NCEA Levels and Certificates

There are three levels of NCEA certificate. At each level, students must achieve a certain number of credits to gain an NCEA certificate. Credits can be gained over more than one year.

NCEA Level

Requirements

Level 1

80 credits are required at Level 1 or higher
* including 10 credits in literacy and 10 credits in numeracy.

Literacy
Minimum of 10 credits through either:

  • Unit standards - Package of three literacy unit standards (total of 10 credits - allthree required); or
  • Achievement standards - Specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects

Numeracy 
Minimum of 10 credits through either:

  • Unit standards - Package of three numeracy unit standards (total of 10 credits -all three required); or
Achievement standards - Specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects.

Level 2

80 credits – 60 credits at Level 2 or higher and 20 other credits (even if already counted for NCEA Level 1)

* including literacy and numeracy requirements for NCEA Level 1.

Level 3

80 credits – 60 credits at Level 3 or higher and 20 credits at Level 2 or higher (even if already counted for NCEA Level 2).
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