What's beneath rising NCEA pass rates?

NCEA pass rates at Level 2 have risen steadily in the last five years from 74 to 83 percent

Students at lower deciles are more likely to do unit standards (skills-based), while those at higher deciles do more achievement standards (academic).

Achievement vs Unit standard entries at level 2

Proportion of entries at each decile

The gap is widest for Maori students at Decile 1, with more students doing unit standards than achievement standards

Achievement vs Unit standard entries for Maori at level 2

Explore how Unit vs Achievement standard entries vary for different ethnicities and deciles

Achievement vs Unit standard entries for Asian at level 2

Proportion of entries at each decile

Entries into achievement standards are further divided along socio-economic and ethnic lines.

Higher decile Asian and European students are much more likely to study science related fields. The gap widens as students progress from level 1 to 3.

Achievement standard entries for Sciences at level 2

Proportion of entries by ethnicity at each decile

The gap persists within Achievement standards, as Maori and Pasifika students achieve signficantly less in external assessment compared to internal assessment, especially in science related fields.

External vs Internal Achievement for Maori students in Physics

Proportion of entries achieving, including merit and excellence. Circle size shows number of entries.

External vs Internal Achievement for Pasifika students in Physics

Proportion of entries achieving, including merit and excellence. Circle size shows number of entries.

Explore the difference in external achievement for all ethnicities by every subject

External Achievement for Asian, European, Maori and Pasifika students in Chemistry

Proportion of entries achieving, including merit and excellence. Circle size shows number of entries.