No lessons needed - pupil passes exam after 5-minute chat

A student passed the toughest secondary school geography exam without a single lesson in the subject.

The unnamed King's College student has prompted a row over the rigour of NCEA after gaining a Scholarship qualification.

It is believed that the student had a five-minute chat with a geography teacher the day before the exam last year. He was not enrolled in the course and did not attend a class.

Last night, the NZ Qualifications Authority would not comment on the case for privacy reasons.

But Act education spokeswoman Deborah Coddington said the case highlighted NCEA's failure.

"Can you imagine anyone getting an A Bursary in geography without having any lessons in it? What on Earth does it say for all those kids who worked their guts out all year to get a Scholarship in geography? It's so unfair."

King's College headmaster Roy Kelley said he would investigate and discuss with the student exactly what preparation and study he had done.

But he said the result highlighted "the concerns we have with the academic rigour of NCEA" at the top end of the scholastic range.

"Whilst it [NCEA] provides a suitable course choice for some students, it's clearly not for all," he said.

Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope could not be reached for comment.

National education spokesman Bill English said it was an extreme case, but predictable as the Scholarship system had become a lottery.