新西兰英语 393 Auckland Grammar School and NCEA

　　Auckland Grammar School, which is a state boys’ high school, has decided¹ that NCEA does not suit their boys. NCEA means National Certificate in Educational Achievement. In Year 11, students do Level 1 NCEA, in Year 12 they do Level 2, and in Year 13 they do level 3. This is a New Zealand assessment² (tests and exams) based on the New Zealand curriculum.
NCEA replaced an end-of-year examination system in 2004. A lot of the work that students do in class is assessed by the teacher many times during the year. This encourages students to work hard all year. There are some end-of-year exams as well. Students who pass do not get grades or marks. They achieve (this is a pass), or get merit, or if they are very good, they get excellence³.
The headmaster of Auckland Grammar said that this suits girls who like to work hard all year but boys do better with an end-of-year exam. Boys are more competitive he said. They like marks. The school this year will offer Cambridge O and A level exams instead of NCEA, for nearly all of their students. Cambridge is a British exam. It has a different curriculum.
The Minister of Education, Anne Tolley, is happy with this decision by Auckland Grammar.
Questions
1. Auckland Grammar is a state school. Do you think Anne Tolley should force a state school to use the New Zealand NCEA?
2. Do you think students should have internal assessment (tests in class during the year) or are end-of-year exams better?
3. Is there a difference between girls’ and boys’ study habits? 4. Two thirds of tertiary qualifications in New Zealand are achieved by females. Why?

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。