Assessment for work-based learning focuses on the collection of evidence of what you know, understand and can do. That evidence is then judged against the elements and performance criteria in the unit standards.

All assessment involves the collection and evaluation of evidence about your practice. Evidence can be collected from a variety of sources and will depend on the requirements, the level of the unit standard and your circumstances. 

In traditional education environments, evidence has come from examinations, tests and written assignments. Assessment for work-based learning never uses examinations and tests. However, written assignments and projects are commonly used to assess cognitive thinking and analytical ability in our higher level qualifications. In all levels of our qualifications, evidence of practical skills may come from direct observation by the assessor or someone in the workplace who has the authority to attest to your ability.

Assessors are trained to work with you to identify the best sources of evidence. The Recommended Assessment Plan provides the framework for the order and timeframes in which assessment will occur for each qualification. You and your assessor will agree on groupings of unit standards, known as ‘clusters’.

Once you have completed each cluster, and if there are more unit standards to complete to gain a qualification, you and your employer will sign a Continuation Form. This form triggers the next assessment phase. We will invoice you or your  employer for the next cluster. This must be paid before further assessment can take place.

The assessor’s role is to collect enough evidence to be confident that you know or can currently do what is required by the standards being assessed. They can request more information if they feel there is insufficient evidence. This could be in the form of re-submitting assignments or follow up interviews with the learner or their work supervisors.

The ITO has a range of assessment guides and is moving to the use of workbooks that will encourage the collection of evidence to cover multiple unit standards.

The section Can trainees have their previous experience recognised? provide more information on the collection of evidence for assessment.

What happens if I don't agree with my assessment result?

Very occasionally a situation may arise when you disagree with an assessment decision. In this situation, the first step is always for you and your assessor to seek a solution before progressing to a formal review.

If you cannot agree on a final result, you can request a formal review of the assessment result with the ITO.

• On what grounds can I ask for a review?
• What is the process for review?
• What supporting documentation should be provided?
• Will the review cost me anything?

On what grounds can I ask for a review?

The ITO can only consider a review of an assessment result based on the following grounds:

• you consider the decision was not correct according to the marking schedule or
• you consider the decision was unfair or biased (on the ground of a breach of the rules of natural justice).

"Fairness" assumes that:

• you are informed of where you had not met the standard and hved been given a reasonable opportunity to re-sit or resubmit work
• the assessment decision was consistent with other assessment circumstances
• you are given appropriate reasons for the decision
• only relevant evidence was considered in making the decision
• all known evidence was considered.

"Unbiased" assumes that:

• there was no personal prejudice by the assessor making the decision on the basis of sex, race or cultural background, religion, disability, sexuality or economic status
• the assessor had no monetary reward as a result of the assessment outcome
• there was no conflict of interest in the assessment process
• the assessor had not predetermined the assessment result without considering the relevant facts and evidence
• there was no appearance of bias.

What is the process for review?

1. You should complete the Request for Review of Assessment Result Form and send it to the ITO.
2. We notify the assessor in writing that the request has been received and asks them to respond to the grounds for the review.
3. We review all the documentation and make a decision. The decision will be either:
   
   • the original assessment result stands
   • the original assessment result is changed or
   • the review is inconclusive and re-assessment is required.
4. You and the assessor are advised of the decision in writing.
5. If re-assessment is required, we will arrange for a different assessor to carry out the re-assessment at a time and place agreed to between you and the ITO.

What supporting documentation should be provided?

The Request for Review of Assessment Result Form itemises the supporting information that should be included. We need all the information to conduct a fair review.

Will the review cost me anything?

No.