New figures show the proportion of 18-year-olds with at least level two of the NCEA is continuing to rise, though the rate of improvement has slowed.
Last year 78.6 percent of 18-year-olds reached the benchmark, a rise of 1.4 percentage points.
In 2012, the achievement rate improved 2.9 percentage points.
The Government wants 85 percent of 18-year-olds to have at least level two by 2017.
Education Minister Hekia Parata says there is more work to do, especially for Maori and Pasifika children.