By NorthWest Academia News Desk |April 2025 | Education | NCEA Updates
As part of the broader NCEA reform, secondary schools across New Zealand are now implementing significant updates to the way assessments are conducted. From 2025 onwards, schools are required to use the updated Achievement Standards and accompanying support materials for all NCEA assessments.
Gone are the days of inconsistent practices between schools. The Ministry of Education has mandated that all secondary schools adopt the Revised Achievement Standards (RAS) and the official teaching and learning resources that support them. This move is aimed at ensuring consistency, equity, and clarity in how student learning is measured across the country.
"Teachers are feeling more supported with clear guidelines and teaching materials that align directly with assessments," says Charlotte Ng, Head of Curriculum at a secondary school in Christchurch.
One of the most noteworthy changes is the discontinuation of submitted reports as a form of external assessment for NCEA Level 1. Instead, external evaluations will focus on more robust and standardized forms such as examinations or other moderated assessment types.
This change is designed to reduce workload for both students and teachers, and ensure that all learners are assessed under fair and consistent conditions.
"With submitted reports no longer being part of Level 1 externals, I can focus more on classwork and skill-building rather than stressing over format and technical details," shares Year 11 student Ben Rawiri.
The Ministry’s goal is to streamline assessment processes, reduce duplication, and increase the validity of external assessments. Removing submitted reports is part of an effort to reduce inequities between students with varying access to resources at home or in different school environments.
For parents, this shift offers an opportunity to help students stay focused on in-class learning and preparation rather than extended take-home assignments.