01
NCEA Level 1
NCEA Level 1 is the first national qualification, usually earned in Year 11. It is built from unit and achievement standards assessed throughout the year.
NCEA & University Entrance results
National and regional attainment for NCEA Levels 1–3 and University Entrance, 2009–2023. Every figure on this page is reproduced from published Ministry of Education qualification statistics.
National picture · 2023
How qualification attainment is tracking.
Cumulative attainment measures the share of students who had gained a qualification by the end of the academic year shown — not the share who attempted it.
| Qualification | Year level | Cumulative rate | Change on 2022 | Students qualified | Cohort size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCEA Level 1 | Year 11 | 61.7% | -3.2 pts | 42,371 | 68,720 |
| NCEA Level 1 | Year 12 | 84.2% | -1.5 pts | 50,605 | 60,074 |
| NCEA Level 1 | Year 13 | 90.3% | -1 pts | 41,944 | 46,450 |
| NCEA Level 2 | Year 11 | 1.5% | -0.3 pts | 1,061 | 68,720 |
| NCEA Level 2 | Year 12 | 73.2% | -1.7 pts | 44,001 | 60,074 |
| NCEA Level 2 | Year 13 | 86.8% | -0.9 pts | 40,340 | 46,450 |
| NCEA Level 3 | Year 11 | 0.1% | 0 pts | 87 | 68,720 |
| NCEA Level 3 | Year 12 | 1.6% | -0.1 pts | 937 | 60,074 |
| NCEA Level 3 | Year 13 | 67.7% | -0.5 pts | 31,446 | 46,450 |
| University Entrance | Year 11 | 0.0% | 0 pts | 9 | 68,720 |
| University Entrance | Year 12 | 0.5% | -0.1 pts | 313 | 60,074 |
| University Entrance | Year 13 | 49.7% | -0.6 pts | 23,084 | 46,450 |
Cumulative attainment by qualification, national
Percentage of students who had gained the qualification by the end of the year shown.
NCEA Level 1 (Year 11)
NCEA Level 2 (Year 12)
NCEA Level 3 (Year 13)
University Entrance attainment, national
Cumulative rate for Year 13 students.
University Entrance (Year 13)
NCEA Level 1 by year level
Cumulative rate — how many students had gained Level 1 by each stage of schooling.
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
NCEA Level 1 by year level
Cumulative rate — how many students had gained Level 1 by each stage of schooling.
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
By qualification
What each qualification means.
02
NCEA Level 2
NCEA Level 2, typically completed in Year 12, is the qualification employers and training providers most often ask for.
03
NCEA Level 3
NCEA Level 3, usually completed in Year 13, is the qualification universities look for alongside University Entrance.
04
University Entrance
University Entrance requires NCEA Level 3, literacy and numeracy credits, and a minimum number of credits at Level 3 or above in approved subjects.
Regional results
University Entrance by region, 2023.
Select a region to see its full attainment series across all four qualifications and year levels.
—
Auckland573 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Bay of Plenty165 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Canterbury296 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Gisborne54 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Hawke's Bay129 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Manawatu-Whanganui
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Marlborough30 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Nelson23 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Northland155 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Otago147 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Other1 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Southland82 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Taranaki94 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Tasman35 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Waikato306 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—Wellington252 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
—West Coast35 schools
University Entrance attainment, Year 13 · 2023
The directory
Find the schools behind the numbers.
Qualification statistics are published by region, not by school. Use the directory to compare roll size, Equity Index, setting and type.
- Latest year
- 2023
- Records held
- 180
- Regions
- 17