Summary

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority made changes to University Entrance in 2012 and implemented these in 2014.  The factsheet finds that:

• The proportion of Year 13 school leavers who attained UE declined in 2014.  However, UE attainment rates increased again in 2015 and 2016.
• The introduction of the changes to UE appears to have had little impact on the proportion of all Year 13 school leavers who progress to bachelors or higher study.
• A higher proportion of Year 13 students who attained UE in 2014 progressed to bachelors study.  The proportion decreased slightly for students who attained UE in 2015.
• Students who completed UE in 2014 and 2015 and progressed to bachelors study in the following year were more likely to successfully complete their first-year courses.  This is compared to 2013 school leavers with UE.  These increases follow two years of decreases.  Rates are now similar to those prior to the decrease.
• The proportion of Year 13 school leavers who attained NCEA Level 3 increased each year from 2009.  The increase from 2013 to 2014 was the highest in recent years.