Assessment Standards

Introduction

To maintain the credibility of SQA qualifications we rely on the effective collaboration between centres and SQA in ensuring national standards are maintained across all qualifications at all levels.

This is achieved through a range of Quality Assurance mechanisms, one of which is external verification.

Verification ensures that internal assessment of candidate achievement is valid, reliable and practicable, and is carried out in line with national standards.

GRAPHIC: Attention small logo. Moderation of HNCs and HNDs – Update July 2005
An update for the three year programme of verification for HNCs/HNDs has been produced, giving details of future plans for verification and advice on prior verification.

Evaluation of Form EV8A

A new External Moderation Report form was introduced in 2005, at with an agreement to evaulate the form after one year of use. We are now taking feedback from centres and Moderators via the questionnaire below.

Computer Assisted Assessment Resources for Centres

You may have noticed, on the e-assessment section of the website, that SQA is issuing centres with a pack of CAA resources containing a DVD, a research summary, case studies and information on a new glossary of e-assessment terms.  The packs for schools and Education Authorities also contain SQA Guidelines on e-assessment for Schools (BD2625, June 2005). 

This publication complements two earlier documents – SQA Guidelines on Online Assessment for Further Education (AA1641, March 2003) and E-moderation: guidelines for FE staff and external moderators (AA1675, November 2004). Although the latter publication was produced for further education, it should be of interest to all SQA Verifiers and centres offering all types of SQA qualifications. These three documents can be downloaded from the Publications section of this website (Information for centres, Quality Assurance area). 

Enquiries relating to the CAA pack should be directed to Campbell White, CAA Centre Liaison Manager, e-mail: campbell.white@sqa.org.uk

Why do we need Verification?

Verification is one of a range of Quality Assurance measures used by SQA to confirm that:

  • Centres' assessment decisions are sound (ie valid, reliable and practicable)
  • National Standards are being uniformly applied

This ensures qualifications and certification is credible with all candidates being assessed to a common standard.

SQA wants to encourage centres and staff to see verification in a positive light, as a valuable Quality Improvement tool.

Please use the links on the left and right to find out more. 

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