NZQA Standards

Overview

This page contains the latest NZQA Standards file (zipped) and instructions on how to load.

Changes to Standards File Format

 Choose one of two Standards files

From releases 71.22 there are two versions of the Standards file, please read carefully and ensure you download the correct file.

Instructions

To import the standards file follow the steps below (click on blue link)

 Importing NZQA Standards File

Download and save the Standards .zip file

Extract the Standards???.tab from the zip file into a location that Synergetic can access

In Synergetic navigate to: Students Menu → Student Data Import/Export → NZQA tab

  • Select the Year
  • Select the "Import Standards File" radio button
  • Browse to the saved .tab file
  • Select the Standards?????.tab file
  • Click Open
  • You should now be back at the NZQA tab - click OK to Import Standards file

File should be successfully imported

Standards Files

Release DateStandards FileNotes

Version 71.21 and Earlier

Standards 20241112.zip


Version 71.22 and Later

Standards 20241112 New Format.zip

Kia ora koutou,

Attached is the monthly standards file (both formats) for Nov 2024.

Thanks,

Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics | Te Tauanga Hinengaro, Pūrongo, Tatauranga



Download and use the version appropriate for the Version of Synergetic your school is on.

The new format contains the changes NZQA released in April.  See Discourse - NZQA: (2024) Data Exchange (Standards) Annual Changes (April Revision).  These were released in Version 71.22.

Remember that you must upgrade to the latest version of Synergetic by the end of 2024 as NZQA will cease providing the pre 71.21 version of the Standards file this year (2024).

 

Version 71.21 and Earlier

Standards 20241014.zip


Version 71.22 and Later

Standards 20241014 New Format.zip


Kia ora all,

Attached is the Monthly Standards File for October (in both formats).

Download and use the version appropriate for the Version of Synergetic your school is on.

The new format contains the changes NZQA released in April.  See Discourse - NZQA: (2024) Data Exchange (Standards) Annual Changes (April Revision).  These were released in Version 71.22.


Remember that you must upgrade to the latest version of Synergetic by the end of 2024 as NZQA will cease providing the pre 71.21 version of the Standards file this year (2024).

 

Version 71.21 and Earlier

Standards 20241010.zip


Version 71.22 and Later

Standards 20241010 New Format .zip

Download and use the version appropriate for the Version of Synergetic your school is on.

The new format contains the changes NZQA released in April.  See Discourse - NZQA: (2024) Data Exchange (Standards) Annual Changes (April Revision).  These were released in Version 71.22.


 Notes From NZQA

Kia ora


Please find attached the monthly standard files for September.  Note that no standards were new or removed this month

 

Also please note that NZQA have updated the internal moderation cover sheet on their website.

Internal moderation :: NZQA


Regards

PRS Team, NZQA

 

Version 71.21 and Earlier

Standards20240809.zip


Version 71.22 and Later

Standards20240809 New Format.zip


Download and use the version appropriate for the Version of Synergetic your school is on.

The new format contains the changes NZQA released in April.  See Discourse - NZQA: (2024) Data Exchange (Standards) Annual Changes (April Revision).  These were released in Version 71.22.

Version 71.21 and Earlier

Standards20240710.zip


Version 71.22 and Later

Standards20240710 New Format.zip

Download and use the version appropriate for the Version of Synergetic your school is on.

The new format contains the changes NZQA released in April.  See Discourse - NZQA: (2024) Data Exchange (Standards) Annual Changes (April Revision).  These were released in Version 71.22.


Notes from NZQA:

 Standards where "Translated Paper Available" has changed from Y to N

Translations for New Zealand Curriculum Level 1 submitted assessment tasks will not be available in 2024. NZQA is committed to reviewing this for 2024. Translations for end-of-year examinations will be available on request as with previous year.

The following standards have been updated to reflect this decision:

Standards where "Translated Paper Available" has changed from Y to N


L1-AGRI-SU

NCEA L1 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (SU)

91931

L1-CHBI-SU

NCEA L1 Chemistry and Biology (SU)

92022

L1-COMM-SU

NCEA L1 Commerce (SU)

92031

L1-DANC-S1

NCEA L1 Dance (S1)

91938

L1-DANC-S2

NCEA L1 Dance (S2)

91939

L1-DIGI-SU

NCEA L1 Digital Technologies (SU)

92007

L1-DRAM-S1

NCEA L1 Drama (S1)

91942

L1-DRAM-S2

NCEA L1 Drama (S2)

91943

L1-GEOG-SU

NCEA L1 Geography (SU)

91934

L1-HEAS-SU

NCEA L1 Health Studies (SU)

92011

L1-HIST-SU

NCEA L1 History (SU)

92027

L1-MAPT-S1

NCEA L1 Materials and Processing Technology (S1)

92014

L1-MAPT-S2

NCEA L1 Materials and Processing Technology (S2)

92015

L1-MAST-SU

NCEA L1 Mathematics and Statistics (SU)

91946

L1-NZSL-S1

NCEA L1 New Zealand Sign Language (S1)

92357

L1-NZSL-S2

NCEA L1 New Zealand Sign Language (S2)

92358

L1-PESS-SU

NCEA L1 Physics and Earth Space Science (SU)

92046

L1-PHED-S1

NCEA L1 Physical Education (S1)

92018

L1-PHED-S2

NCEA L1 Physical Education (S2)

92019

L1-RELI-SU

NCEA L1 Religious Studies (SU)

91919

L1-SCIE-SU

NCEA L1 Science (SU)

91923

L1-SOCI-SU

NCEA L1 Social Studies (SU)

92051

L1-VISU-V1

NCEA L1 Visual Arts (V1)

91914

L1-VISU-V2

NCEA L1 Visual Arts (V2)

91915

This information was communicated to schools in the June 2024 EmailLink (accessible here: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/publications/newsletters-circulars/emaillink/june-2024-4/#e23557_heading1)

The following standard was also incorrectly reported as being available as a Digital Exam, this has now been corrected.

S-CHIN

Scholarship Chinese

93005

 

June file re-issued to fix Standards: 91320, 91321, 91322, 91323, 91455, 91456, 91457, 91458.

See email from NZQA:

 NZQA email 19 June 2024

From: Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2024 1:29 PM
To: -
Subject: Monthly Standards Files - 19 June 2024

Kia ora koutou,


Apologies for an out of cycle monthly standards file, however we have identified an issue with the standards below and this update is to correct their information to their opportunity being available for DS and PS


91320, 91321, 91322, 91323, 91455, 91456, 91457, 91458


...


Thanks,


Graduate Data Analyst

Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics | Te Tauanga Hinengaro, Pūrongo, Tatauranga

 Posted on  

 

Email from NZQA.

 NZQA Standards email 10/05/2024

From: Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 1:30 PM
Subject: Monthly Standards File - May 2024


Kia ora koutou,


Please find attached the May Monthly Standards file. I have also included the new format file mentioned in previous communications.


Standards 10 May 2024.zip


New Format Standards 10 May 2024.zip

  • New format files.
  • Two changes made to what was previously communicated:
    • One change made to the Literacy, Numeracy, and UE Numeracy columns (again), to identify the restricted usage standards here: https://ncea.education.govt.nz/standards-approved-ncea-co-requisite-2024-and-2025
      Code “T R”
    • The feedback on the proposed “exclusions” column was that it was a good idea, but you wanted to know which standards they were.
      I’ve conducted my analysis to determine if this information can be provided, to ensure it didn’t blow out the files phenomenally and good news, it didn’t.
      The column is “| delimited and includes every standard that the given standard could be excluded with.
  • Updated SMS Specification Document (4.3) included, with updated highlighting for ease of navigation.
  • No New and Removed Standards file, it would be the same as the other one.


In other news, I am aware of unanticipated changes re Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy, and UE Numeracy requirements in the results file (specifically historical meeting of requirements).

We are looking into this situation and what is possible to aid accurate reporting of this information, and we will update you as we progress.


Cheers,


Team Leader

 

Distributed on  


 NZQA April Communication

Kia ora koutou,


In this update, I’d like to discuss the regular update, proposed changes to the standards file, a largely widespread concern schools have been raising with us, and finally detail all changes to externally assessed standards as part of this regular update.


Monthly Standards File Update


Please find attached the updated Monthly Standards file for April 2024.

Changes to externally assessed standards are detailed at the end of this email.


Proposed Change to Standards File


  1. L1 Literacy Column
    • We are proposing expanding this column to 5 characters, as opposed to the current 1 character.
    • This is to allow the various different methods, and lists of standards, to be more clearly identified.
    • Proposed values:
      • T = Transition List (both NZC and Te Reo Matatini)
      • T NZC = Literacy Transition List Only
      • T TRM = Te Reo Matatini Transition List Only
      • T R = Transition List (Restricted Usage)
      • C NZC = NZC Corequisite
      • C TRM = Te Reo Matatini Corequsite
      • N = Not Applicable
  1. New Field “Exclusion Pair Exists”
    • One character field “Y/N”
    • Indicates if this standard has an exclusion with at least one other standard.
    • For more information about exclusions please see our website: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/subjects/standards-exclusion-list/
    • This allows any reporting that you provide schools to have a cautionary note applied to it, if you so wish, as the credits from this standard may be excluded by another.
    • It is not a perfect solution but does allow some certainty/uncertainty to be communicated to your users.


I have attached the draft document to this email, we can provide these updates as soon as you’re able to receive them.

We are happy to provide two copies of the standards file moving forward, one with and one without these changes so you can transition at your leisure, until we retire the old version at the start of 2025.


Invalid Assessment Method


Some of you may have received queries from your schools regarding this warning.

This message appears, because we have not received an (or received the wrong) assessment method for the externally assessed entry.


The difference between the error and the warning version of this message is whether there is one or more assessment methods available for the opportunity.

When there is only one, we raise a warning, as the system can safely create the entry with the only available assessment method.

When there is more than one, we raise an error, as we cannot assume what the school was intending.


Please ensure your system is providing assessment methods for all externally assessed entries. While the warning does not prevent entries being created, it is causing undue alarm for the schools.

 Changes to Externally Assessed Standards

 

Standards20240312.zip

NZQA Standards Email 20240312.docx

 NZQA March Standards Email (As Images)
 Posted on Friday, February 09 2024
 

Posted on Friday, January 12 2024

From NZQA:

Kia ora koutou,

Please find attached the January monthly standards file with new and removed standards since December 2023.

This is identical to the mock file that was sent in December, at this stage, with one exception.

We were alerted to inconsistent date formats under the expiry column and those have been resolved now.


Cheers,
 

Standards20231211.zip

Posted on Monday, December 11 2023
 Standards20231110.zip

Posted on Friday, November 10 2023

 Standards20231010.zipPosted on Tuesday, October 10 2023

From NZQA:

Kia ora all,

Attached is the Monthly Standards file for October.

Please note that the UE Literacy Indicators are out of date; this will be resolved in next months’ file.



 Posted on Tuesday, September 12 2023

 

Standards20230810.zip

Posted on Tuesday, July 11 2023

 

 NZQA Standards File Notes

Session Code

Standard

Change

L1-PESS-EX

92047

Assessment Method Change

From: DS

To: Paper Exam

N/A

91928

Subfield and Domain Change

From: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > General Agriculture

To: Sciences > Science > Agricultural and Horticultural Science

N/A

91929

Subfield and Domain Change

From: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > General Agriculture

To: Sciences > Science > Agricultural and Horticultural Science

L1-AGRI-EX

91930

Subfield and Domain Change

From: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > General Agriculture

To: Sciences > Science > Agricultural and Horticultural Science

L1-AGRI-EX

91931

Subfield and Domain Change

From: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > General Agriculture

To: Sciences > Science > Agricultural and Horticultural Science

 

From NZQA:  Kia ora all,     Please note that L1-DANC 91339 has been changed from DS to DE.

 

 NZQA - Notification - Iwi Code Update

From: Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics 
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 10:16 AM
Subject: Notification - Iwi Code Update


Kia ora koutou,

This is a notification that our system has been updated to reflect the updated Iwi Code Classifications from Statistics New Zealand, as of 1 January 2023.

Any schools or kura impacted (if you were aware of any) should be advised and asked to try again.

Please let us know if any further issues are encountered.

Ngā mihi,



 NZQA Standards File Notes

From: Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics 
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 9:14 AM
Subject: Monthly Standards File


Kia ora all,

Attached is the Monthly Standards File for April

Please note that it includes TMoA and NZC Pilot Standards.

Thanks,

 

Posted on Monday, March 27 2023 (Replaces file posted on March 15)

 

Standards20230315.zipPosted on Wednesday, March 15 2023 (Replaces file posted on March 14)

 

Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2023

 

 Notes from NZQA

Kia ora koutou,


Please find attached an updated Monthly Standards File. This includes the change described in more detail below, as well as the inclusion of the Te Ao Haka standards for this year.


We have received feedback from some SMS Vendors and Schools regarding our policy in recent years to clear the data from the following columns in January and February each year:

  • Assessment Request Indicator (NO, DE, DS)
  • Assessment Session Code (e.g. L1-CHEM)
  • Digital Practice Exam Available (Y/N)
  • Assessment Opportunities (while this is not yet populated, this would have been subject to the same policy in future years).


This was initially done to avoid issues that any changes to these columns for each new academic year, when our systems roll over just prior to the 10th of March, may cause for schools and their entries.
Upon reflection, however, we agree that it is more straightforward to provide the previous year’s settings and signal, when sending the 10th of March file, of any changes to these. 


The columns above are now populated in the attached files based on settings from 2022, until our systems roll over just prior to the 10th of March.
Please be aware this means that the data in these columns could change in the March iteration of any given year.


Piloting of the new standards including re-versioning of many of them, and the incremental implementation of digital assessment, has made for an untidy process in this area. We acknowledge the difficulty this has caused for SMS Vendors & Schools, and appreciate your patience and support.


Nga mihi,

 

Posted on Tuesday, 14 January 2023

 

Posted on Wednesday, 11 January 2023

Posted on Monday, 12 December 2022


 


 


 

Standards20220811.zipPosted on Monday, 15 August 2022

 Notes from NZQA

Kia Ora Everyone, 

Please find the attached updated version of the SMS Monthly Standards File for July 2022. 
 
Note -  

Standard

Old Assessment Method

New Assessment Method

Old Session Code

New Session Code

91922



L1-SCIE-EX

L1-SCIE-CA

 Notes from NZQA

Kia Ora Everyone,

Please find the attached updated version of the SMS Monthly Standards File for June 2022.

*Please ignore the last version i.e run on 10 June 2022.*

This is an updated version, please use this one only.

...

Any questions please ask.

Thanks and regards

Standards20220610.zip

Standards20220510.zip
 Notes for May Distribution 2022:

Notes for May Distribution 2022:

Standard

Old Assessment Method

New Assessment Method

Old Session Code

New Session Code

92046

DS

DE 

L1-PESS-SU

L1-PESS-CA

92047

DE

NO 

L1-PESS-EX

No Change

92067

DE

DS

L1-PANG-C1 

No Change 

92068

DE

DS

L1-PANG-C2 

No Change 

91930

DE

DS

L1-AGRI-CA

L1-AGRI-SU

 

Fix for results upload error in version 70.16  NZQAResultsExportFix.zip

 

 From NZQA

Kia Ora Everyone,

Please find the attached SMS Providers Monthly Standards File for March 2022

Included in this iteration:

  • The new “Digital Practice Exam Available” field (Y/N).
  • The field “Assessment Session Code” is populated for 2022.
  • The field “Assessment Request Indicator” is populated for 2022.

*We are aware of two standards that still require confirmation of their Assessment Request Indicator, these are 91935 and 91946. Until this confirmation is received, these are listed as "NO".

 


 


 


 


 


 

 From NZQA

When distributing this new file, NZQA stated:

"...

We have been informed of an error with our previous standards file regarding some Scholarship Subjects and Digital Submission Choice.

..."

 


 

 NZQA eMail

Email from NZQA Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics <PRS@nzqa.govt.nz>



Good morning all


Attached is a new run of the Monthly Standards File as of 16 Aug 2021. Note that this File should fix an issue with Scholarship Language subjects – they should now be able to be entered as DS.

Let me know if you have any further questions or queries about this.


Kind regards,


Hans-Peder Oliff


Data Analyst and Report Writer
Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics


125 The Terrace
P O Box 160
Wellington 6140

Phone: +64 4 463 3362

Web: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/

 


 

 

 NZQA eMail

Email from NZQA Team Mailbox Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics <PRS@nzqa.govt.nz>




Good morning all

Attached is the latest Standards file.  This has been created to incorporate the new Literacy and Numeracy standards for the 20 Pilot schools.

Cheers

Russell
😊


...now for the official stuff....

Russell Hazeldine
Team Leader
Psychometrics, Reporting and Statistics


125 The Terrace
P O Box 160
Wellington 6140

Phone: +64 4 463 3362Web: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/

 


 


Posted here on