In New Zealand, Common Assessment Activities (CAA) in English are designed to give students a consistent and fair way to demonstrate their skills in reading, writing, and language use. They provide opportunities for learners to show how well they can understand and respond to texts, express ideas clearly, and apply the conventions of English. The purpose of the English CAA is not only to assess achievement against national standards but also to help teachers identify students’ strengths and areas for improvement, supporting their progress in literacy and communication.
Common Assessment Activity (CAA) has two main components: Reading and Writing.
The Reading component tests how well students can understand, interpret, and respond to a range of texts, assessing skills such as identifying key ideas, analysing language features, and making inferences.
The Writing component tests students’ ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written form, focusing on ideas, structure, language choices, and accuracy.
Together, these components give a balanced measure of students’ literacy skills.
It is recommended that students watch the videos below, as a preparation for sitting the assessments:
Why start with Reading, then Writing?
Reading component: Understanding texts, recognizing language features, making inferences, and responding effectively are essential first steps. These videos offer clear strategies and examiner insights to build those skills.
Writing component: Once you're confident in comprehension, focus shifts to clearly expressing ideas. These videos guide you through structuring your responses and refining accuracy via a practical proofreading checklist.