SQA UNIT ASSESSMENT UPDATESATH NOVEMBER 8TH NOV 2014

AIMS

External Verification Update.N3-N5 Key Messages Update.Higher Key Messages Update.

EXTERNAL VERIFICATION UPDATE

EXTERNAL VERIFICATION SCHEDULE

Revised verification schedule in response to feedback from schools and LEAs.

Reduction of workload; less events more training.

First external verification event: N3-Higher in February.

Second external verification event: N4 AVU in May.

Accepted verification last year should mean not being selected this year.

Nominee reviews AS for appropriate

unit

Nominee reviews centre evidence, makes provisonal

verification decision

Nominee completes Verification Worksheet

Quality assurance of provisonal verification

decision with 'buddy' Nominee

Quality assurance of verification decision by TL

Nominee drafts Verification

Report

TL/STL/PV quality assures

Verification Report

Nominee and TL/STL/PV confirm

Verification Report

STL/PV submits Verification

Report

EXTERNAL VERIFICATION ACTIVITY

Role of Nominee Verifiers

During verification: Carry out evidence-based verification of unit

assessment Approaches and Judgement, N3-Higher. Draft External Verification Report for return to centre

giving verification decision for each level submitted; Accepted, Accepted* and Not Accepted.

Collaborate with fellow Nominees/TL/STL/PV in the quality assurance of verification decisions and Report writing.

Advise TL on Key Messages report at the close of verification event.

Role of Nominee Verifiers

After verification events: Local area mentoring role. Subject Leader. LEAs will be facilitating Nominees sharing

their expertise.

KEY MESSAGES UPDATE

NQ QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK

Unit assessment at all levels represent milestones between course assessment (N3, N4, N5, Higher and AH).

They support the coherent skills framework in Secondary (3-18).

Aim of unit assessment is to assess the component skills of History.

Assessment standards relate to but are not intended as practice course assessment.

N3-N5 KEY MESSAGES UPDATE

Verification Event Key Messages

Issues: Very brief internal verification information Fixed use of end-of-unit, written ‘tests’. Unreliable and inconsistent assessment

decisions.

Verification Event Key Messages

Solutions: Concise but clear verification processes. Training for internal verifier required. Annotation of unit assessment with AS eg: 1.3/2.1. Assessors crediting evidence to meet more than one

assessment standard where valid. Assessors crediting valid evidence wherever locate

in the unit assessment evidence. Cross-marking and independent check by internal

verifier. ‘Marker’s meeting’

Verification Event Key Messages

N4 Added Value Assignment issues: AS: 1.3 and 1.5. Advice and support from centres. Evidence from candidates; mainly written

‘essay-style’. Assessment judgements.

Verification Event Key Messages

N4 Added Value Assignment Solutions: Track and monitor learners closely to offer them

appropriate advice and support. Remember that they are N4 pupils! Consider using digital, multi-media approaches. Ensure that there is clear evidence of the pupils

demonstrating the skills required. Annotate (please!) Be flexible; validity of evidence will be guided by

the pupil’s choice of question.

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES UPDATE

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES

Support for Higher unit assessment in your local area from Nominees after the Higher training event, 12th November.

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES

Approaches to Assessment:

A mixture of Portfolio/Combined approaches offer the best prospect for reducing workload and integrating unit assessment into learning and teaching.

Consider the aims and purposes of the respective units carefully; assess the component skills as part of the 3-18 skills framework:

Consider the assessment task and timing of assessment tasks in a one-year course.

Offer flexibility and choice; cornerstone of the CfE skills and assessment framework.

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES

Approaches to Assessment:

Use unit assessment to prepare for course assessment.

More detail on using unit assessment to prepare for course assessment from your Nominee verifier (Assessment Standards)

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES

Assessment Task:

UASP tasks not the only possible way of generating evidence to meet the assessment standards.

Scottish unit assessment: aim to evaluate and analyse sources.

No specific source length.

See UASPs for sources of appropriate length and complexity.

Suitable sources.

HIGHER KEY MESSAGES

JET:

Curb your enthusiasm!

JETs: follow the advice in the UASPs on possible responses that meet the minimum requirements for assessment standards.

Don’t adjust Columns 1-3.

Column 4 is flexible.

ANY QUESTIONS?

NEXT STEPS

Contact your local area Nominee verifier after the Higher training event, 12th November.

Seek Prior Verification (LEA or centre) if desired.

Further support:

Your local area Nominee Verifier/Team Leader

SQA Qualifications Manager: Hilary Rutherford