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Course Endorsement Scenarios

To recognise the disruption caused by COVID-19 there are changes to NCEA endorsements for some students in 2021. Information about these changes is available here.

Scenario 1

A straightforward example of a candidate awarded a course endorsement of Merit at Level 1

Course code: 11ENG Course name: English
Candidate: James Brown Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
3501	Demonstrate knowledge of and apply listening techniques	1	Int	3	A
90052	Produce creative writing	1	Int	3	M
90053	Produce formal writing	1	Int	3	M
90849	Show understanding of specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s), using supporting evidence	1	Ext	4	E
90850	Show understanding of specified aspect(s) of studied visual or oral text(s), using supporting evidence	1	Ext	4	E
90855	Create a visual text	1	Int	3	M
90857	Construct and deliver an oral text	1	Int	3	A

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

No. So an endorsement of Excellence is not achievable.

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Yes (17). So a Merit endorsement is achievable.

Do the 17 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

Yes. So a Merit endorsement is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 17 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Level 1. So the Merit endorsement is awarded at Level 1.

The course endorsement result:
James Brown, English, Endorsed with Merit at Level 1.

Scenario 2

An example of a course that is not eligible for endorsement because the only internally assessed standards are unit standards

Course code: 12BIO Course name: Biology
Candidate: Jane Simmonds Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
8928	Use a microscope to investigate biological material	2	Int	3	A
8929	Identify biological population patterns through investigation	2	Int	3	A
8930	Identify biological community interrelationships and patterns through investigation	2	Int	3	A
90459	Describe genetic variation and change	2	Ext	3	E
90461	Describe concepts and processes relating to ecology	2	Ext	3	M
90462	Describe diversity in the structure and function of animals	2	Ext	3	E
90463	Describe diversity in the structure and function of plants	2	Ext	3	E
90464	Describe cell structure and function	2	Ext	3	M

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

No. So an endorsement of Excellence is not achievable.

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Yes (15). So a Merit endorsement is achievable.

Do the 15 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

No. They are all externally assessed. (The only internally assessed standards are unit standards that do not have Merit or Excellence grades.)

Are the 15 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit exempt from the internal assessment rule?

No. They are not Level 3 Visual Arts credits, so no endorsement is achievable.

The course endorsement result:
Jane Simmonds, Biology (no endorsement)

Scenario 3

An example where a year 13 student is awarded a Level 1 endorsement for a course comprising mostly Level 3 standards

Course code: 13CLS Course name: Classical Studies
Candidate: Fiona MacDonald Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90511	Explain a passage or passages from a work of classical literature in translation	3	Ext	6	A
90512	Explain a work or works of classical art	3	Ext	6	E
90514	Complete independent research on an area of the classical world	3	Int	6	E
91023	Demonstrate understanding of an important historical figure in the classical world	1	Ext	4	E

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

Yes (16). So an endorsement of Excellence is achievable.

Do the 16 credits achieved with Excellence include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

Yes. So an Excellence endorsement is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 16 credits achieved with Excellence?

Level 1. So the Excellence endorsement is awarded at Level 1.
The Level 1 credits are needed to reach the minimum of 14 credits.

The course endorsement result:
Fiona MacDonald, Classical Studies, Endorsed with Excellence at Level 1.

Note: If the candidate had achieved standard 90511 with Excellence, the Level 1 credits could have been ignored. With 18 credits achieved with Excellence and the internal and external assessment rules met, she would have been awarded an endorsement of Excellence at Level 3.

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90511	Classical literature in translation	3	Ext	6	E
90512	Classical art and architecture	3	Ext	6	E
90514	Research an area of classical studies	3	Int	6	E
91023	Demonstrate understanding of an important historical figure in the classical world	1	Ext	4	E

Scenario 4

An example of a multi-level course that can only be endorsed at Level 1 because of the external assessment rule

Course code: 13SS Course name: Social Sciences
Candidate: Ngarahupai Henare Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90703	Explain the contribution of geography to planning and decision-making processes	3	Int	3	E
90705	Carry out and present geographic research with consultation	3	Int	3	E
90654	Plan and carry out independent historical research	3	Int	4	E
90691	Conduct an advanced social studies inquiry independently	3	Int	6	E
91003	Interpret sources of an historical event of significance to New Zealanders	1	Ext	4	E
24710	Produce a balanced budget for a family or household	2	Int	3	A

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

Yes (20). So an endorsement of Excellence is achievable.

Do the 20 credits achieved with Excellence include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

Yes. So an endorsement of Excellence is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 20 credits achieved with Excellence?

Level 1. So the Excellence endorsement is awarded at Level 1.
In this case, even though the candidate has achieved 16 credits with Excellence at Level 3, the Level 1 credits are needed to meet the external assessment rule requiring a minimum of 3 externally assessed credits.

The course endorsement result:
Ngarahupai Henare, Social Sciences, Endorsed with Excellence at Level 1.

Scenario 5

An example where an endorsement is awarded because the course is exempt from the internal assessment rule

Course code: 13APA Course name: Practical Art - Painting
Candidate: Mathilde Bucher Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90667	Produce original work within painting to show extensive knowledge of art-making methods and ideas	3	Ext	14	M

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

No. So an endorsement of Excellence is not achievable.

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Yes (14). So a Merit endorsement is achievable.

Do the 14 credits achieved with Merit include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

No. The internal assessment rule requiring a minimum of 3 internally assessed credits has not been met.

Are the 14 credits achieved with Merit exempt from the internal assessment rule?

Yes. 90667 is a Level 3 Visual Arts standard so the Merit endorsement is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 14 credits achieved with Merit?

Level 3. So the endorsement is awarded at Level 3.

The course endorsement result:
Mathilde Bucher, Practical Art – Painting, Endorsed with Merit at Level 3

Note: If this course had also included internally assessed credits, an endorsement of Merit at Level 3 could have been awarded without having to invoke the Level 3 Visual Arts exemption.

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90667	Produce original work within painting to show extensive knowledge of art making methods and ideas	3	Ext	14	M
90659	Research and analyse approaches within established painting practice	3	Int	4	E

Scenario 6

An example where an endorsement is awarded because the course is exempt from the external assessment rule

Course code: 12PED Course name: Physical Education
Candidate: Amy Campbell Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90432	Examine the relationship between physical activity and health, and implications for self and society	2	Int	3	E
90433	Describe how functional anatomy and biomechanical principles relate to performing physical activity	2	Int	4	E
90434	Examine the principles and methods of training in relation to participation in physical activity	2	Int	3	E
90435	Examine skill-learning principles and psychological skills in relation to physical activity	2	Int	2	A
90436	Perform a physical activity to meet the Physical Education Performance Standards for Level 2	2	Int	4	E
90438	Plan, apply and review leadership strategies in a group or team physical activity	2	Int	3	N

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

Yes (14). So an endorsement of Excellence is achievable.

Do the 14 credits achieved with Excellence include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

No. The external assessment rule requiring a minimum of 3 externally assessed credits has not been met.

Are the 14 credits achieved with Excellence exempt from the externally assessed rule?

Yes. The 14 credits achieved with Excellence are for Physical Education, so the Excellence endorsement is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 14 credits achieved with Excellence?

Level 2. So the endorsement is awarded at Level 2.

The course endorsement result:
Amy Campbell, Physical Education, Endorsed with Excellence at Level 2.

Scenario 7

An example of a multi-level course containing some standards that are exempt from external assessment and some that are not

Course code: LS-3a Course name: Life Studies
Candidate: Stacey Coutts Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90739	Apply knowledge to plan a physical activity programme or experience	3	Int	3	M
90740	Explain, with evidence, the effectiveness of a physical activity programme and its influence on hauora/well-being	3	Int	3	M
90741	Appraise performance and review a programme for performance improvement for self or others	3	Int	5	M
90971	Take action to enhance an aspect of personal well-being	1	Int	3	E
90973	Demonstrate understanding of interpersonal skills used to enhance relationships	1	Int	5	E

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

No. So an endorsement of Excellence is not achievable.

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Yes (19). So a Merit endorsement is achievable.

Do the 19 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

No. The external assessment rule requiring a minimum of 3 externally assessed credits has not been met.

Do the 19 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit include 14 credits that are exempt from the external assessment rule?

No. Only 11 credits are for Physical Education which is exempt, 8 credits are for Health which is not exempt (standards 90971 and 90973), so no endorsement is achievable.

The course endorsement result:
Stacey Coutts, Life Studies (no endorsement)

Note: If one of the Health standards had been externally assessed, then an endorsement of Merit at Level 1 would have been awarded.

Or, if another 3-credit Level 3 Physical Education standard had been added (and achieved with Merit or Excellence) then the exemption rule would have been met and an endorsement of Merit at Level 3 would have been awarded.

Scenario 8

An example of a multi-level course where both Excellence at Level 2 and Merit at Level 3 are achievable. A Level 3 Merit endorsement is awarded.

Course code: Math-Cal Course name: Mathematics with Calculus
Candidate: Gordon Wen Academic year: 2011

Registered number	Standard title	Level	I/E	Credits	Results
90635	Differentiate functions and use derivatives to solve problems	3	Ext	6	M
90636	Integrate functions and use integrals to solve problems	3	Ext	6	E
90637	Solve problems and equations involving trigonometric functions	3	Int	4	E
90807	Demonstrate an understanding of calculus methods	2	Ext	4	E

The rules applied

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence?

Yes (14). So an endorsement of Excellence is achievable.

Do the 14 credits achieved with Excellence include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

Yes. So an endorsement of Excellence is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 14 credits achieved with Excellence?

Level 2. So an endorsement of Excellence at Level 2 is confirmed.

But the following rules have also been met…

Were 14 or more credits achieved with Excellence or Merit?

Yes (16). So an endorsement of Merit is achievable.

Do the 16 credits achieved with Excellence or Merit include 3 internally assessed credits and 3 externally assessed credits?

Yes. So an endorsement of Merit is confirmed.

What is the lowest level of the 14 credits achieved with Excellence?

Level 3. So an endorsement of Merit at Level 3 is confirmed.

The following results hierarchy is applied, according to which a Level 3 Merit is higher than a Level 2 Excellence.

Results Hierarchy
Number of Credits	Grade for credits	Level of credits	Endorsement Result
14 or more	E	3 or higher	Level 3 Excellence
14 or more	E or M	3 or higher	Level 3 Merit
14 or more	E	2 or higher	Level 2 Excellence
14 or more	E or M	2 or higher	Level 2 Merit
14 or more	E	1 or higher	Level 1 Excellence
14 or more	E or M	1 or higher	Level 1 Merit

The course endorsement result:
Gordon Wen, Mathematics with Calculus, Endorsed with Merit at Level 3.