Drama hits NCEA exam

Anna Melbye studied for it and spent more than an hour sitting it, but the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) said it didn't happen.

When the Palmerston North Girls' High School student received her NCEA level one results she found herself listed as being absent for the drama exam.

She still passed drama, but had her average reduced.

However, NZQA has now said 258 Manawatu drama students were incorrectly marked as absent.

NZQA spokeswoman Heather Church said the exam papers had been delayed in the post and markers could not meet the deadline to get the results recorded on the notices sent to students.

Ms Church said the students would get new interim result notices next week with the correct results on them. There would also be a letter of explanation.

NZQA knew the "absent" results were not correct when it sent out the notices, but chose to print that instead of saying the student had failed.

Anna's mother, Leanne, said she was unhappy with NZQA's initial response when she rang them.

- NZPA