This guide provides an overview of everything that 膩konga and kura need to know to prepare for and administer live T奴mahi Aromatawai P膩tahi (TAP膩) external assessments at kura.
For general information about TAP膩, visit:
TAP膩 assessment dates
Download a printable copy of the 2026 assessment dates:
Ng膩 R膩 Aromatawai - English [PDF, 170 KB]
TAP膩 external assessment windows for Te Reo Matatini me te P膩ngarau
TAP膩 assessments for Te Reo Matatini me te P膩ngarau will take place between 18-29 May and 7-18 September.
Kura can choose when to assess their 膩konga during this period.
TAP膩 assessments in the end-of-year examination timetable
Te Reo 惭腻辞谤颈 standard 92094 is assessed in the end-of-year examination timetable.
Find more information on:
From 2026, Te Ao Haka TAP膩 external assessments will only be delivered within the end-of-year examination timetable.
Find more information on:
On this page
Accessing TAP膩 information for a specific w膩hanga ako
To access information and resources about TAP膩 external assessments for a specific w膩hanga ako (subject), please visit the relevant subject page, scroll down, and click on the TAP膩 tile.
On the TAP膩 page you will find:
- tautuhinga aromatawai 膩-waho (external assessment specifications)
- sample TAP膩 external assessments
- other relevant information about TAP膩 external assessments for that w膩hanga ako.
Quick links to w膩hanga ako TAP膩 pages
Section 1: Preparing to sit TAP膩 assessments
The information in this section tells 膩konga what they need to do to prepare to sit live TAP膩 external assessments at kura.
Create your login and check your details are correct
To access and complete TAP膩 external assessments, 膩konga will use their My星空传媒 account鈥檚 username and password to log in to the digital assessment platform.
New to NCEA?
膧konga new to NCEA will need to create a new My星空传媒 account. This might be relevant for Year 9 or 10 students sitting TAP膩 for Te Reo Matatini me te P膩ngarau. Here's some information about creating and activating an account:
Create or activate a new My星空传媒 account
Log in to your account to check your details
How to access your TAP膩 external assessments
You can access your TAP膩 external assessment by selecting the鈥�Complete your online assessment鈥痮ption on the log in page.
This link only works when your external assessment is open.
You will complete and submit your responses through the digital assessment platform.
Check your device, headphones, and how to input tohut艒
Check your device
Device set up is an important part of getting ready for a TAP膩 or digital exam.
Read our information on how to make sure your device meets the specifications for a digital exam.
There are a few things you should know:
- devices must have an attached keyboard
- iPads are not suitable
- only the Chrome web browser can be used.
Headphones for TAP膩
For assessments that require you to listen to an audio file (Te Reo Rangatira, Te Reo 惭腻辞谤颈, Te Reo Matatini, and some Te Ao Haka assessments), you will need headphones with good sound quality that connect to your device.
Ask your kaiako if you need to bring your own headphones or if they are provided by the kura.
How to install a te reo 惭腻辞谤颈 keyboard
These instructions help you set up and use a te reo 惭腻辞谤颈 keyboard so you can type tohut艒 (macrons) in your digital assessment.
The steps you need to follow depend on your device. This guide provides instructions for Windows 10 and 11 laptops, Chromebooks, and Apple MacBooks, including how to activate the keyboard and type tohut艒.
You can also use the assessment platform's built-in te reo 惭腻辞谤颈 keyboard to select the tohut艒 you need in your written response.
Before your assessment, make sure you set up your preferred keyboard option and practise using it on the device you'll use in the assessment. This helps you become familiar with switching keyboards and entering tohut艒 before assessment day.
- Windows laptop instructions [PDF, 107 KB]
- Chromebook instructions [PDF, 172 KB]
- Apple MacBook instructions [PDF, 100 KB]
Don't want to change your device's keyboard?
Instructions for the built-in 惭腻辞谤颈 keyboard [PDF, 537 KB]
Practise using the digital assessment platform
Find out about what to expect on the day of a digital assessment including:
- how to do simple things in the digital assessment platform, cutting and pasting and highlighting text
- getting familiar with the look and feel of the platform and how to use it.
Digital assessment preparation for students
Access sample TAP膩 assessments
There are sample TAP膩 assessments you can use for practise. To access the sample TAP膩 assessments, go to the relevant subject's TAP膩 page.
Te whakamahi i te p膩tene 'he mata w膩tea'
Ka taea e ng膩 膩konga te whakamahi i te p膩tene 'He mata w膩tea', ka kitea i raro o te aromatawai matihiko, ki te huna taupua noa i ng膩 kiko aromatawai ina hiahia wehe i te te t膿pu, ar膩, ina hiahia whakarepaku pea.
M膩 te p膩whiri i te p膩tene 'mata w膩tea', ka kawea te 膩konga ki te wh膩rangi o 'he mata w膩tea'. Kia rite an艒 ki te kuhu ki te whakam膩tautau, ka whakamahi te 膩konga i te p膩tene 'E hoki ki te whakam膩tautau'.
How to unlock the blank screen during a digital assessment
Ki te kore te p膩tene 'E hoki ki te whakam膩tautau' e whakahoki i te 膩konga ki te whakam膩tautau, ko t膩na me:
- Tatari m艒 te kotahi mineti pea
- K膩tahi ka pato i te p膩tene whakahou, hei whakahoki i a ia ki te whakam膩tautau
Kitea ai te p膩tene whakahou i te taha mau墨 whakaterunga o te p奴tirotiro.
Section 2: Preparing kura and kaiako for TAP膩 assessments
The information and resources in this section are for kura, kaiako, and Administrators and Supervisors preparing to administer live TAP膩 at kura.
Read the tautuhinga aromatawai 膩-waho (external assessment specifications)
To read the tautuhinga aromatawai 膩-waho for each standard, go to the relevant subject鈥檚 TAP膩 page.
Kaiako and supervisors are expected to be familiar with these as they contain important information about the TAP膩, like whether 膩konga need headphones to complete the assessment.
Digital assessment platform guidance
Guidance for the digital assessment platform is available on the Assessment Master guidance鈥痯age in the My星空传媒 provider portal.
You鈥檒l find:
- useful tutorial videos that provide an excellent overview of how the digital assessment platform works
- Administrator and Supervisor guides with step-by-step instructions for each role and links to support videos
- job aids, summarised guides that help staff navigate the digital assessment platform
- a step-by-step guide explaining how providers prepare for and deliver TAP膩 and digital assessments using the digital assessment platform.
Some information is available in English and te reo 惭腻辞谤颈.鈥�
You may need to ask your school's Principal's Nominee for access to the school portal.
PDF backups for TAP膩 external assessments
PDF versions of the TAP膩 will be available when 膩konga can鈥檛 complete the TAP膩 on the digital assessment platform due to technical issues.
The TAP膩 (in PDF form) will be available for download after 3 pm the working day before the assessment is scheduled.
The Principal鈥檚 Nominee can download these from the high-security section of the provider portal, under Download other external assessments and resources.
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Select Download other external assessments and resources from the High security features section in the old portal
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Select Exams and assessments then Download other external assessments and resources in the new portal
How to submit completed PDF TAP膩 assessments
TAP膩 assessments completed on paper must be submitted by the end of the assessment day via the digital submissions feature in the school provider portal.
Paper responses must be scanned and saved as a PDF before being submitted to 星空传媒.
Find instructions on uploading files to 星空传媒 for marking
Other useful resources
TAP膩 assessment continuity plan
This framework helps kura prepare for unexpected events during TAP膩 assessments and plan possible responses.
Assessment Continuity Plan template - T奴mahi Aromatawai P膩tahi (TAP膩) [PDF, 1.1 MB]
P奴take eLearning courses
Training is available in English and te reo 惭腻辞谤颈 to help staff operate the digital assessment platform.
These courses offer simulations, allowing staff to practise key tasks. Access P奴take via your ESL (Education Sector Login).
Results release
Results release for each standard will vary. Please see the Key dates for full details:
Key dates for secondary assessment
Derived grades
You can read detailed information about derived grades, including eligibility and how to apply here:
For Te Marautanga o Aotearoa w膩hanga ako, Te Ao Haka, and Te Reo 惭腻辞谤颈 TAP膩, the normal derived grade process will apply.
Derived grades are not available for Te Reo Matatini me te P膩ngarau.
Special Assessment Conditions (SAC)
Find out more about Special Assessment Conditions
Breaches
Need help?
Help with digital assessment platform logins
For assistance with Supervisor or Administrator logins for the digital assessment platform contact:
assessment.service.centre@nzqa.govt.nz
Student entries queries
If you have questions about student entries, please email us at:
Our contact centre
For help any time before or on the day of an assessment, call us on 0800 222 230.