Missed NCEA credits? What to do now

Not getting the results you wanted in NCEA can be disappointing, but it doesn’t have to stop you achieving your goals. Here’s what you can do now.

When you get access to your answers and marks via the student login, you should:

• confirm that you have a grade score for everything you were expecting a mark for
• look at your answers and consider them against what was required to meet the standard 
• talk to your teacher if you want a second opinion.

If you need help understanding your online results, NZQA has a guide to help.

• NZQA website – Guide to online results

Apply for a review or reconsideration

If you find a mistake in your marks, you can ask the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for:

• a review – where your results are checked 
• a reconsideration – where your answers are re-marked.

There's usually a fee for a reconsideration but in some cases you can ask NZQA to waive (remove) the fee.

• NZQA website - NCEA reviews, reconsideration and fee waivers

Talk to a teacher or student adviser about your options. You may be able to:

• earn missing credits while studying at a higher level – for example, if you missed some Level 1 maths credits, you could do these again while working towards Level 2
• change some subjects – your school may have a subject confirmation day where you can change subjects.

Consider doing tertiary or workplace learning while at school

You may be able to start tertiary study or workplace learning while you work towards NCEA:

• at school through Gateway or STAR
• at a trades or services academy.

• Start tertiary or workplace learning while at school

If you’ve missed credits you need for a tertiary course, you can try these options.

See what help the tertiary education provider offers 

Contact a student adviser at the education provider you want to attend (Te Pūkenga, university, wānanga or PTE). They may suggest:

• a foundation or bridging course
• a useful related course to do before you reapply for the course you want. For example, if you want to become a nurse you could complete a Certificate in Health Studies to earn enough credits to apply for a nursing degree.

• Courses database – search for education providers

You may be eligible for special entry, where you can enrol for a tertiary course without the usual NCEA credits.

• Do a course or training without NCEA

Do NCEA credits before your course starts

You may be able to make up missing NCEA credits before your course starts:

• through Te Kura Summer School (by distance learning)
• at school early in Term 1.

• Te Kura website - Summer School programmes

• NZQA website, accessed January 2025, (www.nzqa.govt.nz).
• Te Kura website, accessed January 2025, (www.tekura.school.nz).