2. Graded Unit 1 – Practical Exercise
Iain Walker

3. Graded Unit 1 – The Purpose of Graded Units
Provide the competencies required by employers and universities
Develop and apply a range of vocational knowledge and skills in an integrated manner to the analysis of business situations
Build on previously acquired transferable skills
Adopt an innovative and creative approach to their work and be able to respond quickly to the challenges posed by changes in the business environment
Enhance quality

4. Graded Unit 1 – Scheduling Graded Unit 1
“the Graded Units completed at the end of Years 1 and 2 are based on some of the mandatory Units. The Units being assessed as part of the Graded Unit, must be delivered and assessed to ensure that sufficient learning will have taken place to enable the candidates a fair opportunity at achieving the Graded Unit at an appropriate grade.”

5. Graded Unit 1 – Scheduling Graded Unit 1
For HND Business:

6. Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball
Exercise 1

7. Graded Unit 1 – Spot the ball answer

8. The answer is to know where the ball is!
Graded Unit 1 – A markers standardisation meeting
Why do we have a meeting?
How to mark the paper
To interpret the meaning of the questions
To examine the suggested answers
To look at the grade criteria table
To identify any obstacles/problems
To decide how best to check the marking
The answer is to know where the ball is!

9. Graded Unit 1 – Spot the difference!!!!!!!
Exercise 2

10. Graded Unit 1 - Spot the difference!!!!!!!
We assess what is good and what is less good
We benchmark against standards
We place candidate responses in rank order
We mark all candidate responses and assess the candidates total result as an A, B or C or not achieved.
In effect we are spotting the difference between many responses

11. Graded Unit 1 – Case Study and Questions
Exercise 3
Study the case Stagecoach Plc case study for approximately 5 minutes
Individually mark each of the three responses for question 1. You should award 1 mark at a time
Total you marks for each response
For each response write one sentence to explain/justify why you have awarded the number of marks awarded.
At your table discuss your marks and reasons for the marks with your colleagues, and prepare to feedback.
Approximate total time 15 minutes

12. Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 1

13. Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 2

14. Graded Unit 1 – Question 1 – Answer 3

15. Graded Unit 1 – Case Study and Questions
Repeat the exercise for question 2
Approximately 10 minutes
Remember to discuss your findings and be prepared to feedback

16. Graded Unit 1 – Question 2 – Answer 1

17. Graded Unit 1 – Question 2 – Answer 2

18. Graded Unit 1 – Marking Guidelines
Hold a standardisation meeting and discuss the paper and suggested solutions and record decisions
Mark one question at a time
Allocate single marks clearly showing where they are gained
Differentiate between basic content and development marks
Cross marking and checking
Check marks close to grade boundaries
Look at the grading table in the Unit specification and reflect on the candidate responses
Hold another standardisation meeting and agree marks and record the rationale for decisions

19. ‘How to deliver Business Graded Unit 1’
Janet Strain SIM
‘How to deliver Business Graded Unit 1’

20. Integration of Delivery
Janet Strain

21. Integration of learning and teaching and assessment
Several topics in the HND framework appear in more than one unit
Integration of learning and teaching can be good for learners

22. Levels of Integration Light touch Part Full
Reference to topics in different units
Part
Teachers analyse Unit Specifications for relevant topics and create Unit teaching plans only delivering the topic once
Full
Enhancement from part integration, where assessments are then integrated

23. Integration Identified at planning of delivery
Requires the mapping of knowledge and skills and evidence across Units
Ensures all knowledge and skills are met
Most suited to units which are being delivered in same semester
May require timetable amendments

24. Integration
Easiest to manage when the same tutor is delivering both units
Where different tutors are involved then it requires co-operation between tutors
Where different tutors are involved requires regular monitoring

25. Integration
Will require recording on internal verification and standardisation documentation
Consultation with Course Leader

26. Sources of information to identify overlapping content
Unit Specification
Assessment Support Packs
Course Tutor Guide

27. Possible integration involving Communication: Business Communication)
HND Business
Example of Integration – Year 1
Possible integration involving Communication: Business Communication)
Unit Title
Unit Title
This Unit requires a written
report:
Communication: Business Communication
Outcome 3
Units requiring a written report: Business Accounting Outcomes 4 and 5 Managing People and Organisations Outcome 4 Marketing: An Introduction Outcomes 1 and 2 Customer Care Economics Issues Outcome 3
(check suggested word count in both Unit Specifications)

28. Example of Integration – Year 2
HND Business
Example of Integration – Year 2
Possible integration involving Graded Unit 2, ICT in Business, Presentation Skills and Research Skills
Where students plan a project:-
Information and Communication Technology in Business
Outcome 4
Where students prepare a presentation:-
Information and Communication Technology in Business
Outcome 5
Where students require to demonstrate Research Skills
Research Skills – all outcomes
Both units are delivered over the whole of year 2
Where students plan a project:-
Graded Unit 2 – Project
Stage 1 Planning
Where students prepare a presentation :-
Economics 2: The World Economy
Outcomes 1, 2 & 3
Presentation Skills
Outcomes 2 and 3
Where students require to demonstrate Research Skills
Graded Unit 2 - Project
Unit Title
Unit Title

29. Integration of Assessment
With students studying up to 8 units in a semester, there can be a burden of assessment for both tutors and students The number of assessment events can be reduced by integration of assessment across units

30. Integration of Assessment
The level of integration cannot be such that it makes the assessment task more difficult.
Point 1 = You need to ensure that integration of assessment does not create higher levels of demand on candidates than would be required for a Unit or Outcome if integration did not occur.
Point 2 = For example, an external exam or Graded Unit may assess a candidate’s ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from across a number of subject Units. If subject Units are being used to assess the attribution of this skill, then this skill must be an assessed part of one of the Units, eg you could not formally assess project skills in an integrated assessment unless one of the Units specifically required project skills to be assessed.

31. Managing Integration - Student
Students should be advised when integration is taking place
Students should be advised of the Units the integration applies to
Students should be advised of the implications of integration

32. Beware!
Do not assume that existing assessments can be used as they stand
Integration of assessment may require your Centre to write appropriate instruments of assessment and have them prior verified
Assessments should cover all evidence requirements

33. Any questions?

34. Qualifications Manager Humanities, Arts and Business
Sharon McDowall
Qualifications Manager
Humanities, Arts and Business

35. Preparing for Success: SQA Update
New and revised Units
Communication
- Communication: Business Communication H7TK34
Financial Services
Investment H9AM 35
Principles of Insurance H9ND 35
Pension Provision H9NC 35

36. Preparing for Success: SQA Update
Accounting (Units with Accounting content)
Recording Financial Transactions F847 33
Business Accounting F84M 34
Cost Accounting F7JR 34
Graded Unit 1for Business frameworks: Business, Business with Accounting, Business with HRM, Business with IT, Business with Marketing and GTB

37. Preparing for Success: SQA Update
New CASPs and ASPs
34 new CASPs solely for Chinese market
- replace existing AEs/ASPs
new CASPs - Units with Accounting content
including Recording Financial Information F7JV 34
7 new/additional ASPs for Financial Services

38. Preparing for Success: SQA Update
Course Tutor Guides - Updated:
2 additional Units
New and revised Units
Delivery schedules – recommended
Assessment plans
Opportunities for integration
Error Tolerance Guidance

39. Preparing for Success: SQA Update
Other useful sources
SQA Coordinator
China website
Subject Implementation Managers
China Country Manager
External Verifiers

40. If you utilise all of these resources….

41. Internal Verification
Janet Strain

42. Internal Verification
Internal Verification: A Guide for Centres offering SQA Qualifications

43. What do you know already about Internal Verification?
Quiz
What do you know already about
Internal Verification?

44. Duties of an Internal Verifier
In your groups, decide whether the following statements are true or false: 1 An Internal Verifier is appointed because he/she is a subject specialist 2 The Internal Verifier assesses the work of candidates 3 The Internal Verifier does not meet candidates

45. 4 The Internal Verifier can change the assessor’s assessment decisions 5 The Internal Verifier is responsible for carrying out internal standardisation 6 The Internal Verifier has a responsibility to report on resources 7 The Internal Verifier is required to sample evidence covering all assessors, all sites and all class groups

46. 8 The Internal Verifier is responsible for checking the reliability, validity and practicability of an assessment 9 The Internal Verifier is not required to meet the External Verifier during EV visits 10 The Internal Verifier should create a sampling plan when completing Internal Verification

47. The Process Internal verification aims to ensure that:
All assessments are valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair
Assessors apply the standards of assessment uniformly and consistently
National standards have been correctly identified and applied

48. Internal verification involves:
Pre delivery, during delivery and post delivery checks
Good internal verification includes discussion and the recording of discussion and decisions
Internal verifier must have subject knowledge

49. During and After Delivery Decisions
Sample outcomes to ensure standardisation
Discuss discrepancies with assessors
Agree actions

50. Professional Judgement
Professional judgement of candidate evidence is based on
The evidence requirements in the Unit Specification
The assessment conditions in the Unit Specification
Valid, reliable and practicable assessment instrument
Subject specialist knowledge

51. Professional Judgement
Understanding standards
Command words commonly found in assessment instruments

52. Cross Marking and Internal Verification
Cross marking is an internal verification strategy
Teachers swap students scripts that have already been marked
Remarks and discussions should be recorded on IV documentation

53. Activity
For this activity, we are assuming that the complete assessment instrument is valid, reliable, practicable, equitable and fair

54. Cross Marking and Professional Judgement
Have the evidence requirements been met?

55. Activity Extract from Unit Specification
You will be provided with the following information:
Extract from Unit Specification
Extract from Assessment Support Pack
3 candidate responses to the question

56. Have the evidence requirements been met?

57. Workshops available for your Centre via SIM support

58. Any questions?

59. Q & A Session

60. Neil MacGowan
Head of Operations and Corporate Social Responsibility