About these qualifications
New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) qualifications are intended for learners of English as an additional language.
These qualifications are available to all parts of the English language sector including secondary, tertiary and the community. They're available for permanent and temporary residents, and international students.
On this page
Qualifications and unit standards for this subject
Qualifications
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Foundation) (Level 1) [Ref:1879] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 1) [Ref:1880] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 2) [Ref:1881] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (General) (Level 3) [Ref:1882] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3) [Ref: 3667] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (General) (Level 4) [Ref: 3669] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Employment) (Level 4) [Ref: 3668] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 4) [Ref:1883] (external link)
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5) [Ref:1884] (external link)
Unit standards
English language unit standards (external link)
English for academic purposes unit standards (external link)
Current reviews
Review of New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL), English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English Language unit standards, 2022 to 2023
The review of English Language qualifications and standards planned completion date is by 31 December 2023.
Purpose of the reviews
The purpose of the English language qualifications and unit standards reviews is to make sure they:
- are fit for purpose and still relevant to current and future learners
- meet the needs of migrants, former refugees, international students, and the wider community
- meet current New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Rules.
Directory of Assessment Standards Listing and Operational Rules 2022
NZQF Qualifications Listing and Operational Rules 2022
Consultation on the suite of qualifications for New Zealand Certificate in English Language
NZQA National Qualifications Services is consulting on proposed amendments to the current suite of NZCEL qualifications, which includes four newly drafted qualifications.
Please visit our consultation page for more information:
New Zealand Certificate in English Language Qualifications Review
Contact
To receive email updates on reviews please contact us on:
Completed reviews
2016 to 2017: Review of English Language qualifications
Read details of the review in the report:
Review of English Language qualifications 2016-17 [PDF, 123 KB]
New Zealand Certificates in English Language guiding document
The New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL) guiding document has guidance for programme designers and teachers to support consistent assessment practice.
Guidance includes:
- NZCEL pathways
- conditions related to the assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
- sufficiency statements to indicate text type, text length and vocabulary level
- language skill and control descriptors for each NZCEL qualification level
- types of discourse for academic, general and employment contexts
- unit standards aligned to the NZCEL qualifications
- relevant website links, for example, links to English Language descriptors and frameworks.
Resources
English Language assessment standard reviews
Information on revisions and reviews
Go to standard review page
English for Academic Purposes standard reviews
Information on revisions and reviews
Go to standard review page
English for Academic Purposes assessment support material
Get guidance and resources to teach English Language
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English Language assessment support materials
Get guidance and resources to teach English Language
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Guidelines on consistency reviews
Find consistency review guidelines, resources and schedule
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Guidelines on programme approval
How to get a qualification programme approved, accredited and registered
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2017 NZCEL Landscape
Download map of New Zealand Certificates in English Language
Download landscape
Careers (opens in a new window)
Match jobs to qualifications on careers.govt.nz
Go to careers.govt.nz
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL)
Teaching resources from Europe
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