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Official figures show most Year 11 students attempted some NCEA level 1 standards in 2024, even though the qualification's popularity has fallen.
Figures provided by Education Minister Erica Stanford showed there were 70,250 Year 11 students enrolled at secondary schools in 2024.
Of those, 45,038 (64 percent) participated in a full level 1 programme, down from 75 percent in 2023.
However, a further 19,477 students were entered for some level 1 credits. Just 5735 were not entered for any level 1 credits.
In Auckland, 64 out of 130 schools (49 percent) did not offer a full level 1 programme, and in Wellington the figure was 31 percent.
In Southland, seven of 16 schools (44 percent) did not provide level 1, in Manawatū-Whanganui 25 percent, and in Hawke's Bay 23 percent.
Considered by equity index band, level 1 was least popular among schools with fewer socioeconomic barriers (48 percent did not offer the qualification last year).
Only 15 percent of the 221 schools facing moderate barriers did not offer level 1, and the figure for the 192 schools facing the most barriers was 17 percent.
Changes to level 1 in 2024 reduced the number of standards on offer, and increased their credit value in a bid to ensure students studied each subject in depth.
But in November, the Education Review Office said the qualification needed another overhaul.
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