Requirements for Level 2/ Level 3 NCEA and University Enterance

Requirements for Level 2 NCEA:

Students must gain at least 80 credits as follows:


  • 60 credits from Level 2 or above
  • 20 credits at level 1 or above

Requirements for Level 3 NCEA:

Students must gain at least 80 credits as follows:

  • 60 credits from Level 3 or above
  • 20 credits at level 2 or above

Requirements for University Entrance:

  • Level 3 NCEA
  • at least 14 credits in at least 3 approved Level 3 subjects
  • 5 Reading credits and 5 Writing credits from assessments nominated as University Entrance Literacy credits. These are noted in the course outlines at R or W
  • at least 10 Numeracy credits at level 1 or above

Overall Merit or Excellence Endorsements 

  • at least 50 Achievement Standard credits at Merit or Excellence

Subject Merit or Excellence Endorsements


  • at least 14 Achievement Standard credits
  • at Merit or Excellence, including at least 3 credits in both internal and external assessments