NZQA Corequisite

The Reason the Co-Requisites Were Introduced
The Literacy and Numeracy Co-Requisite Assessments were introduced because there was growing concern that some students in New Zealand were achieving NCEA qualifications without consistently demonstrating the literacy and numeracy skills expected by employers, tertiary providers, and the wider community. While students were earning NCEA credits, national achievement data indicated that not all learners were leaving school with the strong reading, writing, and mathematics foundations needed for future success.

NZQA Co-Requisite Assessments
The NZQA Co-requisite Assessments are national assessments that measure the literacy and numeracy skills students need for NCEA and life beyond school. Every student must achieve the Co-requisite requirements in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics before they can be awarded an NCEA qualification. The assessments are designed to show that students can apply their literacy and numeracy skills in authentic, real-world situations. Rather than focusing on a particular school subject, they assess the foundational skills students use every day across all areas of learning.

Foundations for Future Success
Strong literacy and numeracy skills open doors to future learning, employment, and participation in everyday life. The NZQA Co-requisite Assessments help ensure that students have developed these essential capabilities as part of their NCEA journey. At KingsGate School, we believe every student can grow in confidence and achievement. Through intentional teaching, personalised support, and meaningful practice opportunities, we equip students with the foundational skills they need to thrive academically and pursue the plans God has for their future

The Future of the Co-Requisites
The Literacy and Numeracy Co-Requisite is expected to remain an important part of New Zealand's qualification system for the foreseeable future. While the Government is currently reviewing and proposing wider changes to senior secondary qualifications, there is strong agreement across the education sector that literacy and numeracy are essential foundations for success in learning, employment, and everyday life. Future qualification pathways are likely to place an even greater emphasis on ensuring students develop strong reading, writing, and mathematics skills early in their secondary schooling. Regardless of how qualifications evolve, the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and apply mathematical understanding will continue to be highly valued. The Co-Requisite reflects this national focus, helping to ensure that students leave school with the foundational skills needed to thrive in further education, the workplace, and the communities they serve.

Literacy - Reading: The Reading assessment measures a student's ability to understand, interpret, and evaluate information from a range of written texts. Students may be asked to identify key ideas, understand vocabulary in context, make inferences, and analyse how information is presented. Strong reading skills help students access learning across all subjects and enable them to engage confidently with information in everyday life.

Literacy - Writing: The Writing assessment measures a student's ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively through written language. Students are required to produce written responses that demonstrate their ability to organise ideas, use appropriate vocabulary, and write for a specific purpose and audience. Strong writing skills allow students to express their thinking, share information, and communicate effectively in both academic and real-world contexts.

Numeracy: The Numeracy assessment measures a student's ability to apply numeracy knowledge and reasoning to solve problems. Students work with mathematical concepts such as number, measurement, algebra, geometry, and statistics in practical and meaningful situations. Strong numeracy skills help students make informed decisions, solve everyday problems, and confidently engage with the increasingly data-rich world around them.