NCEA L1 Chinese
NCEA Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
NCEA Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin) is the first-year senior secondary qualification in Mandarin within New Zealand's NCEA system, delivered under the Learning Languages area of the New Zealand Curriculum. It is designed for secondary students who are building listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Mandarin, and it is assessed through a mix of internal and external assessment. The Level 1 standards currently listed are 91952 (interact in spoken Chinese to share and respond to information, ideas, and opinions - internal, 5 credits), 91953 (communicate in Chinese for a chosen purpose - internal, 5 credits), 91954 (demonstrate understanding of written Chinese related to everyday contexts - external, 5 credits), and 91955 (demonstrate understanding of spoken Chinese related to everyday contexts - external, 5 credits). All four are Achievement Standards dated 2024. The two external standards have published assessment specifications for 2026. NZQA publishes vocabulary lists setting out the language students are expected to know for external assessments, covering Chinese to English, English to Chinese, categories, and grammar and structures; the Level 1 2025 list is the one to use in 2026. Preparation should combine vocabulary and structure learning from that list with regular practice in all four skill areas, using past exams, exemplars, assessment schedules and reports, and the Level 1 assessment matrix. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with NZQA.
What you'll study
About NCEA L1 Chinese preparation
How many standards make up NCEA Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin)?
NZQA's standards search returns four Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin) Achievement Standards: 91952 and 91953 (Internal, 5 credits each) and 91954 and 91955 (External, 5 credits each). All are Achievement Standards dated 2024. Check with your school for the exact programme you will be entered for.
Which standards are exams and which are internal?
91954 (understanding written Chinese) and 91955 (understanding spoken Chinese) are externally assessed. 91952 (interacting in spoken Chinese) and 91953 (communicating in Chinese for a chosen purpose) are internally assessed. That means two of your four standards are graded through work assessed in school rather than in the external exam window.
What vocabulary am I expected to know?
NZQA publishes vocabulary lists containing the language students are expected to know for external assessments, including Chinese to English, English to Chinese, categories, and grammar and structures. For 2026, use the Level 1 2025 list. Download it from the Chinese subject page and work through it systematically rather than relying on a textbook word list.
Where do I find what the external exams look like?
NZQA publishes assessment specifications for the Level 1 external standards, listed on the standards search as 'Assessment specification 2026' for both 91954 and 91955. Past exams, exemplars, assessment schedules and reports for Level 1 are also available from the Chinese subject page. Read the specification before you start practice papers.
How should I order my study across the four standards?
Build vocabulary and grammar from the Level 1 list first, since both externals depend on it. Then practise reading and listening with past papers and exemplars. In parallel, prepare the two internal standards by rehearsing spoken interaction and your chosen communication purpose, because those need sustained practice over the year, not last-minute cramming.
What causes candidates to lose marks in the external standards?
The most common risks are vocabulary gaps outside the prescribed list and weak handling of the grammar and structures section of the list, which affects both reading and listening. Because the externals test understanding of everyday contexts, practise with authentic short texts and recordings rather than isolated word drills. Review exemplars and assessment schedules to see how evidence is judged.
Are past papers and exemplars available?
Yes. NZQA's Chinese subject page links Level 1 past exams, exemplars, assessment schedules and reports. Note that public assessment resources may be redacted for copyright reasons; teachers can access unredacted materials in the school portal, and students can access unredacted past digital assessments in the learner portal.
Can I resit or retake a standard?
The source material for this page does not state a retake policy, so no answer is given here. Resit and reassessment rules for individual standards are set by NZQA and your school. Ask your teacher or check the NZQA website directly for the current rules before you plan around a retake.
Is this page official NZQA information?
No. This is an independent study resource written for candidates searching for this qualification. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NZQA. Always confirm standards, credits, specifications and vocabulary lists on the official NZQA website, and follow your school's guidance on which standards you will be assessed against.