NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) is a flexible and internationally recognised qualification. It includes both internal assessments—conducted within the school—and external assessments such as end-of-year exams and portfolio submissions.
Students sitting NCEA are assessed throughout the year through a variety of methods, including assignments, practical tasks, presentations, examinations, and project work. At Rangitoto College, students follow the NCEA curriculum in Years 12 and 13.
All students enrolled at Rangitoto College for a full academic year (February to December) are required to sit NCEA exams at the end of the year. For international students, NCEA fees are already included in the tuition and are covered by the school.
Year 11 students sit one set of exams in November, aligned with the NZQA and NCEA examination schedule.
Year 11 students sit one set of exams in November, aligned with the NZQA and NCEA examination schedule.
The Rangitoto College Year 11 Diploma has replaced the traditional Level 1 NCEA qualification. This programme offers students a rigorous, knowledge-rich curriculum designed by subject experts at the college. Students can earn the diploma with white, red, or blue endorsement, reflecting their level of achievement.
The Year 11 Diploma is a holistic qualification that incorporates:
- Academic performance
- Extra-curricular involvement
- Service and leadership
- Attendance
- Academic engagement
In 2024, the Year 11 Diploma pass rate was 73.5%, underscoring the importance of meeting all criteria. Many students who narrowly missed out could have qualified through greater participation in school-based activities or by meeting the attendance requirements.
A summary of the Year 11 Diploma is available below, drawn from a presentation delivered by Fay Meiklejohn and Grahame Cope at our Pathways Evening for parents.
To ensure your activity is included in your profile and recognised at prizegiving, please make sure it is added by:
Year 11 Diploma Deadline: 19 November 2025
We also encourage you to regularly update your profile data throughout the year to reflect your ongoing achievements and involvement.
At Rangitoto College, students have access to a wide range of academic subjects across all year levels. To support informed decision-making, each student receives personalised course counselling.
We encourage students to select subjects that genuinely interest them, as well as those that serve as prerequisites for their intended tertiary or vocational pathways.
We are proud to report the continued high levels of academic achievement by Rangitoto College students. Our strong NCEA results reflect the exceptional performance of our learners, consistently placing us ahead of comparable schools. These outcomes affirm Rangitoto College’s position as one of New Zealand’s leading academic institutions.
Our NCEA pass rates for Levels 2 and 3 have once again exceeded 90%. Year 13 Excellence endorsement rates rose by 5%, and University Entrance rates also increased slightly, reaching 80%.
Academic results across Rangitoto College continue to outperform both the national average and the average of comparable schools within our equity index band—highlighting the strength of our teaching and the dedication of our students.
Discover more about Rangitoto College’s exceptional academic success as New Zealand’s leading NZQA Scholarship school on our Scholarship Programme page.
In 2024, our scholarship students achieved an outstanding 324 NZQA Scholarships, including 32 passes at the Outstanding level—the highest number ever awarded to a New Zealand school.
Learn more about our remarkable achievements in the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Programme, including:
- A 98% pass rate over the past five years
- Multiple Top IB Scholar results
- Numerous recipients of the prestigious Bilingual Diploma
Rangitoto College continues to perform 7% above the global average, affirming our place among the world’s top academic institutions. Visit our IB Programme page to explore more.
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