Managing Your NQ Data: External Assessment

Standard Grades and National Courses are externally assessed. There are a number of ways of doing this, and each subject department has to check their Arrangements documents to see which procedures apply. For example, there may be one or more of the following:

• an exam
• a Visiting Examiner
• coursework to be sent in
• a mark/grade to be sent in

The list of subject-specific deadlines on our website gives you more details.

Estimates

Accurate estimates are important for a number of reasons. Please note the following:

• Assessment Appeals and Absentee Consideration will only be considered for candidates for whom an estimate has been accepted.
  
  
• Changes to estimates, using the Estimate-Amendment form, can be made up to the start of the exam diet.
  
  
• You must make sure that: 
  • the estimate is at the same level as the final Course entry – if the level changes so must the estimate
  • you withdraw candidates who are no longer doing a Course – if you don’t, we will ask you for an estimate

Standard Grade

You will be asked for estimates of how candidates are likely to perform in each of the externally-assessed Elements of Standard Grade Courses. Pre-printed Forms (SGER 00) will be sent out for Drama and Physical Education in February and for all other Standard Grade Courses at the beginning of March – check in Key Dates when to expect them.

Don’t amend these forms – the Operational Help Centre will tell you what to do. If, for example, a candidate's name is not on the list:

• make the necessary entry and when that has been processed you will receive a new pre-printed form to complete, listing the candidate(s)

Similarly, if a candidate has been withdrawn:

• place an 8 in the relevant columns
• withdraw him/her using your normal method

For deadlines, check your Calendar of Key Dates.

National Courses

You will be asked for estimates of how candidates are likely to perform in the external assessment for almost all subjects. Early in March (and in early April, if you have made entry changes) pre-printed Estimate Reports will be sent to you – check in Key Dates when to expect them.

Don’t amend these forms – the Operational Help Centre will tell you what to do. If, for example, a candidate's name is not on the list:

• complete and submit an Estimate Report (Supplement)
• send us an entry for the candidate using your normal entry method

Similarly, if a candidate is no longer doing that Course (he/she may have changed level):

• place a W against the candidate's name
• send us that information, using your normal method

If you send your estimates electronically, check that your entries are accurate - make/withdraw entries or change level, using your normal method before you submit the estimates. If there is no entry, the estimate cannot be processed.

For deadlines, check your Calendar of Key Dates.

Internal Assessment

Standard Grade

In Standard Grade, Internal Assessment Grades (grades for elements which teachers assess) are required for most subjects. Form SGER00, which is used for estimated grades, is also used to submit Internal Assessment Grades, if they are needed. For example: 

• Standard Grade English – Talking is internally assessed
• Standard Grade Chemistry – the Practical Abilities element is internally assessed

For deadlines, check your Calendar of Key Dates.

National Courses

For some subjects, Internal Assessment marks are required – these assessments are carried out by teachers and are separate from Unit results. Pre-printed Internal Assessment Mark Forms are usually issued in April – check in Key Dates when to expect them. The subject, level, component and the maximum mark are on the form.

Don’t amend these forms – the Operational Help Centre will tell you what to do. So, for example, if a candidate’s name is not on the list:

• complete and submit an Internal Assessment Mark Form (Supplement)
• send us an entry for the candidate using your normal entry method

Similarly, if a candidate has recently changed level from Higher to Intermediate 2:

• place a W against the candidate's name on the Internal Assessment Mark Form at Higher level
• complete an Internal Assessment Mark Form (Supplement) at Intermediate 2 level – all components that make up the external assessment must be at the same level
• send us the information that there has been a change of level, using your normal method

And, if a candidate changes level after you have submitted an Internal Assessment Mark Form:

• submit an Internal Assessment Mark Form (Supplement) with a mark at the new level
• send us the information that there has been a change of level, using your normal method

For deadlines, check your Calendar of Key Dates.

NB Internal Assessment Marks:

• are only required for candidates who are entered for the Course
• must be re-submitted for re-sit candidates – we do not retain component marks from one diet to the next

Coursework

Standard Grade

As part of the external assessment for some elements of Standard Grade courses, we require coursework to be sent in to be externally marked. The subject-specific submission deadlines tell you what material has to be ready for the March uplift. For example, for Standard Grade English a folio containing Reading and Writing pieces must be submitted in March.

National Courses

For some subjects, coursework is a component of external assessment and must be sent in to be externally marked. The list of subject-specific deadlines on our website tells you what material must be ready for the April uplift. For example, for Higher Product Design, flyleafs and design assignments have to be submitted in April.

Attendance Registers

You will receive Attendance Registers to accompany the coursework:

• in early March for Standard Grade
• in early April for National Courses

If a candidate's name does not appear on the Attendance Register:

• do not add the name – instead complete an Attendance Register Supplement (Additional Candidates) and keep a copy
• make sure that the necessary entry is made

If a candidate has changed level:

• mark W/D next to the candidate’s name on the Attendance Register
• complete an Attendance Register Supplement
• make sure you tell us about the change of level

Note the following:

• all coursework must be submitted at the same level as the external examination and the Course entry
• send coursework only if a candidate is entered for a Course – it is not required if a candidate is doing Units only
• you must re-submit coursework for re-sit candidates – we do not retain component marks from one diet to the next