Further details confirmed for new senior secondary qualifications replacing NCEA

16 May 2026

The Government has released further details about the new senior secondary qualifications that will start to replace NCEA from 2028, including how students will be graded, recognised and assessed.

The new subject‑based qualifications are designed to be easier to understand, credible, and internationally comparable. They will be aligned with the refreshed, knowledge‑rich senior secondary curriculum that is being finalised this year and rolled out progressively across schools and kura from 2028.

New qualifications framework

NCEA will be replaced with two new national qualifications:

New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) for Year 12
New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) for Year 13

Alongside these, a new Foundational Award, focused on literacy and numeracy and benchmarked at Year 11, will be introduced.

While students will not need to achieve the Foundational Award to move into Years 12 and 13, they will need it to be awarded NZCE or NZACE.

The Foundational Award will be introduced in 2028. NZCE will roll out in 2029, followed by NZACE in 2030. This staged approach is designed to give teachers and school leaders time to become familiar with the updated curriculum and qualifications before they are fully implemented.

All aspects of the new qualifications have been developed with sector representatives and assessment specialists, and feedback from the 2025 public consultation has informed the design.

Recognising student achievement

Under the new system, students will need to pass a minimum of three subjects at the relevant year level (or above), as well as achieve the Foundational Award, to be awarded either NZCE or NZACE.

Students will receive a certificate for each qualification that provides a simple, easy‑to‑understand record of achievement. Certificates will show the number of subjects a student has achieved — for example NZCE 4 or NZACE 5 — giving employers and further education providers a clear indicator of performance.

Subject and certificate endorsements

Two new endorsements are being developed to recognise high achievement.

To qualify for endorsement, students will need to pass at least five subjects, with a specified number achieved at higher grades. Further work is under way with advisory groups to finalise endorsement names and criteria.

Enrolment requirements

Schools will be required to enrol Year 12 and 13 students in at least five subjects each year, unless an exception applies. Students will be able to take more than five subjects, or study subjects above their year level, to support those who wish to extend themselves.

From 2028, all Year 11 students will be required to study:

English or Te Reo Rangatira
Mathematics or Pāngarau
Science or Pūtaiao.

Making these subjects a requirement ensures more students develop skills in problem solving, data literacy, evidence‑based thinking and decision‑making. It also signals a commitment to STEM and better economic outcomes in the future for students.

The Ministry will work with schools and kura that may need additional support to offer Science or Pūtaiao to a larger numbers of students.

No subjects will be compulsory in Years 12 and 13, although students must still be enrolled in at least five subjects.

Assessment and grading

Each subject will include a combination of coursework and at least one exam, with most students completing three to four assessments per subject each year.

Students will be assessed on their understanding of the whole subject, rather than a collection of unrelated standards.

Assessment will be consistent nationwide, meaning students taking the same subject will be assessed in the same way, regardless of where they attend school.

A new six‑point grading scale, from A+ to E, will be introduced. Students will need to achieve a C or above to pass a subject.

Supporting a wide range of pathways

The new qualification system is intended to support diverse post‑school pathways, including further study, training and employment.

Alongside Ministry‑led subjects, new industry‑led subjects will be introduced into the curriculum, developed in collaboration with Industry Skills Boards. These subjects will strengthen connections between learning and careers in areas such as construction, engineering, health and community services. Students will be able to combine academic and industry-based learning within a single integrated qualification.

Transitional arrangements

Students who are close to completing NCEA when the new system begins will be able to finish their NCEA qualification under transitional arrangements. For example, a student who still requires credits to complete NCEA Level 3 after the transition begins will be able to earn those remaining credits for a specified period.

Transitional arrangements will also apply to the Foundational Award for the first cohorts of students, allowing them to meet requirements through either the Foundational Award or the current NCEA co‑requisite assessment. Certificates will clearly show the level achieved.

Next steps

Further work will continue this year to finalise operational details, including reassessment, grade aggregation, transitional arrangements and NZQA’s review of University Entrance requirements.

Between now and 2028, the Ministry will design and deliver support for principals, leaders and teachers, including through Networks of Expertise, the Curriculum Advisory Service and a national curriculum and assessment roadshow for secondary school leaders in June.

Phased implementation timeline

2026

New Year | Tau 9 curriculum available
Senior secondary curriculum finalised

2027

New Year | Tau 10 curriculum required

2028

New Year | Tau 11 curriculum required
Foundational Award introduced
NCEA Level 1 removed

2029

New Year | Tau 12 curriculum required
NZCE introduced

2030

New Year | Tau 13 curriculum required
NZACE introduced

This phased approach is intended to ensure changes to the curriculum and qualifications are aligned and that schools, teachers and students are well prepared for the transition.