INTERNAL VERIFICATION WEBINAR
9TH OCTOBER 2015
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS
Question 1
One of the roles of the Internal Verifier (IV) is to check that the Centre, '... retains assessment records
for three years’; we understand this to mean that a sample of Learner work should also be kept for
three years, as well as a record of the assessment decisions. What is CMI's definition of this 'sample'
of Learner work? Can this 'sample' be a single Unit, or does ALL Learner work need to be kept?
Response to Question 1
CMI’s ‘Retention of Records Policy’ outlines in detail the course and assessment documentation that
should be retained by Centres. This policy can be downloaded from the CMI website or obtained from
your Quality Manager.
In relation to the specific question about retaining a sample of Learner work, below is a section from
the ‘Retention of Records Policy’ that addresses this point. However, Centres should refer to the
Policy for full/complete information:
Representative samples of Learners' work
Centres are required to retain representative samples of Learners' work. There should be
samples for each qualification for which the Centre has Learners, and the samples should
ensure that each delivery method for each qualification is covered. The minimum
requirement is that there should be one complete Learner portfolio for each
qualification, and each delivery method for each academic year. The academic year is
from 1 September to 31 August. The portfolio may be a copy rather than the original, and
the Learners’ written agreement for its retention must be obtained. Such samples should be
held by the Centre for three years.
Source: CMI Retention of Records Policy
Question 2
Can a statement of authenticity be signed using e-signature?
Question 3
What happens if the Assessor and Internal Verifier (IV) are in different parts of the country - are digital
signatures acceptable?
Response to Question 2 and Question 3
Yes, the Statement of Authenticity can be signed using an e-signature, provided the Centre can
authenticate the source of the document. Centres are advised to retain evidence of the source of the
document, e.g. a copy of the Learner/ Assessor email with the document attached.
Question 4
Will we be able to use this presentation within our Centres for our team meetings for CMI delivery?
Response to Question 4
Yes absolutely, CMI would encourage the webinar being made available to all members of the
assessment team. Centres should ensure that there is evidence that the issues raised in the webinar
have been communicated to all assessment team members.
INTERNAL VERIFICATION WEBINAR 9TH OCTOBER 2015 RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS
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Question 5 (Extract only as potentially confidential information has been removed)
Can you define exactly what you mean by 'formative assessment’? Are you saying that an Assessor
should mark all assignments at least twice - once at formative draft stage and then again at
summative assessment decision stage?................ ………….How does CMI deal with formative
assessment when Centres use CMI for external assessment? Also, would you agree that too much
formative assessment can almost be seen as collusion between a Tutor/ Assessor and
candidates?.............. Thank you
Response to Question 5
Formative Feedback may be applied differently by Centres dependent on their assessment approach.
However, a Centre must have in place processes to ensure that Learners are supported through the
assessment process. This may take the form of tutorials and/or marking of draft assessments. At the
point of external moderation, CMI would like to see evidence of internal assessment decisions.
Therefore if the Assessor and/or Internal Verifier has or have internally referred an assessment, the
Learner should receive written feedback that relates specifically to the referred assessment criteria
and that feedback should be submitted/retained on the Centre’s mark sheet. It is appreciated tutors
may provide more informal guidance during tutorial sessions and this information is not required at
external moderation stage. It is the evidence of the assessment decisions that is required.
Centres should discuss with their Quality Manager their assessment practices to ensure that they
meet CMI requirements and do not lead to the risk of collusion between Learner and Assessor.
This presentation does not address in detail Registered Centre status, whereby CMI is marking
Learner work, however, Centres do still have a duty to support Learners and prevent Learner
Malpractice (plagiarism/collusion). These internal processes are outside the scope of this presentation
and should be discussed with your Quality Manager.
Question 6
Some tasks set on the CMI assignment briefs do not directly link to the assessment criteria, are these
being looked at or not?
Response to Question 6
CMI review assignment briefs as part of their product development cycle but also respond
immediately to any issues identified in relation to assignment briefs. Please therefore contact your
Quality Manager if you identify any problems in relation to assignment briefs.
Question 7
As a Centre with roll on roll off provision how will we be expected to manage the batch situation and
the form you have designed?
Response to Question 7
For all programmes, Centres will upload a batch when they wish to claim certification for Learner
achievement. CMI does not place any restrictions as to the timing or size of the claim/batch a Centre
can make. Therefore for a roll-on/roll-off programme the Centre should decide the timing and size of
(e.g. number of Learners/units in each batch) any claim they wish to make to fit the structure of their
particular programme, their Learner and business needs.
It is recommended that Centres do not wait until the end of a programme before making claims in
order that the Centre can receive timely feedback from the CMI assessment team and implement any
remedial action whilst Learners are still ‘on-programme’. As a general rule each claim/batch should
contain evidence of internal verification of that claim. It is the responsibility of the Internal Verifier to
ensure that any claim made by uploading a batch meets CMI requirements. However, in exceptional
circumstances your Quality Manager can authorise alternative evidence of internal verification to
accompany a batch/claim and this should be discussed and approved by your Quality Manager, if
required.
INTERNAL VERIFICATION WEBINAR 9TH OCTOBER 2015 RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS
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