates is a way of reflecting the Merit and Excellence credits shown on the Record of Achievement. 

Merit and Excellence can only be gained by Achievement Standards. Students will require 50 credits at Excellence to receive a certificate endorsed with Excellence and 50 credits of either Excellence and/or Merit to receive a certificate endorsed with Merit. 

>> Can credits gained in one year be used to gain endorsement of certificates in another year? 

Yes. As has always been the case, credits gained in different years, and at different levels, can count towards NCEA. For endorsement, the credits gained must be gained at the level of the certificate being awarded, or above.

NCEA – Endorsement of Courses 

Students can gain a course endorsement with Merit or Excellence.  

Students will receive an Excellence endorsement for a course if they gain 14 credits at Excellence level. This must include at least three credits at Excellence from internally assessed standards and at least three credits at Excellence from externally assessed standards.  Not all courses are able to be endorsed.  If they are, you will be able to see it on our course

Students can gain a Merit endorsement for a course if they gain 14 credits at Merit level or above. This must include at least three credits at Merit level or above from internally assessed standards and at least three credits at Merit level or above from externally assessed standards. 

>> Can credits gained in one year be used to gain course endorsement in another year? 

No. Credits must be obtained from one calendar year and cannot be the result of an accumulation over more than one year. 

NZQA Fees – what will it cost to enter? 

In 2025 there will be no charge for domestic students for NZQA examinations. However, there are fees for reconsideration of grades and reprints of certificates or a student’s record of learning. See the NZQA website for further information.