Graded Units - a practical approach to success

library image This workshop was developed by John Kelly, Reid Kerr College and Douglas Dickson, Development Manager, SQA, who have direct experience of implementing both project-based and exam-based Graded Units. The workshop took the form of a presentation and discussion with delegates focusing on the ideas, suggestions and factors that could assist centres to successfully implement Graded Units. These included:

The Graded Unit specification and assessment exemplar, which provided the basis for success
Good communication between members of the course team in delivering Graded Units and key underpinning Units
The organisation of marking, reassessment and internal verification and how careful consideration of these forms part of the management of Graded Units.
Good communication with SQA Qualification Managers and the Qualification Support Team
Good practice in mentoring systems for project-based Graded Units and preparing students for examination-based Graded Units.

Douglas told participants that the approaches discussed in the workshop would be produced as published SQA guidance in the near future. Delegates welcomed this and made a number of suggestions and considerations that could be included in the finalised guidance. These included:

Examples of what constitutes reasonable assistance in project-based Graded Units
Examples of marked candidate scripts
Material that can be adapted by a centre to assist with the planning and implementation of Graded Units

The presentation from this workshop can be downloaded below:

The guidance on the implementation of Graded Units will be distributed to centres in due course.