New Zealand

What is replacing NCEA?

4 min read · updated 2026-10-06

NCEA is being replaced by new subject-based qualifications from 2028. The Government released further details on 16 May 2026. Students already in senior secondary school will finish their studies on NCEA.

The new qualifications

✓ Foundational Award, focused on literacy and numeracy and benchmarked at Year 11: from 2028
✓ New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE), Year 12: from 2029
✓ New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE), Year 13: from 2030

Which students are affected

The qualifications start one year level at a time. Students in Year 11 in 2027 or above complete NCEA; students in Year 10 in 2027 will be the first to take the Foundational Award in 2028, NZCE in 2029 and NZACE in 2030. Students who are close to completing NCEA when the change begins can finish their NCEA qualification under transitional arrangements.

The new qualifications come with a refreshed, knowledge-rich senior secondary curriculum. The Ministry of Education's Tahurangi website publishes the details on assessment, grading and transition as they are finalised.

What this means now

For students on NCEA, nothing changes for their own results: credits, endorsements and University Entrance work as before. Level 1 has used the new four-standard subjects since 2024, while Levels 2 and 3 keep their existing standards until NCEA is replaced.

FAQs

When does NCEA end?＋

The replacement starts with a Year 11 Foundational Award in 2028, NZCE for Year 12 in 2029 and NZACE for Year 13 in 2030.

What does NZCE stand for?＋

New Zealand Certificate of Education, the new Year 12 qualification from 2029.

What is NZACE?＋

The New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education, the new Year 13 qualification from 2030.

Will my child still do NCEA?＋

Yes if they are in Year 11 or above in 2027. Students in Year 10 in 2027 will be the first on the new qualifications.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-06.

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