Achieving University Entrance

Level 1 NCEA is generally completed at Year 11 (aged 15yrs, old 5th Form Certificate level), Level 2 in Year 12 (aged 16yrs, old 6th Form Certificate level), and Level 3 in Year 13 (aged 17yrs, old University Entrance level).

It is possible to gain enough NCEA credits for UE by doing the work without Te Kura or other online school. Students learn the material at home and take the external exams in a local highschool (organise this early in the year). Internal credits can be gained through various institutes/organisations such as NetNZ, SIT, Young Enterprise Scheme, The Learning Place, NZMA, and many others (usually at a cost). CAA assessments in literacy and numeracy can also be arranged with a host school.

The other option is NCEA via Te Kura – this can be expensive unless your child is 16yrs, in which case it is free. You still need to arrange to take the external exams at a host school. You can enrol your child at (for example) Level 3 English, even if they haven’t done Levels 1 and 2. When they gain Level 3, they automatically gain Level 1 and Level 2. More information about how NCEA works can be found here.

Cambridge University offers a number of qualifications including the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Home educators can enter a large number of subjects at IGCSE (5-7 is the usual number), then three AS and A levels. Students take exam papers at a host school and receive grades for each subject. There is no age limit and no minimum or maximum number of subjects required. Passing an IGCSE subject is not required in order to take AS/A level though it is usually beneficial.

Students need to pass maths at IGCSE with a grade D or above to fulfil the numeracy requirement for UE, and pass English at AS or A level with an E grade or above to achieve the literacy requirement. Plus they need to have 120+ points total from their AS and A exams to achieve UE. See the Association of Cambridge Schools in NZ website, or ask in one of the Facebook groups.

International Baccalaureate (IB) standard recognised by universities. Require the full IB Diploma (24 points or higher).

SAT (taken in year 13) score of at least 1000 (this score varies between universities) combining Critical Reading and Mathematics scores.

The SAT is a three hour test of math and English. The test can be sat in a variety of cities around Aotearoa New Zealand. Universities may accept SAT scores as supporting evidence for your teen’s application. All preparation materials for this are available free through Khan Academy. Further information about SAT testing can be found here.

The SAT is usually combined with completion of the GED. The GED has four tests, 145 minutes in each subject including mathematical reasoning, reasoning through language arts, social studies, science. There is a timed essay as part of reasoning through language arts. Students need an overall GED score of 660 or greater. Lime Feather Learning is a popular way to prepare for the GED tests.

The overseeing body of Home Schooling NZ, the Christian Education New Zealand Foundation Trust awards three Certificates: CENZ Certificate of Academic Achievement, CENZ Level 3 Certificate, and CENZ Level 3 Certificate with Honours.

The Certificate of Achievement may be crafted to contain whatever courses and credits a student’s future employer or tertiary trainer wants to see, and the Level 3 Certificates are a formally recognised university entrance standard in Aotearoa New Zealand. ACE curriculum is a component of Level 3 certificates.

You can apply for Discretionary Entrance (DE) if you're not studying a recognised formal qualification. This is particularly relevant if you have taken an eclectic or unschooling approach to education. Many home educated students are able to enter NZ universities and polytechnics via the Special Admissions department without any set qualifications. Students may write an admissions application, provide a portfolio of work they have achieved over the past few years and have an interview with the Admissions Officer as part of their entrance criteria. Parents often have greater success in discussing the plan with the professors of the course that their child would like to enrol in, who then liaises with the admissions team to process admission.

Alternatively, show evidence of what you have achieved, by asking a registered teacher to assess samples of work – and write that, in their professional opinion, the academic work is of equal standard to a student studying NCEA Level 2 (or higher) and/or that it's of equal standard to the DE requirements.

Most tertiary institutions offer six month bridging and foundation courses or can recommend suitable courses prior to entrance if needed.

Many universities now include entry requirements for home educated students on their website like the University of Canterbury does. It is advisable to contact the Admissions Office of the university or polytechnic you wish to study at about two years before you are considering admission so that you can discuss the entry requirements and plan an entrance pathway. Ask plenty of questions to find out exactly what their current standards of entrance entail. Check if the course your student is looking at requires completion of specific highschool level subjects.