Moderation

The purpose of moderation is to ensure that:

• Assessments are consistent with the national standard.
• Assessment methods are appropriate, fair, manageable and integrated with work or learning.
• Assessment methods and processes are systematic, open and consistent.

Successful moderation ensures that assessment decisions made by assessors are consistent.

It provides an opportunity for assessors to check that their decisions are in line with those of other assessors nationwide. It also provides an opportunity to: give and receive information that encourages new ideas; learn about different approaches to assessment; and work through issues about standards and assessment processes.

Good Practice Assessment 

It is important that assessors keep a copy of one in every 10 assessments for each unit standard that you assess.  Careerforce will specify a range of unit standards for moderation purposes in each given year. This list of unit standards is published in the five-year moderation plan.

The following procedures and recommendations will assist assessors to identify processes that promote good practice assessment and moderation.

• Marking, feedback and comments made on assessments should be clear and easy for the trainee to interpret.
• Feedback is an effective way both to motivate and to encourage trainees.
• Feedback should also be given where work requires re-submission, and should clearly outline the assessor’s expectations.
• Use a separate sheet to document trainee's questions additional to those on the worksheets; and record verbal answers, telephone or e-mail responses, including instances where trainees have sought clarification as to the exact nature of assessment requirements.
• Develop and implement a clearly defined and documented method to indicate material that has been resubmitted to the assessor by the trainee. (Documentation should include dates of original assessments; dates of when material has been resubmitted; dates of when it was re-assessed; and the outcome(s). This documentation should be signed and dated by the assessor.)
• All assessments should clearly identify the assessment result – the use of a front cover sheet is an effective way of recording results.
• Where checklists, consent forms or verification documents are included as part of an assessment, assessors need to ensure that all documentation is completed, signed and dated as evidence by the relevant person in the organisation.
• Avoid sending original copies for moderation wherever possible in case of loss; but do ensure that photocopies are easily readable.

Where you identify any problem areas with unit standard interpretation or inappropriate assessment methods in Careerforce produced assessment schedules, we ask that you complete the Unit Standard and Qualification Review Form at the end of this page.

Careerforce Moderation in 2010

Good Assessment Workshops will provide an opportunity for assessors to take part in peer moderation. These workshops will also enable assessors to network and support others by sharing good practice, and provide a forum where any difficulties that they are experiencing can be addressed.

The workshops will be regionally based, allowing assessors to moderate alongside their peers who work in the same geographical area. As the number of assessors increases, these workshops may be divided into smaller sessions so that new assessors can be included.

All active assessors will be required to participate in a moderation event (workshop or forum) each year. Postal moderation, where required, will continue to be spread across the year.

Careerforce 2010 Moderation Timetable

Click here to download the 2010 Moderation Timetable

The 2010 Moderation Timetable outlines the dates and locations of moderation meetings throughout the country.

All accredited education providers assessing against unit standards for which Careerforce is the standard setting body are required to participate in National External Moderation.

For further information or to register interest in attending please contact moderation@careerforce.org.nz

Careerforce Moderation Handbook

The Careerforce Moderation Handbook is a reference document for accredited education providers and Careerforce registered workplace assessors who assess against unit standards for which Careerforce is the standard setting body (SSB). The Handbook explains the requirements for, and the process of, moderation of all accredited education providers and Careerforce registered workplace assessors.

Download the Moderation Handbook

Careerforce Five-year Moderation Plan 2010-2014

The Careerforce Five-year Moderation Plan 2010-2014 sets out – by qualification – the constituent unit standards which Careerforce intends to moderate each year within the five-year period 2010-2014.

In addition to this five-year moderation plan, Careerforce may select further unit standards for moderation in any one year, in response to:

• the volume of credits being registered on to the NQF; and/or
• any exposure to risk associated with a particular unit standard.
  

	Download the Moderation Five Year Plan

Careerforce Unit Standard and Qualifications Review

We welcome feedback on unit standards. If a unit standard is causing you concern or you wish to make suggestions please complete the attached form and return to moderation@careerforce.org.nz