2. Matthew McCullagh
Linking the Principles of Assessment to the QA Criteria

3. Common non-compliant Criteria
Criterion 4.6
- Evidence of candidates’ work must be accurately and consistently judged by assessors against SQA’s requirements.
Criterion 4.3
- Assessment instruments and methods and their selection and use must be valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair.

4. SQA Principles of Assessment
Valid
An assessment is valid when it:
is appropriate for its purpose
has been designed to allow candidates to show that they have the required knowledge, understanding and skills to meet the standards of the qualification
allows all assessors to make reliable assessment decisions
A valid assessment should closely match the content of the Unit Specification and actually measure what the Unit Specification states it is intended to measure.

5. SQA Principles of Assessment
Reliable
Assessment is reliable when assessment decisions are consistent across all assessors for all candidates undertaking the same assessment task.
Reliability is achieved by:
Using valid assessments
Being clear about the evidence required to meet the standards of the qualification
Using consistent conditions of assessment
standardisation exercises by assessors
Ensuring that candidates assessment evidence is their own

6. SQA Principles of Assessment
Practicable
Assessments are practicable when they make good use of resources and are carried out efficiently and effectively.
Equitable and Fair
Assessment is equitable when it gives equal and fair opportunity to all candidates who have the potential to be successful in it.