Assessment (Condition PTQ9)
Rules about assessment in Performance Table Qualifications
- PTQ9.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a Performance Table Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
- PTQ9.2 An awarding organisation may apply for an exemption from any requirement published under Condition PTQ9.1 with respect to which Ofqual has stated that it will accept such an application.
- PTQ9.3 Condition PTQ9.1 does not apply to the extent that an awarding organisation has been granted an exemption by Ofqual under Condition PTQ9.2.
Condition PTQ9.1 allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to the assessment of Technical Awards.
We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition PTQ9.1 below.
We also set out the requirements in relation to which an awarding organisation may apply for an exemption under Condition PTQ9.2.
Assessment by Examination
An awarding organisation must ensure that the assessments for a Technical Award include one or more Assessments by Examinationnote 1 through which at least 40% of the total marks for the qualification are made available.
In each academic year, an awarding organisation must provide up to two assessment series on set dates during which Learners can complete the Assessment(s) by Examination for a Technical Award.
An awarding organisation may apply for an exemption to the requirement that the Assessment by Examination is taken simultaneously by all Learners. Where it applies for such an exemption, it may also apply for an exemption to the requirement to provide up to two assessment series on set dates. However, an awarding organisation may not apply for an exemption to the assessment series requirement where it is not also applying for an exemption to the requirement that the Assessment by Examination is taken simultaneously by Learners.
Any exemption to the requirements above will be only granted where an awarding organisation is able to demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction that –
- (a) its alternative assessment approach will improve the Validity of the qualification, and
- (b) the controls which it proposes to put in place are sufficient to manage any risks to which its alternative approach gives rise.
An awarding organisation must ensure that –
- (a) each Learner takes an Assessment by Examination through which at least 40% of the total marks for the qualification are available in the final assessment series, that being the assessment series in which the Learner requests certification for the qualification; and
- (b) the result achieved by the Learner in the Assessment by Examination in that series is used towards their overall qualification grade.
An awarding organisation must ensure that the marking of all Assessments by Examination requires the allocation of numerical marks based on the level of attainment each Learner has demonstrated.
Non-exam Assessments
An awarding organisation must set all assessments which are not Assessments by Examination (‘Non-exam Assessments’).
In each academic year, an awarding organisation must provide up to two deadlines for the submission of proposed marks (or, where approved, grades) in relation to any Non-exam Assessment marked by Centres.
An awarding organisation must ensure that the marking of all Non-exam Assessments requires the allocation of numerical marks based on the level of attainment each Learner has demonstrated.
An awarding organisation may apply to Ofqual for an exemption from the requirement to use mark-based Non-exam Assessments.
Centre Adaptations to Non-exam Assessments
An awarding organisation may permit a Centre to adapt questions or tasks in Non-exam Assessments for the purpose of making those assessments more accessible to Learners.
Where an awarding organisation permits a Centre to adapt questions or tasks, such adaptations must relate only to the context presented by that question or task. An awarding organisation must not permit a Centre to amend –
- (a) the knowledge, skills or understanding that a Learner is required to demonstrate in the question or task,
- (b) the Level of Demand of the question or task, or
- (c) any specified conditions under which the assessment must be completed, including in particular the time within which the assessment must be completed (unless any such amendment is part of a Reasonable Adjustment or for the purposes of Special Consideration).
Retaking Non-exam Assessments
An awarding organisation may allow a Learner to retake a Non-exam Assessment through submission, in a new or revised form, of evidence generated by that Learner which he or she has submitted for the purposes of taking the assessment on a previous occasion.
Marking of assessments
An awarding organisation must ensure that evidence generated by Learners in the Assessments by Examination for a Technical Award is marked by the awarding organisation or a person connected to it.
Evidence generated by a Learner in a Non-exam Assessment for a Technical Award may be marked -
- (a) by the awarding organisation or a person connected to the awarding organisation,
- (b) by a Centre, or
- (c) through a combination of (a) and (b).
In any event, the awarding organisation must demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that –
- (a) it has taken all reasonable steps to identify the risk of any Adverse Effect which may result from its approach to marking the assessments (and to Moderation where appropriate), and
- (b) where such a risk is identified, it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where it cannot be prevented, to mitigate that Adverse Effect.
Guidance for Centres
Under Condition G10.2(a) an awarding organisation must ensure that every assessment for a qualification which it makes available is fit for purpose on delivery.
Under Condition C2.5 an awarding organisation must provide effective guidance to a Centre in respect of the parts of the delivery of a qualification that the Centre undertakes.
Under Condition H1.1 an awarding organisation must ensure that the criteria against which Learners’ performance will be differentiated are applied accurately and consistently by all Assessors.
Taking these obligations together, and without prejudice to any other action that they might require, an awarding organisation must provide effective guidance to Centres in respect of the adaptation, delivery and marking by Centres, as relevant, of assessments for a Technical Award which it makes available, or proposes to make available.
Note 1
- For the purposes of these requirements an Assessment by Examination is defined as an assessment which is -
- (a) set by an awarding organisation,
- (b) designed to be taken simultaneously by all relevant Learners at a time determined by the awarding organisation, and
- (c) taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation (including conditions relating to the supervision of Learners during the assessment and the duration of the assessment).