New Zealand Qualifications Authority
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National Qualifications Framework

Level descriptors

There are ten levels involved in a qualification - 1 is the least complex and 10 the most. Levels depend on the complexity of learning. They do not equate to 'years spent learning' but reflect the content of the qualification.

LEVEL PROCESS LEARNING DEMAND RESPONSIBILITY

1

Carry out processes that:

  • are limited in range
  • are repetitive and familiar
  • are employed within closely defined contexts

Employing:

  • recall
  • a narrow range of knowledge and cognitive skills
  • no generation of new ideas

Applied:

  • in directed activity
  • under close supervision
  • with no responsibility for the work or learning of others

2

Carry out processes that:

  • are moderate in range
  • are established and familiar
  • offer a clear choice of routine responses

Employing:

  • basic operational knowledge
  • readily available information
  • known solutions to familiar problems
  • little generation of new ideas

Applied:

  • in directed activity
  • under general supervision and quality control
  • with some responsibility for quantity and quality
  • with possible responsibility for guiding others

3

Carry out processes that:

  • require a range of well developed skills
  • offer a significant choice of procedures
  • are employed within a range of familiar contexts

Employing:

  • some relevant theoretical knowledge
  • interpretation of available information
  • discretion and judgement
  • a range of known responses to familiar problems

Applied:

  • in directed activity with some autonomy
  • under general supervision and quality checking
  • with significant responsibility for the quantity and quality of output
  • with possible responsibility for the output of others

4

Carry out processes that:

  • require a wide range of technical or scholastic skills
  • offer a considerable choice of procedures
  • are employed in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar contexts

Employing:

  • a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts
  • analytical interpretation of information
  • informed judgement
  • a range of sometimes innovative responses to concrete but often unfamiliar problems

Applied:

  • in self-directed activity
  • under broad guidance and evaluation
  • with complete responsibility for quantity and quality of output
  • with possible responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

5

Carry out processes that:

  • require a wide range of specialised technical or scholastic skills
  • involve a wide choice of standard and non-standard procedures
  • are employed in a variety of routine and non-routine contexts

Employing:

  • a broad knowledge base with substantial depth in some areas
  • analytical interpretation of a wide range of data
  • the determination of appropriate methods and procedures in response to a range of concrete problems with some theoretical elements

Applied:

  • in self-directed and sometimes directive activity
  • within broad general guidelines or functions
  • with full responsibility for the nature, quantity and quality of outcomes
  • with possible responsibility for the achievement of group outcome.

6

Carry out processes that:

  • require a command of wide-ranging highly specialised technical or scholastic skills
  • involve a wide choice of standard and non-standard procedures, often in non-standard combinations
  • are employed in highly variable routine and non-routine contexts

Employing:

  • specialised knowledge with depth in more than one area
  • the analysis, reformatting and evaluation of a wide range of information
  • the formulation of appropriate responses to resolve both concrete and abstract problems

Applied:

  • in managing processes
  • within broad parameters for defined activities
  • with complete accountability for determining and achieving personal and/or group outcomes

7

Carry out processes that:

  • require a command of highly specialised technical or scholastic and basic research skills across a major discipline
  • involve the full range of procedures in a major discipline
  • are applied in complex, variable and specialised contexts

Requiring:

  • knowledge of a major discipline with areas of specialisation in depth
  • the analysis, transformation and evaluation of abstract data and concepts
  • the creation of appropriate responses to resolve given or contextual abstract problems

Applied:

  • in planning, resourcing and managing processes
  • within broad parameters and functions
  • with complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating personal and/or group outcomes

8

Involves skills and knowledge that enable a learner to:

  • provide a systematic and coherent account of the key principles of a subject area; and
  • undertake self-directed study, research and scholarship in a subject area, demonstrating intellectual independence, analytic rigour and sound communication

9

Involves knowledge and skills that enable a learner to:

  • demonstrate mastery of a subject area; and
  • plan and carry out - to internationally recognised standards - an original scholarship or research project.

Demonstrated by:

  • The completion of a substantial research paper, dissertation or in some cases a series of papers.

10

Involves knowledge and skill that enable a learner to:

  • Provide an original contribution to knowledge through research or scholarship, as judged by independent experts, applying international standards.