All NCEA (levels 1 – 3) and New Zealand Scholarship examination sessions are three hours.
All exam sessions start at either 9:30 am or 2:00 pm.
For more information refer to Examinations.
2024 dates TBC
Guidelines for administration for the MCAT will be published on the Mathematics subject page and communicated by circular.
Derived grades are for exam candidates who, just before or during the examinations, suffer:
· a temporary illness,
· trauma ( ie. a deeply distressing or disturbing experience) or misadventure (i.e. an event beyond their control)
· another serious event.
Candidates should sit the examination where-ever possible. Candidates who sit the examination but believe that their preparation or performance was impaired or were unable to sit the examination should apply for a derived grade.
Applications must refer to events of a medical or non-medical nature that:
· have clearly had an effect on the candidate during the examination
· Stopped the candidate from attending the examination. You must get a medical certificate on that day.
The temporary illness, trauma or other serious event must be of a significant nature. Applications will not be granted on grounds such as:
· minor ailments
· stress due to examinations
· parents being on holiday
· day-to-day family disturbances
· Death or euthanasia of a pet.
The following conditions alone are not acceptable grounds for a derived grade application:
· long-term and ongoing illnesses and conditions (e.g. concussion, physical disability, anxiety, epilepsy, depression, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders)
· chronic relapsing conditions (e.g., glandular fever, ME)
· Ongoing personal trauma.
These conditions are usually managed through conditions and/or modifying the candidate’s assessment programme. However, where there is a sudden change in a managed chronic condition/illness that is documented by a medical professional, and the candidate believes they are unable to perform on the day of the examination as well as they usually have, NZQA will consider an application.
For example, a change in medication might cause a documented and observable change in the way that a chronic condition/illness is managed and have a clear and observable effect on the candidate. In such a case, the impairment is seen as temporary and if a registered professional is willing to support an application, NZQA will consider it.
Independent professional evidence is required confirming the temporary illness, trauma or other serious event that affected the candidate’s preparation, performance or attendance on the day of the examination, was beyond their control, and/or made it impossible for them to sit the examination.
For events occurring in the period immediately prior to the examination, the candidate must clearly demonstrate that effective preparation was not possible in the week before the examination and provide evidence that they were under continuous and well-documented care by a registered professional.
Please contact c.vankralingen@bdsc.school.nz (Principal’s Nominee) or phone him directly on 273 2310 ext. 207 to discuss further. An application form for a derived grade can be picked up from Mrs S Clark outside the Deputy Principals offices.
