One of the great benefits of homeschooling in New Zealand is flexibility—especially when it comes to how you assess your child’s learning. In New Zealand, you don’t need to complete formal assessments for credits (that count toward University Entrance) until your child reaches NZ Year 11 and begins working towards NCEA Level 1.
Until then, you have the freedom to choose how you assess your child’s progress and understanding in a way that suits their learning style, pace, and interests.
Let’s explore the different types of assessment and how they might look in your homeschool journey.
Most assessment tools fall into two main categories:
Summative assessments are used to evaluate learning at the end of a unit or topic. They help you see what your child now understands. Examples include:
Formative assessments happen during the learning process. They’re great for checking in on understanding and guiding next steps. Examples include:
At Functional Education, we provide a wide range of tools to help you track and celebrate your child’s progress throughout the year. Here's how we support both formative and summative assessment across different age groups:
These tools give you a clear picture of what your child is learning and allow for a balanced mix of assessment types across the year.
If you’d like to include more traditional, school-aligned assessments, that’s an option too!
NZCER (New Zealand Council for Educational Research) provides standardised tests such as PAT and STAR, which are commonly used in mainstream schools. Homeschooling parents can access these tests directly via NZCER’s website:
👉 https://www.nzcer.org.nz/assessments/pats
Simply click on “Purchase tests” and register using your homeschool exemption number. You’ll then be able to administer the tests at home just like a school would. (Note: There is a small fee involved.)
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to assessment when you homeschool in New Zealand—and that’s the beauty of it. Whether you prefer a gentle, ongoing method or want to align more closely with school-based standards, you have the tools and flexibility to create an approach that works for your family.
If you're using Functional Education, you're already supported with a wide range of assessment options—without the overwhelm.
Want help figuring out how to use these tools for your child? We’re happy to help—just get in touch.
Up to 2 hours of lessons a day, plus hands on activities means you can easily give your child a quality education at home.
View Course Overviewinfo@functionaleducation.com
Questions? Chat directly with the principal on Facebook Messenger.