NCEA grading - more PC rubbish

[alexthekidd]

I would also point out that an N is not neccessarily less than 50%. In many subjects it is less than 30% and in the exams I set it is less than 80%.

As an assesor you have also just scored N

Agreed, it is not necessarily less than 50%, i scored 95% on one test yet still got a N, missed 2 questions in a 3 question section, fail one section, 9 section test, (other 8 100%) and still get an N at the end of the day, ridiculous system

[ZorsT]

In NCEA, that is your mark. You don't get a raw number or percentage. You can tell your 'mark' from your A/M/E.
A = 50-70%
M = 70-85%
E = 85-100%

Thats the way it was designed, but it's not the way it works.
As Jantar pointed out, some pass rates are as high as 70%.
Its a real piss off when you end up being one mark off an E, and get the same recognition as someone who only just got an M. It has happened to me too many times, and I'm glad it'll never happen again.

I am glad that next year I'll be in a system thats fair, and that actually makes sence.

[ZorsT]

Agreed, it is not necessarily less than 50%, i scored 95% on one test yet still got a N, missed 2 questions in a 3 question section, fail one section, 9 section test, (other 8 100%) and still get an N at the end of the day, ridiculous system

A friend of mine failed a geography internal. He had finished the first 4 (?) sections to an execlence level, but ran out of time to complete the last. Even though he answered 80% of the questions correct, he failed.

[Swoop]

Is NCEA doing anything about restoring that skill?

Absolutely not.

The government needs to:-
2) Bring back apprenticeships

If you look, you might find that some areas did NOT abandon this tried-and-true method.

You'll end up with a similar system over here to what we've got in the UK, degree level academics working in call centres and bookshops.

That was happening back in the early '80's! The problem is where the schools encourage people to "strive for success" and educate themselves to a level where there are fewer jobs available, so the competition to get those jobs is even tougher. A classic example is the fact that becoming a plumber isn't everyones dream job, yet the financial reality is that plumbers are better paid than a lot of "executive" positions.

I'm with those that bemoan the fact that there are no 'marks' or percentages...

See my post regarding the 11 point grading system. The inherant unfairness of the unit standard system means that those who put in lots of effort Vs those who put in minimal effort are regularly given the same grade. The Scots have a lot to answer for all this...

[BuFfY]

Read most of this thread so thought I would add my 2 c.
I went through NCEA as a guinea pig... I did geography in both school c and 6th form cert. One thing a lot of people are forgetting is that if they look at their certificate for school c they will find they have a grade. I got a B. So who know whether my strength is in mapping skills... writing about erosion or in field work?
Yet with my NCEA I got E in mapping... blah blah blah.
Subjects like maths are where NCEA is useful. Your employer will know whether you were good at algebra or geometry.

As for not teaching grammar and spelling? Um take a look in a normal primary school and you will see that a lot of time goes into it. Children are expected from about year 2 to edit their own work. Even at high school essays, any written work is graded on spelling and grammar. Marks are taken off for too many of these.

Oh my god did I say marks?!?!!? If you look at marking rubric you will see exactly how it is done.

NCEA is a good system. It allows people who would normally fail a hope of actually having a qualification. Yet it allows people who want to succeed, who want to have better than an A to see exactly what they need to do to get the E that they want.

Parents can't say they don't understand it. Every school every year has meetings about it. There are websites for Africa on it!

[MisterD]

That was happening back in the early '80's! The problem is where the schools encourage people to "strive for success" and educate themselves to a level where there are fewer jobs available, so the competition to get those jobs is even tougher. A classic example is the fact that becoming a plumber isn't everyones dream job, yet the financial reality is that plumbers are better paid than a lot of "executive" positions.

That's because the education system teaches that the trades are for thick people. I've got a degree in Physics, and bloody interesting it was to do too, but if I had my time again I'd be a sparky...

The problem with NCEA is the PC "standards based" bollocks, what prospective employers want to know is where a candidate stands in their peer group, which is what the old system told you.

[elle-f]

I think in the past that 'trades' were deemed for those who were not going to get past any kind of University paper however, these days, and it has been like this since I have been teaching *close to 20 years...cough cough*.......that trades are an excellent future - moreso these days. It's rare to find a builder, plumber or electrician out of work....not so rare finding accountants and lawyers finding it hard to get a job.

Jantar ya gorgeous thang!

[MattRSK]

I think in the past that 'trades' were deemed for those who were not going to get past any kind of University paper however, these days, and it has been like this since I have been teaching *close to 20 years...cough cough*.......that trades are an excellent future - moreso these days. It's rare to find a builder, plumber or electrician out of work....not so rare finding accountants and lawyers finding it hard to get a job.

Jantar ya gorgeous thang!

Yay go the trades

[pixc]

What was wrong with a percentage?. It was easy. You have your perentage, then compare it to the average percentage for the same test. My kids have have always done the Australisian Maths/english tests and this is how they mark them..very quick, simple and factual.

[Storm]

Yay go the trades

Hear hear ! Up with sparkies

[BUNGY]

Done 3 years of now and have a mixed opinion.
On one hand I liked it because it made school alot easier, you dont really need to focus on subjects you dont like and can still pass and subjects you do like normally make you work harder because you want to do well. Also internals take alot of the pressure out of end of year exams because you walk in there only needing to pass half ect.

Although I think it favours people who do the less intellectual subjects as alot of them are only made up of internals which can be resat over and over until they manage to pass whereas the other subjects give one chance only to get it right. Aslo it is a bit gutting to be one mark off and given the same mark as someone who barely scraped in. And now im off to do my degree I have to learn an entirely new system.

[HRT]

I think in the past that 'trades' were deemed for those who were not going to get past any kind of University paper however, these days, and it has been like this since I have been teaching *close to 20 years...cough cough*.......that trades are an excellent future - moreso these days.

I ended up doing 3 years at uni and getting a degree, then deciding to go into trades. Expensive bit of paper to buy in the end, but more interesting/fun/less stressful being a mechanic at the end of the day... I think.

Luckily I didn't have to go through NCEA. Seems like a terrible idea and just something to comform to all the other PC bullshit that goes on in this country. I could be wrong however as I haven't really taken a lot of interest in the entire system.

And as for the lack of spelling thing, the youth of today (and to be fair, its not just the youth) have some shocking spelling skills. Cellphone are bringing on the death of the english language by the looks of things

[Blackbird]

Cellphone are bringing on the death of the english language by the looks of things

The English Language is constantly evolving, just like any other language and it has been doing so since its inception. I guess that just like other aspects of life, it's evolving at a far greater rate than ever before due to almost instant global communication so we tend to notice it more. Doesn't mean we have to like it though. I think the World's great literature would rather lose something if written in txt language.

[ManDownUnder]

I wouldn't mind NCEA if I could only see how it relates to what comes after it.

Hit Uni or trade exams and you either meet the standard or your don't... simple pass or fail. Yes/No Good/Bad.

The rest of life is like that. You go into business - you either go under, or you don't. The world is a wonderfully binary place if you break it right down. You don't mostly die - you're either gone, or you're not.

So... trying to pull my own head from the sand... how does NCEA rank against the rest of life?