History CPD Presentation

The Verification Process and Making Assessment Decisions

Learning Objectives By the end of this session you should be able to:  Understand the process of making assessment decisions.  Explain the evidence requirements for Verification in History to your centre and local teaching network.  Explain the key SQA documentation in History to your centre and local area.  Explain the decision making process for Verification in History to your centre and local teaching network.

Aims  Outline the Verification Process  Exemplify Assessment Decisions  Summarise Reporting Procedures

The Verification Process  The role of the Verification Team (Nominees, Team Leaders, Senior Team Leaders and Principal Verifiers) is to confirm centres’ assessment decisions. It is hoped that national standards have been applied and the appropriate materials relating to the verification system have been submitted. See “Evidence required for external verification of Units (including AVUs) at verification events”.

Exemplar Materials  Internal Verification policy document  A department/faculty document  A department/faculty checklist

Verification Decisions  Advice is given to verification teams to support decision making and to standardise feedback to centres.  See “Verification Decisions”.

The Verification Sample  Each centre will submit evidence for verification for a sample of 12 candidates. This should comprise four candidates per level at three different levels (National 3, National 4 and National 5).  The centre can choose which Unit (or Units, in the case of a combined approach to assessment) to select for each level. It must choose the same Unit for all candidates at any one level, but it can choose different Units for different levels.  It must include the Added Value Unit at National 4 if there is sufficient assessed candidate evidence for that Unit. For further details please visit:

The Verification Sample  Centres should select Units and levels where it has sufficient candidates (i.e. four). Where centres do not have sufficient candidates, it must increase the sample size from a different level, preferably National 4, to ensure the total sample is still 12.  Centres should select different Units for their sample than those submitted at the centre’s last verification. If centres cannot comply with this request, the matter should be referred to the NQ Verification Team, who will arrange for a different sample to be submitted.  The sample should include assessed candidate evidence that exemplifies a range of candidate performance and assessment judgements.

Verification Evidence  Sample forms  Internal verification details  Outline/explanation of how the evidence was judged  Unit assessment task (but not if using SQA UASP)  Role of the Internal Verifier  Candidate Assessment Record

Verification Advice  Use of annotated marking  Some problems of assigning marks  Offer opportunities for “personalisation and choice”  “Evidence trail” - sign and date where possible  Use a local network for internal verification if one exists

Possible Verification Decisions Accepted This means that:  The approaches to assessment for all candidates are in line with national standards  The assessment judgements for all candidates are in line with the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.

Possible Verification Decisions Accepted * This means that: overall the approach to assessment and assessment judgements are in line with national standards (i.e. certification can proceed) but there are some recommended actions that relate to the approaches to assessment and/or the assessment judgements.

Possible Verification Decisions Not Accepted which means that there is an issue with: The approach to assessment and/or the assessment judgements and that this warrants a hold being placed on certification until the issue is addressed and resolved.