Qualifications Authority figures show Tai Tokerau and South Auckland had the lowest pass rates in the three online tests that students must pass before they can receive any NCEA qualifications. Photo: Supplied
Most Tai Tokerau and South Auckland teenagers who sat NCEA literacy and numeracy tests in May failed.
Qualifications Authority figures showed the two regions had the lowest pass rates in the three online tests that students must pass before they can receive any NCEA qualifications.
The figures also showed high failure rates among Year 12 and 13 students and among those who previously failed.
More than 2200 Tai Tokerau students sat the tests, with pass rates of 49 percent in reading, 39 percent in writing and 40 percent in numeracy.
In the Education Ministry's South Auckland region, Tamaki Herenga Waka, about 5000 teenagers sat the tests with 43 percent passing the reading test, 44 percent writing and 40 percent numeracy.
The national averages were 61 percent in reading, 55 in writing and 57 in numeracy.
The figures also showed that students who had failed the tests before were less likely to pass.
The pass rates for resits in the May tests were 41 percent in reading, 38 percent in writing and 42 percent in numeracy compared to 68, 62 and 65 percent for first-time participants.
More than 6000 Year 12s sat the tests with pass rates of 39 percent in reading, 37 percent in writing and 39 percent in numeracy.
About 1800 Year 13s sat the tests and their pass rates were 42 percent in reading, 39 percent in writing and 46 percent in numeracy.
The figures showed Māori and Pacific students had lower pass rates than other students.
Principals warned earlier this year that the tests will lower NCEA achievement rates and leave many school-leavers with no qualification.
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