NZQA Exams – Information for Students & Parents

October 7, 2025

Exam timetable

The NZQA exam timetable is available on the NZQA website.

Students will receive a personalised timetable in the form of an exam slip before they go on study leave. Students must bring this exam slip with them to every examination – it is essential that they do not write or highlight anything on the exam slip. 

Where to go and what to bring

Exam venues will be published on the Friday of every week. Most exams are in the AGC, theatre or Languages Centre. 

Students will receive a copy of the learner information sheet closer to the time of the exam. This includes instructions about what they should and should not bring to an exam. 

Please note – students sitting NZ Scholarship exams MUST bring a form of photo ID. This is not required for Level 2 and 3 exams.  

Study leave

Study leave for Year 12 and 13 students begins after Senior Prizegiving on Thursday 30 October.

Year 11 students who are sitting NCEA exams will be entitled to one day of study leave prior to each of their exams. Any Level 2 or 3 classes on their timetable become study periods, and they can spend these in the library. Any Year 11 student wanting to leave school grounds during the day must follow our usual sign our procedures. 

Digital exams

Students must prepare for digital assessments by ensuring:

  • That they have an active NZQA login and have checked it works

  • That their device is compatible with NZQA requirements 

  • That they are familiar with the digital exam platform.

There is a helpful preparation guide here.

Please note that NZQA rules prohibit students from bringing a charging cord into the exam room, but they are allowed to bring a power bank. 

Applying for derived grades

Derived grades are evidence-based grades that NZQA may award to students when they can’t attend an examination or their performance is impaired. 

Students should try to take their exams whenever possible. If NZQA approves the application for a derived grade but you still take the exam, you will receive the higher of the two grades.

You may apply for a derived grade if: 

  • You were not able to sit the exam because at the time of the exam you were sick, injured or there was some special situation beyond your control, or 

  • You think that you did not do as well as you could have in the exam because you were sick, you were injured or there was some special situation beyond your control. 

Derived grades will not apply in instances where an illness or situation has been ongoing throughout the year, unless there has been a significant change no more than one week before the exam. 

We are unable to provide Special Assessment conditions such as a writer in the event of short term injury, and derived grades are the only option in this instance. 

Derived grades are not available for NZ Scholarship. 

If you think you might need a derived grade, contact Ms Lendrum (Principal’s Nominee) as soon as possible: l.lendrum@wc.school.nz. She can give advice about your application and what is required. Please note that although the school can support your application, it is NZQA who makes the decision about whether to award derived grades. 

You can also see the information on the NZQA website to determine whether your situation meets the threshold. Please note the application deadlines.  

Accessing results

Results are available in a student’s NZQA login from the middle of January.

What happens if you fall short of the credits you need?

Please contact one of the Achievement and Attainment team if you are concerned about meeting the requirements for your planned pathway:

If you are already concerned about your progress, keep an eye out for an update from Te Kura, the correspondence school. They offer a summer school programme. If students sign up in November, they can complete up to 12 achievement standard credits. 

We are here to help, so please reach out if you have questions or concerns.