New Zealand Grading System: NCEA and University Grades
New Zealand's education system features the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) for secondary education and various grading scales for tertiary education. This guide explains the grading systems across all educational levels.
Key Takeaways
- NCEA has three levels (1-3)
- Achievement standards use Not Achieved to Excellence scale
- Universities use letter grades (A+ to E)
- Credits system for qualification completion
NCEA Achievement Standards
| Grade | Description | Mark Range |
|---|---|---|
| Excellence (E) | Outstanding Performance | ≥85% |
| Merit (M) | Very Good Performance | 70-84% |
| Achieved (A) | Satisfactory Performance | 50-69% |
| Not Achieved (N) | Did Not Meet Standard | <50% |
University Grading System
| Grade | Mark Range | GPA Value |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90-100 | 9 |
| A | 85-89 | 8 |
| A- | 80-84 | 7 |
| B+ | 75-79 | 6 |
| B | 70-74 | 5 |
| C+ | 65-69 | 4 |
| C | 60-64 | 3 |
| C- | 55-59 | 2 |
| D | 50-54 | 1 |
| E | <50 | 0 |
FAQs
What is a good NCEA result?
Excellence endorsements (50+ credits at Excellence) and Merit endorsements (50+ credits at Merit or higher) are considered strong achievements.
What are the University Entrance requirements?
NCEA Level 3 with 14 credits in each of three approved subjects, plus literacy and numeracy requirements.
How do grades convert internationally?
Convert your grades using our International GPA Calculator.