Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91899 about?

Accepted Answer

AS91899 is a 3-credit external assessment where you write a report (called a DCAT – a digital common assessment task) summarising how you built a digital outcome during the year. You explain what you made, the decisions you made along the way, and how well those decisions worked out. The examiner reads your report and decides your grade based on how deeply and honestly you reflect on your own development process.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91899?

Accepted Answer

1. Build a digital outcome during the year – this could be a website, game, app, animation, programme, or electronic device. It needs to be at an advanced level (Level 7 of the NZ Curriculum), not something simple like a basic poster, Google Site, or Canva design. 2. Write a report summarising what you made and the decisions you made while making it – for example, which tools you chose and why, how you sequenced tasks, which experts you consulted, and how you handled things like accessibility, privacy, or cultural considerations. 3. Explain how your outcome met the requirements of the brief and the needs of your end users. 4. For higher grades, reflect honestly on what you would do differently if you did it again, and why – based on what you actually learned during the process.

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91899?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You describe what you built and explain the key decisions you made during development – for example, why you chose certain tools or approaches. Merit: You go deeper and discuss how your outcome actually addressed its requirements and relevant implications (such as usability, cultural considerations, or accessibility) – not just that you thought about them, but how they shaped what you built. Excellence: You critically evaluate the decisions you made – honestly weighing up what worked and what did not – and explain what you would do differently to improve the outcome, using genuine insights from your experience building it.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91899?

Accepted Answer

1. Choosing a digital outcome that is too simple or not at the right level – tools like Google Sites, Thunkable, Canva, basic programmes, or NFTs were flagged as unsuitable. 2. Writing requirements that are vague labels like 'must be usable' or 'must be functional' instead of specific goals tied to real users and context. 3. Treating implications (cultural, ethical, sustainability, etc.) as add-ons at the end of the report rather than showing how they actually shaped your design decisions. 4. Explaining what was NOT included in the outcome rather than clearly describing what WAS intentionally built in and why. 5. Giving surface-level responses that lack depth and do not provide a genuine insight into the development process. 6. Working from a class-set brief or tight template, which makes it hard to explain your own decision-making in a personal and meaningful way. 7. Students working in teams not focusing their report on their own individual digital contribution. 8. Not reading the Assessment Specifications for the current year – the focus of what is assessed can change year to year.

Digital outcome summary · AS 91899

2,674 students sat this in 2024 · 78% passed

Documents (32)

The standard itself

Exam papers & schedules

Exemplars (student work samples)

Reports & guidance

Bundles

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