Step Up NCEA Level 1

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 1 is the first stage of upper-secondary education, and serves as a foundation for further study and/or employment.

NCEA Level 1, as with all levels of NCEA, encompasses a wide range of learning. The attainment of an upper secondary school qualification is linked to labour force status and incomes. In 2011 New Zealanders with no qualifications had an unemployment rate 48% higher than those whose highest qualification was a school qualification (OECD, 2013).

This qualification may assist graduates to be involved in other forms of training, such as industry training. Literacy and Numeracy are embedded in this qualification.