As our learners move into senior school (years 11, 12 and 13) we continue to use our learning vehicles to provide relevant and authentic learning experiences that help develop our learners' abilities to make connections between and beyond learning areas. At this level, learners are working towards completing their National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 1 qualification and are required to complete an English, science, and mathematics and statistics course.

Course information

See our learning areas on SchoolPoint.

See which courses are offered at all year levels in 2025 at Rolleston College on our Course Flow on SchoolPoint. Course descriptions, recommended prior learning and credit information is available here too. Look carefully at what each course is about and which skills learners need to be successful in that course.

NCEA at Rolleston College

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s main national qualification for senior secondary school students, recognised by employers and is used as the benchmark for selection by universities and polytechnics. NCEA challenges students of all abilities in all learning areas and shows credits and grades for separate skills and knowledge. It enables students to gain credits from both traditional school curriculum areas and alternative programmes. 

There are three levels of NCEA certificate. At each level, students must achieve a certain number of credits to gain an NCEA certificate. Credits can be obtained over more than one year and credits gained at one level can be used for (or count towards) more than one certificate. They may also be used for other qualifications.

For more information, please refer to the NZQA website or watch the NZQA "How NCEA Works" video. Much of this content is also available in English, te reo Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Niuean, Samoan, Tongan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Our 2024 NCEA handbook.

Our 2024 derived grade examination timetable and protocols.

NCEA Level 1

80 credits are required at any level (level 1, 2 or 3) including literacy and numeracy.

You can find information and useful links about literacy and numeracy on the junior learning page.

NCEA Level 2

60 credits at level 2 or above + 20 credits from any level.

Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements must also be met. You can find information and useful links about literacy and numeracy on the junior learning page.

NCEA Level 3

60 credits at level 3 or above + 20 credits from level 2 or above.

NCEA rules and procedures

Rolleston College and its learners must comply with all NZQA rules and procedures for NCEA around assessment. Particular effort should be made by learners to familiarise themselves with: 

• NZQA authenticity rules
• NZQA special assessment conditions
• Missed or late assessment opportunities, NZQA resubmission of assessment material and further NZQA assessment opportunities for students
• NZQA derived grades

For more information regarding NCEA Assessment information check out NZQA assessment (including examination) rules for schools with consent to assess.

Read these myths and facts about NCEA.