English tutoring, Years 6 to 13
Reading, writing, analysis, and the Literacy co-requisite. NCEA, Cambridge, IB.
Reading and writing
Two skills decide English grades. We teach both the way the examiner marks them.
Understanding and analysing texts
- Reading for meaning, not just the gist
- Unfamiliar texts: technique and its effect
- Studied texts: themes, characters, evidence
- Answering the question that was asked
Essays, creative and formal writing
- Planning: thesis, paragraphs, evidence
- Topic sentences and linking ideas
- Vocabulary, sentences, punctuation, grammar
- Editing your own work
Feedback on real writing, every lesson
English improves fastest when a student writes, gets specific feedback, and writes again. Our tutors explain and model each skill, then work through a real text or a real piece of writing with your child, marking it the way an examiner would and showing how to lift it a grade.
Lessons follow the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum and the texts and tasks your child has at school, so the work goes straight into the next assessment. PDF notes and short homework examples follow every lesson.
Who English tutoring suits
- Students who understand the book but cannot get it onto the page
- Students on Achieved who want Merit or Excellence
- Students who have missed the Literacy co-requisite
- Younger students building reading and writing habits
- Students for whom English is a second language
The Literacy co-requisite
Every student needs the Literacy co-requisite to get any NCEA certificate: one reading assessment and one writing assessment, sat online at school. Students who miss one usually need targeted help with the specific skill, not more English in general.
We work through the question types each assessment uses, fix the skills behind them, and practise under the same conditions until the student is ready.
The co-requisite in brief
- ReadingUnit standard 32403, 5 credits
- WritingUnit standard 32405, 5 credits
- With NumeracyUnit standard 32406, 10 credits, makes the 20-credit co-requisite
- Needed forEvery NCEA certificate, Level 1, 2 and 3
- HowDigital assessments sat at school, two opportunities a year
- Also countsUntil the end of 2027, schools can use an approved list of achievement standards as another route
NCEA English standards
Every standard we tutor, with its NZQA number and title. Level 1 uses the new standards from the NCEA change programme.
Level 1 (Year 11)
| Standard | Number | Title | Credits | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | AS91924 | Demonstrate understanding of how context shapes verbal language use | 5 | Internal |
| 1.2 | AS91925 | Demonstrate understanding of specific aspects of studied text | 5 | External |
| 1.3 | AS91926 | Develop ideas in writing using stylistic and written conventions | 5 | Internal |
| 1.4 | AS91927 | Demonstrate understanding of significant aspects of unfamiliar texts | 5 | External |
Level 2 (Year 12)
| Standard | Number | Title | Credits | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | AS91098 | Analyse specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 2.2 | AS91099 | Analyse specified aspect(s) of studied visual or oral text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 2.3 | AS91100 | Analyse significant aspects of unfamiliar written text(s) through close reading, supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 2.4 | AS91101 | Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing | 6 | Internal |
| 2.5 | AS91102 | Construct and deliver a crafted and controlled oral text | 3 | Internal |
| 2.6 | AS91103 | Create a crafted and controlled visual and verbal text | 3 | Internal |
| 2.7 | AS91104 | Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal |
| 2.8 | AS91105 | Use information literacy skills to form developed conclusion(s) | 4 | Internal |
| 2.9 | AS91106 | Form developed personal responses to independently read texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal |
| 2.10 | AS91107 | Analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence | 3 | Internal |
Level 3 (Year 13)
| Standard | Number | Title | Credits | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | AS91472 | Respond critically to specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 3.2 | AS91473 | Respond critically to specified aspect(s) of studied visual or oral text(s), supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 3.3 | AS91474 | Respond critically to significant aspects of unfamiliar written texts through close reading, supported by evidence | 4 | External |
| 3.4 | AS91475 | Produce a selection of fluent and coherent writing which develops, sustains, and structures ideas | 6 | Internal |
| 3.5 | AS91476 | Create and deliver a fluent and coherent oral text which develops, sustains, and structures ideas | 3 | Internal |
| 3.6 | AS91477 | Create a fluent and coherent visual text which develops, sustains, and structures ideas using verbal and visual language | 3 | Internal |
| 3.7 | AS91478 | Respond critically to significant connections across texts, supported by evidence | 4 | Internal |
| 3.8 | AS91479 | Develop an informed understanding of literature and/or language using critical texts | 4 | Internal |
| 3.9 | AS91480 | Respond critically to significant aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close reading, supported by evidence | 3 | Internal |
Titles and credits as published by NZQA. Schools choose which standards they offer, so check your child's course outline. Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A Level English and IB English are tutored to their own syllabus.
See the difference for yourself
One free English lesson, no contract, and PDF notes afterwards.
