Definitions and statistical notes

S T A T I S T I C S : E D U C A T I O N

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Definitions and statistical notes

Back to: Candidate participation and attainment in science subjects

Domestic candidates: domestic candidates are students at schools in New Zealand studying towards a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualification excluding international students and students studying at the Correspondence School.

Participation: a student is counted if they have at least one credit in a science subject.

Participation %: number of candidates to gain at least one credit in a science subject divided by total number of candidates in that year level across all subjects.

Attainment: a student is counted if they have achieved 14 or more credits in a science subject. A teacher determines if 'learning' has occurred. This can be done using a wide range of techniques - tests, essays, experiments, speeches, performance (eg. in drama or music), assignments, research reports, etc. These are the 'assessment methods' - particular strategies used by teachers to gather evidence of achievement. Once evidence of learning has been obtained, students are awarded credits based on a set criteria, this is attainment.

Attainment %: number of candidates to gain 14 or more credits divided by number of candidates participating in the subject at that year level.

Typical Level: Year 11 students are studying NCEA Level 1, Year 12 students are at NCEA Level 2, Year 13 students are at Level 3. Participation and attainment figures refer to candidates studying at a typical level or higher.

A Science Subject or All Science: refers to the secondary school National Qualifications Framework subjects: Science; Chemistry; Biology; or Physics.

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