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2023 Key Dates for National Secondary Qualifications
|
Updated as of 23 March 2023 Below is a list of key dates relating to national secondary qualifications. |
| You are welcome to download the electronic files below: |
| Key Dates 2023 Wall planner (PDF, 282KB) |
| Key Dates 2023 (DOCX, 46KB) |
| Key Dates 2023 (for Outlook) (CSV, 13KB) |
| How to upload Key Dates into Outlook calendar (PDF, 257KB) |
2023 JANUARY
|
2023 JANUARY |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | NEW YEAR’S DAY |
| 2 | DAY AFTER NEW YEAR’S DAY |
| 3 | NEW YEAR’S DAY (OBSERVED) |
| 23 | WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY |
|
30 |
AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY NELSON ANNIVERSARY Earliest day to start Term 1 |
FEBRUARY
| FEBRUARY |
|---|
| 1 |
Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) - Rollover/Change opens for entitled candidates 2023 Assessment (including Exams) Rules for Schools with Consent to Assess update published on NZQA website |
| 6 | WAITANGI DAY |
| 7 |
Last day to start Term 1 |
| 21 |
Leading National Assessment Seminars begin (21 February - 10 March) |
| 28 |
Provider access to 'Late Internally Assessed Results' closes for 2022 |
MARCH
| MARCH | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Web Entries Schools’ access opens |
| 3 |
Final date for 2022 NCEA External Exam Reviews and Reconsiderations |
| 9 |
Final date for 2022 NZ Scholarship Reviews and Reconsiderations Candidate Information Sheets (for candidates entering externals) sent to schools |
| 10 |
Update of 2023 External Assessment Specifications online |
| 13 |
TARANAKI ANNIVERSARY |
| 20 |
OTAGO ANNIVERSARY Data file submission opens (schools can upload entry and result data files to NZQA from this date) |
| 23 |
NZQA advertises for Panel Leaders (marking external exams) |
APRIL
| APRIL | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Acceptance of Memorandum of Agreement opens online First data file submission due (include as many candidate enrolments, courses and entries as possible). NZQA starts to process entry and result data files Email schools@nzqa.govt.nz of any new twins or triplets entered for NCEA |
| 6 |
TERM 1 ENDS |
| 7 |
GOOD FRIDAY |
| 10 |
EASTER MONDAY |
| 11 | SOUTHLAND ANNIVERSARY |
| 13 |
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (SAC). First deadline for first-time applications, rollover and changes |
| 24 |
TERM 2 BEGINS |
| 25 |
ANZAC DAY |
MAY
| MAY | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - include any additional or updated candidate enrolment and entry information |
| 8 |
Exam Centre Manager nominations open online |
JUNE
| JUNE | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due (used to prepare Candidate NSN cards) |
| 2 |
Digital Technologies & Hangarau Matihiko Common Assessment Tasks (DCAT) and Mathematics Common Assessment Task (MCAT) – schools can start to confirm entries NZQA advertises for external markers. Online applications open |
| 5 | KING'S BIRTHDAY |
| 14 |
Final date to submit Exam Centre Memorandum of Agreement online |
| 16 |
Exam Centre Manager nominations close online |
| 22 |
Candidate NSN cards sent to schools (includes information on accessing entries on the web) |
| 30 | TERM 2 ENDS |
JULY
| JULY | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - correct any errors or warnings from previous submissions and send any additional candidate information in this file SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (SAC) – Attach SAC entitlements to external standards from NOW |
| 14 | MATARIKI |
| 17 | TERM 3 BEGINS |
| 24 |
TRANSLATED PAPERS – Check all external entries requiring translation or marking in Te Reo Māori are correct for 1 August data file Check 1 August file contains all external entries (including NZ Scholarship) for SAC candidates, DCAT and MCAT Submission instructions published on the NZQA website for: Dance – NZ Scholarship DCAT – Levels 1, 2 and 3 Design and Visual Communications (DVC) – Levels 1, 2, 3 and NZ Scholarship Drama – NZ Scholarship Education for Sustainability – Level 3 Health and Physical Education – NZ Scholarship Languages – NZ Scholarship MCAT – Level 1 Music – NZ Scholarship Technology – Levels 1, 2, 3 and NZ Scholarship Visual Arts – Levels 1, 2, 3 and NZ Scholarship |
| 28 |
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (SAC) – Include as many exam entries for SAC candidates as possible and continue to attach SAC entitlements to exams |
AUGUST
| AUGUST | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - used to calculate the quantity of exam papers and materials for external exams Check timetable clashes and confirm candidates’ entries for externals TRANSLATED PAPERS – Final date to request translation or marking in Te Reo Māori for external entries in your data file DCAT and MCAT – Deadline for schools to advise NZQA of Assessment Day and confirm number of MCAT booklets required Visual Arts: art bag order due |
| 9 |
Check accuracy of externally assessed entries in preparation for 1 September data file submission including international candidate entries in NCEA & NZ Scholarship. Fees for international candidates are based on entries in the 1 September file |
SEPTEMBER
| SEPTEMBER | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - all confirmed entries for externally assessed standards including NZ Scholarship for candidates to receive personalised exam materials Final date for withdrawals from externally assessed standards including NZ Scholarship Check timetable clashes and confirm with candidates how two-way clashes will be resolved. Three-way clash letters will be sent to PNs by end of Term 3 |
| 6 |
Visual Arts Levels 1 and 2 – start entering provisional results |
|
DCAT term 3 assessment period 7 – 13 September |
|
|
MCAT Level 1, 91027 Assessment Day One |
|
| 14 |
MCAT Level 1, 91027 Assessment Day Two |
| 22 | TERM 3 ENDS |
| 25 | SOUTH CANTERBURY ANNIVERSARY |
| 29 |
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS (SAC) – Applications for Learning Disorder close for 2023. First time applications for entitlement open for 2024 |
OCTOBER
| OCTOBER | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - include all confirmed entries into internally assessed standards and entries assigned to courses |
| 9 |
TERM 4 BEGINS |
| 16 | DCAT term 4 assessment period 16 – 20 October |
| 18 |
Admission Slips for candidates sent to schools |
| 19 |
MCAT Level 1, 91027 – Last day for entry of ALL provisional results and submissions sent for verification |
| 20 | HAWKE'S BAY ANNIVERSARY |
| 23 | LABOUR DAY |
| 24 |
Confirm with NZQA three-way exam clash arrangements |
| 25 |
Submission of candidate work and attendance rolls for the following external standards: (collected from schools) Dance – NZ Scholarship Design and Visual Communications (DVC) – Levels 1, 2, 3 and NZ Scholarship Education for Sustainability – Level 3 Music –NZ Scholarship Health and Physical Education – NZ Scholarship Technology – Levels 1, 2, 3 and NZ Scholarship Visual Arts Level 1 – Verification portfolios and ALL provisional results must be entered |
| 30 |
MARLBOROUGH ANNIVERSARY Final date for school payment of NCEA & NZ Scholarship fees for international fee-paying candidates |
NOVEMBER
| NOVEMBER | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Data file submission due - include all derived grades for Unexpected Events and correct any errors or warnings from previous submissions and send any additional candidate information in this file |
| 2 |
Visual Arts Level 2 – Verification portfolios collected from schools. Complete entry of ALL provisional results |
| 6 |
NCEA AND NZ SCHOLARSHIP EXAMS COMMENCE |
| 9 |
Check accuracy of internally assessed entries for 1 December file Visual Arts Level 3 and NZ Scholarship – Portfolio submission/collection for Level 3 and NZ Scholarship external standards |
| 10 |
Visual Arts Level 1 – start entering final results |
| 13 |
MCAT Level 1, 91027 – start entering final results |
| 17 |
Visual Arts Level 2- start entering final results CANTERBURY ANNIVERSARY (no exams scheduled for today) |
| 27 | CHATHAM ISLANDS ANNIVERSARY |
| 29 |
Visual Arts – Levels 1 and 2, last day for entry of all final results |
| 30 |
NCEA AND NZ SCHOLARSHIP EXAMS END |
DECEMBER
| DECEMBER | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Final data file submission for 2023 - include all final verified internally assessed results and derived grades at scale for an unexpected event. This file is the last opportunity to correct any remaining errors and warnings. Final date for withdrawals from internally assessed standards DO NOT WITHDRAW leavers Update school emergency contacts with NZQA Final date to submit assessment plan for 2024 moderation MCAT Level 1, 91027 – last day for entry of all final results |
| 5 |
WESTLAND ANNIVERSARY Data file submission links close at midnight (entry and result file processing ends). No further 2023 data files can be uploaded to NZQA after 11.59pm Web Entries Schools’ access closes Assessment specifications for 2024 external assessment published online |
| 12 |
Provider access to ‘Late Internally Assessed Results’ for 2023 opens |
| 20 |
TERM 4 ENDS (no later than) |
| 25 |
CHRISTMAS DAY |
| 26 |
BOXING DAY |
2024 JANUARY
| 2024 JANUARY |
|---|
| Mon 1 |
NEW YEAR'S DAY |
| Tues 2 |
DAY AFTER NEW YEAR'S DAY |
| Mon 22 |
WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY |
| Mon 29 |
AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY NELSON ANNIVERSARY |
| Key Business Dates 2023 | |
| 21 Feb – 10 March 2023 | Leading National Assessment seminars |
| 6 – 30 November 2023 | External Exams |
| 2 Dec 2023 – 7 Jan 2024 | Processing of externally assessed results |
| Literacy Reading, Literacy Writing and Numeracy | |
| Term 2 | |
| 12 - 16 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| Term 4 | |
| 30 Oct - 3 Nov 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| Pāngarau | |
| Term 2 | |
| 6 - 9 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| by 15 Sept 2023 | Kete manarua (submissions) |
| Term 4 | |
| 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| Te Reo Matatini | |
| Term 2 | |
| 12 - 16 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| by 15 Sept 2023 | Kete manarua (submissions) |
| Term 4 | |
| 6 - 10 Nov 2023 | Common Assessment Activities |
| Te Ao Haka | |
| Term 2 | |
| 13 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activities 91978 and 91979 |
| 14 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activities 91982 and 91983 |
| 15 June 2023 | Common Assessment Activity 91987 |
| Term 3 | |
| 6 Sept 2023 | Common Assessment Activities 91978 and 91979 |
| 7 Sept 2023 | Common Assessment Activities 91982 and 91983 |
| 8 Sept 2023 | Common Assessment Activity 91987 |
| Term 4 | |
| by 25 Oct 2023 | Kete manarua (submissions) |
| Note: Data files |
| *Data files should be submitted for the 1st of each month from April to December. Data files can be submitted more than once a month. |