1. HN Accounting Network
Kim Tree
Writing an Alternative Assessment

2. Assessing Candidates
Much of your work involves making assessment decisions about candidate skills
This is based on measuring against qualification requirements
The SQA provides at least one assessment instrument per outcome for core units
This means that our ongoing work will require us to prepare alternative assessment instruments for resit purposes
This appears to be a huge task
The aim of this session is to show you that it is not a huge task!

3. Assessment Instruments
These are designed to enable candidates to present evidence that they have met the requirements of the unit specification, in a given range of topics and within a given error tolerance threshold
Any reassessment instrument must meet the same requirements but may not be assessing candidates in the same way
Assessment conditions as per the unit specification must be adhered to at all times, as must the error tolerance thresholds

4. How do I start? The starting point is the unit specification (US)
In your packs you have two Unit specifications – in the workshops you will be looking at Outcome 1 of either of these
Please take a moment to read Outcome 1 carefully – choose the unit you prefer to work on
Any comments?

5. How do I write a reassessment?
Keep the US to hand
Write down the exact details of the Evidence Requirements section
This details exactly what evidence must be collected and gives you an idea of how you might gather it
Look at your teaching materials
Have you prepared your candidates?
It’s likely you have prepared ‘similar’ practice or formative assessments
Your reassessment must not be the same or very similar to the original

6. What should I include? Keep the US to hand
Break the tasks down into individual parts and make sure that you have covered all of the requirements of the US
Check that the task is realistic, that the language you have used is clear and the task instructions are not open to misinterpretation
The solution must be unambiguous also
Ask your IV to review it
The US is the measure of your candidates
Does your AI allow candidates performance to be measured against the US?

7. Your mission: Go to one of the workshops
Write an alternative assessment for an Outcome

8. What can I do to ensure its OK?
The assessment instrument and its solutions with marking guidance if it is required should be reviewed by your IV before it is used to assess candidates
We recommend that the AI is submitted for prior verification to ensure that it meets the US requirements

9. HN Accounting Network
Any questions?