You've lost feeling in your fingers and toes. You're sobbing. That lump in your throat won't go away. When you learn you've failed NCEA level 1, it's a horrible sensation, especially if you weren't expecting it. The pain of NCEA level 1 failure, no matter how young or old you are, can be excruciating, especially when you have a lot at stake, like a place at a prestigious university or a bright new driver's licence!
The problem is that it's a lot simpler to say than to do. When you're in the midst of a rough patch, it can feel like you're ascending a mountain in the middle of the night. Remind yourself of the positive aspects of your personality that aren't tied to your NCEA level 1 results. Even writing it down might be helpful.
How loyal are you to those you care about? What do you call someone who pays attention well? Is it possible for you to perform an artistic skill such as playing an instrument or writing poetry? Playlists or tea: what do you excel at? Are you intelligent, compassionate, bold, or tenacious? The ability to see the best in others and run a mile in under four minutes is required. NCEA level 1 results aren't the only way to measure how much you care about yourself. But what happens if you fail NCEA level 1?
The NCEA is a points-based system in which students earn "credits" for completing assessments (internals) and examinations (externals). Each evaluation or test they pass will get them a set number of credits. If they pass the test or assessment, they will obtain all of the credits given by that standard, which will be applied to their overall credit total. If they do not pass the test or assessment (NA or Not Achieved), they will get no points for that standard, and their credit total will remain the same as it was before they tried the assessment. It means the next year is harder if you fail NCEA level 1.
Will failing NCEA level 1 delay a year of studies?

It's probable that you'll need to enrol in a Year 11 course the following year; otherwise if your school offers them, you might simply pick up some L1 papers (enough to gain the missing credits).
Your courses for Year 13 will have their own pre-requisites, such as a particular amount of credits obtained at L1, and you should still be allowed to take them as long as you've completed the conditions for doing so specified in the previous sentence. There is still a chance for you to get NCEA Levels 1 and 2 the following year, so everything is not yet lost. It's not impossible; you may simply need to put in a little more effort than the other kids, but it's not impossible at all.
Does failing NCEA level 1 affects university entrance?
Yes, as to require NCEA level 3, you need to pass level 2 and need to have enough credits in Level 1. Your UE does get affected. In the event that your National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) does not grant you University Entrance, for example:
- you have not finished the Level 3 Certificate;
- you do not meet the requirements for Literacy or Numeracy for Level 1;
- you do not have enough NCEA Level 3 credits;
- you do not meet the requirements for Numeracy from level 1.
Want to know if you can go to Uni without UE? This guide will help you learn more.
Does it matter what subjects you fail?
It only matters if you want to take the topic next year or if it is a prerequisite for your university programme. Some schools do not need students to "pass" a course in order to continue with it the next year, while others do. To formally pass a course, 14 credits must be earned in that subject. For a topic to be endorsed with merit or excellence, 14 credits must be earned at merit or excellence, with four of those credits coming from external evaluation. Yet, there is no formal method to "pass" a single topic; however, many institutions consider 14 credits in a single subject to be a pass. In order to continue with Chemistry, Physics, or Biology in Level 2, you must pass Level 1 Science with 14 credits, including credits from the external examination of the particular science/s you choose to study the following year.
If you are needed to take a given topic in order to enrol in a particular course at university, you must typically get 14 credits in that subject, which is why most institutions define a 'pass' as earning 14 credits. However, NZQA does not have a specific rule stating what is required to pass a subject because many school courses are comprised of standards from multiple subjects (for example, a Humanities course could be comprised of standards from Religious Studies, Classics, and History). Because of this, it is impossible for NZQA to standardise a 'pass' for a subject, as students involved in a course that combines standards from different subjects cannot be guaranteed a pass.
How to pass NCEA Level 1 after you fail?

Retake it NCEA level 2
In Year 11 you will be expected to take five or six subjects. This depends on the school and the school timetable. English and maths are compulsory in practically all schools at this level. Some schools add a third obligatory subject. Usually, it is science, although it may be physical education or another discipline. If you fail NCEA level 1, you have to retake it in Year 12 with NCEA level 12
You are free to choose the remaining subjects, but your choice can be restricted by whatever subjects are available in your school, how the timetable is planned, and how well you have done on particular tests. It is up to you to pick how hard you want to work and which examinations you want to attempt and assessments the previous year. Potentially, you will be given the option to gain 120 or more credits across five or six subjects.
Know the important prerequisite to pass NCEA level 1
It is up to you to determine how hard you want to work and which assessments you want to undertake. To get NCEA Level 1 you will need to earn:
• a total of at least 80 credits, including
• at least 10 credits proving literacy skills
• at least 10 credits proving numeracy skills
Literacy credits are meant to demonstrate your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. one of the following methods:
Strictly delineated benchmarks in a variety of subject areas (such as English, Maori language, history or social studies), specification of Units of Measure. These three standards, worth a total of 10 credits, must be successfully completed in order to achieve the literacy requirement of the course.
In order to achieve the literacy requirements, you must meet either the given Achievement Standards or the specified Unit Standards, but not both. English for Academic Purposes, a unique Level 4 course, is another approach to achieving the literacy requirements. There are two five-credit Unit Standards in this subject. It is up to the student to decide whether or not they want to earn both reading and writing credits through this course, or either one or the other and meet other Achievement Standards. Numeracy credits are meant to demonstrate your ability to count, measure, and analyse data.
Meet all the achievement criteria
A variety of topics (such as arithmetic, geography, or science) can be used to meet specified achievement standards. You must complete all three standards to achieve the numeracy requirement. You must either meet the required Achievement Standards or the specified Unit Standards to meet the numeracy requirements. You cannot mix the two.
Want to know what happens if you fail NCEA level 2? Click here to know more.
Most students should seek to finish NCEA Level 1 in Year 11 and earn more than the minimal 80 credits, especially if they plan to go on to a four-year university or college programme. It's possible that some students will require this extra time because of NCEA's flexibility in allowing them to pursue Level 1 subjects in Years 12 and 13. Taking NCEA Level 2 subjects and completing NCEA Level 2 is possible even if you haven't completed NCEA Level 1. Alternatively, if you are doing well in some areas and your teachers believe you are ready for more advanced study, you could opt to take some higher-level standards in Year 11. It is much easier to do well if you start with a sound foundation for each new level of learning, as each year of study builds on the one before it. In your school's curriculum guide or NCEA subject handbook, you'll find comparable charts that list all of your school's courses and show how they're connected from 10th or 11th grade onwards.
We know that true perfection comes from practice, practice, and practice. But what if you need someone to make sure the type of practise you are doing is proper, or worse, you have questions or areas you do not completely grasp and need a helping hand in before you get to that golden practise phase? Maybe, you need some explanation on how to genuinely go on the path to Excellence or secure your prospects effectively. That is exactly what we are here for at Superprofs. We have a range of professional teachers to assist you to get to where you want to go. Let us help you. Get in contact today.





