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New senior secondary qualifications#
From 2028, new senior secondary qualifications will start to replace NCEA.
The new qualifications are based on kura subjects and are designed to be:
- easier to understand
- trusted by universities and employers
- similar to those used in other countries.
They will align with an updated senior secondary curriculum Te Marautanga o Aotearoa that is being finalised this year and will be introduced gradually in kura from 2028.
What’s replacing NCEA#
NCEA will be replaced by 2 new national qualifications:
- New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) for mokopuna in Tau 12
- New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) for mokopuna in Tau 13.
A new foundational qualification will also be introduced for Year 11 in 2028. It will focus on pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau.
Timeline of changes#
The new qualifications will be introduced in stages:
- the foundational award will start in 2028
- NZCE (Tau 12) will begin in 2029
- NZACE (Tau 13) will begin in 2030.
This gradual roll out gives kaiako and kura time to prepare and become familiar with the new curriculum and assessment system before everything is fully in place.
How the new qualifications were developed#
The new qualifications have been designed with input from the sector. Public feedback gathered during consultations in 2025 has also helped shape the final design.
Mōhiohio anō
More information
More detailed information, including how mokopuna will be assessed, graded, and recognised, as well as enrolment rules and transition arrangements, is available on the Tāhūrangi website.
