NCEA EXAMS INFORMATION

Rhonda Neighbourly Lead from Hastings Central

Hi Everyone,
As many of your High School students are heading into NCEA exams next week, I thought I would put out a some information that might be helpful for parents and guardians if you are wanting to help your kids be prepared for success. These are ideas as I understand them and hope they are still correct and helpful.
As a Supervisor and teacher, I personally think it is helpful for students to have the following items, some are compulsory
and some will not be allowed in if they are not as per the rules.
1. Not compulsory but helpful,
Drink Sipper bottle (not a wide open neck, must be like a sipper top in case it topples over). The bottle is not allowed a branding or words on it at all and the Supervisor may well remove the bottle it even has branding or even a name on it. My advice is to use the PUMP bottles, and peel the plastic sticker off them. The proper PUMP bottles are better than the cheaper non branded PUMP bottles as the PUMP ones hold their shape when they are empty and the plastic label comes off easily and cleanly. The cheaper one leaves a big sticky mess and does not hold it's shape when empty so falls over.
JERSEY OR SWEATSHIRT even on a hot day is sensible as sometimes the air con goes on or there is a draft and some students end up shivering because they are caught in the cold stream. NO JACKETS OR BLAZERS ARE ALLOWED IN AND YOU CAN WEAR NON UNIFORM ITEMS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SCHOOL JUMPER.
2. No writing is allowed on rulers, pens etc, and no writing on the calculators either. Make sure there is no twink, etching of words on the calculator covers. (Please tell your kids if there is a problem with their calculator or pen etc, to ask for help, it might well be a supervisor can give them what they need.)

2. Tell your kids not to write on their hands or arms, including after they have finished their exam and might be scribbling waiting to be released. Someone may think the doodles were there before and seen as some form of cheating.
3. A second calculator is allowed as are spare batteries.
4. Ears must be checked upon entry. (listening devices nowadays come wireless so we have to check ears!)
5. They are allowed an Emergency Kit in a clear plastic bag under their seats. This could be inhaler, car keys etc.
6. All pens etc should be in a CLEAR PLASTIC BAG WITH NO WRITING, NOT EVEN THE WORDS GLAD. (To be honest, I think some supervisors turn a blind eye to this one but have seen some bags rejected at the door because of the word GLAD).
7. Please help your kids to get to the exam 30 minutes before it starts as sometimes it takes 20 minutes or more to get them all into the hall to be seated at the correct seat. They all have to sit exactly where their booklets are with their own personal ID number on them. This means they should line up according to the seating plan which will be posted outside the exam room.
8. Please tell your kids that they are allowed to go to the toilet if they need to but it is only after I think the first 45 minutes and not in the last 30 minutes (or something like that). They must find out exactly which toilet they are to go to as one student last year went to the wrong toilet on the other side of the school and was in danger of being disqualified or at least the work he did after he came back could have been called into question.
9. MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR SLIP OF PAPER WITH THEIR PERSONAL INFO ON IT AND WHAT EXAMS THEY ARE SITTING AND WHEN. THEY MUST HAVE THIS FOR EVERY EXAM.
10. If for some reason you are away or not able to get to the planned NCEA place where you were expecting to sit the exam, it is possible to go and sit on the correct date and time at another school also sitting that exam - you will need to find out, where and when and if you can give them warning you are doing this, all the better, but it is possible. Some people suddenly find they have to be away from where they were to sit, e.g. a funeral. You will be best to contact your school as soon as possible or your nearest school or contact NCEA directly for more information.


Lastly, I would encourage you to be positive with your kids, help them to make sure they are in the best possible frame of mind and have physically got everything they need. I know they are big people, but this can be a stressful time for them and they may need a little extra TLC and help to make sure they are well fed, kids do better when they are not hungry etc, well hydrated and are leaving the house knowing they are loved and can go and do their best with your support.

Most of our kids have worked hard all year. NCEA is a monster of a process. Many of them are still finishing internals or have just finished. They have had pressure on them all year round and it is not like when we were kids, with a big burst at the end of the year. Let's help our kids get over this last set of hurdles in the best possible way we can. Good Luck Everyone!