Jargon
Norm based
The old approach.
The assessment ranked everyone from best to worst.
Marks were scaled to fit a pre-determined results pattern.
Standards based
The new approach.
The standard of skill or knowledge required for each grade is spelled out.
If a student meets the standard they pass.
There is no scaling.
Standard
The basic unit of the New Zealand qualification system.
Each Standard is a package of work, skill and knowledge relating to a single topic.
The level of skill and knowledge required to pass the Standard is prescribed in each Standard.
Each Standard is assessed individually.
All the Standards passed are recorded on a student’s Record of Learning.
There are two types of Standard; Achievement and Unit.
Achievement Standards
These Standards have been developed from traditional
secondary school subjects.
They have 5 digit ID numbers beginning with 90; eg 90550
They are worth a fixed number of credits each.
The credits are awarded if a student passes.
No credits are awarded if a student fails.
Some are internally assessed.
Some are externally assessed.
Grades are awarded to reflect the quality of the pass:
Fail - Not Achieved Pass - Achieved (C), Merit (B), Excellence (A)
Unit Standards
These Standards have mainly been developed by industry and usually relate directly to some aspect of employment.
They have 2 to 5 digit ID numbers that do not start 90
They are worth a fixed number of credits each.
The credits are awarded if a student passes.
No credits are awarded if a student fails.
All Unit Standards are internally assessed.
No grades: Pass - Achieved Fail - Not Achieved
Internal Assessment
The class teacher makes the assessment using tests, school examinations or assignments.
External Assessment
A teacher outside the school makes the assessment from a
state examination or a submission.
Moderation
The assessment tasks teachers set are checked by outside experts.
The grades teachers award are checked as well.
Each year a selection of standards in each course is moderated.
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