Importance Of Quality Assurance In Assessment

1. Evaluate the importance of quality assurance in the assessment process.

Quality assurance is important in assessment as it makes sure that assessment is carried out according to awarding body standards and it makes sure that learners are receiving quality assessment and the process followed by the centre is consistent and valid and is also fit for purpose.

Quality assurance helps to uphold the credibility of the centre in the eyes of the awarding body, external customers as well as the Government, especially if the centre is receiving Government funding for their courses. Without quality assurance there is nothing to prove that the centre is up to standard and functioning well.

Quality assurance makes sure that assessment is reliable,

I. Assessment templates and documents – Most centers will have a certain format that has been agreed and put in place for Assessors to use. For example, when planning assessment, there will be standardised forms for you to use to record assessment planning as well as feedbacks.

II. Assessment methods – some centres would have standardised format in place for you to follow when assessing learners. This will usually tell you what methods to use to assess various units and what level of flexibility you are allowed as an Assessor to make changes where required.

III. Evidence – some centres will have their own procedure in place when it comes to gathering evidence and making assessment decision. For example, some centres will require you as an Assessor to have not less than three direct observation sessions with your learner, anything less than 3 will not be acceptable. Sometimes, centres might have a minimum number of times that a criteria has to be covered before it is signed

The assessor will then have the opportunity to discuss and hopefully resolve the query. If the complaint is about the assessor or a judgement made by the assessor and the learner does not feel it is possible to discuss the matter with the assessor then the formal first stage is for the learner to complete a “disputes and appeals” form that should be sent to the internal moderator. The form will detail the reason for complaint or concern and be supported by appropriate evidence such as a piece of assessed work. The process is set within a standard time frame and the learner will be notified along the route of the process. If the learner is still not happy with the outcome they have a rightof appeal and can forward their complaint to the centre, to the Lead Quality Assurance co-ordinator or an appeals panel.

If still not satisfied the last route for appeal is to contact the External Moderator appointed by the Awarding body who will have the final say. The learner may be asked to meet with the External