“This data shows that there is still a population of students for whom more intensive or specific support is required,” the report said.
About 14% or one in seven of the teens who met the literacy and numeracy requirements last year did so using the alternative standards rather than the tests – a pathway available only until the end of 2027.
Some schools warned that their students struggled to pass online tests and the alternative pathway was essential for them.
The report said the percentage of students passing the online tests showed they had become the primary pathway for achieving the literacy and numeracy requirement.
“In 2025, more than 85% of students met requirements for both literacy and numeracy through the co-requisite standards, an indication that the Ministry of Education’s recommended approach for meeting the NCEA co-requisite has been well embedded,” it said.
Students required an average of 1.3 attempts to pass the tests and most students first attempted the assessments in Year 10.
“The participation patterns suggest a shift towards earlier and more deliberate focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, with Year 10 emerging as the key point of first engagement,” it said.
“In 2025, 75% of enrolled Year 10 students participated in one or more co-requisite assessments.”
In 2028, the Government will abolish NCEA Level 1, and introduce a foundation certificate in literacy and numeracy as a first step to replacing NCEA with a new qualification system by 2030.