SQA UNIT ASSESSMENT UPDATE
SATH NOVEMBER 8TH NOV 2014
AIMS
 External Verification Update.
 N3-N5 Key Messages Update.
 Higher Key Messages Update.
EXTERNAL VERIFICATION UPDATE
EXTERNAL VERIFICATION SCHEDULE
 Revised verification schedule in response to feedback
from schools and LEAs.
 Reduction of workload; less events more training.
 First external verification event: N3-Higher in February.
 Second external verification event: N4 AVU in May.
 Accepted verification last year should mean not being
selected this year.
EXTERNAL VERIFICATION ACTIVITY
Nominee reviews AS
for appropriate unit
Nominee reviews
centre evidence,
makes provisonal
verification decision
Nominee completes
Verification
Worksheet
Nominee drafts
Verification Report
Quality assurance of
verification decision
by TL
Quality assurance of
provisonal verification
decision with 'buddy'
Nominee
TL/STL/PV quality
assures Verification
Report
Nominee and
TL/STL/PV confirm
Verification Report
STL/PV submits
Verification Report
Role of Nominee Verifiers
During verification:
 Carry out evidence-based verification of unit
assessment Approaches and Judgement, N3-Higher.
 Draft External Verification Report for return to centre
giving verification decision for each level submitted;
Accepted, Accepted* and Not Accepted.
 Collaborate with fellow Nominees/TL/STL/PV in the
quality assurance of verification decisions and Report
writing.
 Advise TL on Key Messages report at the close of
verification event.
Role of Nominee Verifiers
After verification events:
 Local area mentoring role.
 Subject Leader.
 LEAs will be facilitating Nominees sharing
their expertise.
KEY MESSAGES UPDATE
NQ QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK
 Unit assessment at all levels represent milestones between
course assessment (N3, N4, N5, Higher and AH).
 They support the coherent skills framework in Secondary (3-18).
 Aim of unit assessment is to assess the component skills of
History.
 Assessment standards relate to but are not intended as practice
course assessment.
N3-N5 KEY MESSAGES UPDATE
Verification Event Key Messages
Issues:
 Very brief internal verification information
 Fixed use of end-of-unit, written ‘tests’.
 Unreliable and inconsistent assessment
decisions.
Verification Event Key Messages
Solutions:
 Concise but clear verification processes.
 Training for internal verifier required.
 Annotation of unit assessment with AS eg: 1.3/2.1.
 Assessors crediting evidence to meet more than one
assessment standard where valid.
 Assessors crediting valid evidence wherever locate
in the unit assessment evidence.
 Cross-marking and independent check by internal
verifier.
 ‘Marker’s meeting’
Verification Event Key Messages
N4 Added Value Assignment issues:
 AS: 1.3 and 1.5.
 Advice and support from centres.
 Evidence from candidates; mainly written
‘essay-style’.
 Assessment judgements.
Verification Event Key Messages
N4 Added Value Assignment Solutions:
 Track and monitor learners closely to offer them
appropriate advice and support.
 Remember that they are N4 pupils!
 Consider using digital, multi-media approaches.
 Ensure that there is clear evidence of the pupils
demonstrating the skills required.
 Annotate (please!)
 Be flexible; validity of evidence will be guided by
the pupil’s choice of question.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES UPDATE
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
 Support for Higher unit assessment in your local area
from Nominees after the Higher training event, 12th
November.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Approaches to Assessment:
 A mixture of Portfolio/Combined approaches offer the best prospect for
reducing workload and integrating unit assessment into learning and
teaching.
 Consider the aims and purposes of the respective units carefully;
assess the component skills as part of the 3-18 skills framework:
 Consider the assessment task and timing of assessment tasks in a one-
year course.
 Offer flexibility and choice; cornerstone of the CfE skills and
assessment framework.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Approaches to Assessment:
 Use unit assessment to prepare for course assessment.
 More detail on using unit assessment to prepare for course
assessment from your Nominee verifier (Assessment
Standards)
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
Assessment Task:
 UASP tasks not the only possible way of generating evidence
to meet the assessment standards.
 Scottish unit assessment: aim to evaluate and analyse
sources.
 No specific source length.
 See UASPs for sources of appropriate length and complexity.
 Suitable sources.
HIGHER KEY MESSAGES
JET:
 Curb your enthusiasm!
 JETs: follow the advice in the UASPs on possible responses
that meet the minimum requirements for assessment
standards.
 Don’t adjust Columns 1-3.
 Column 4 is flexible.
ANY QUESTIONS?
NEXT STEPS
 Contact your local area Nominee verifier after the Higher
training event, 12th November.
 Seek Prior Verification (LEA or centre) if desired.
Further support:
 Your local area Nominee Verifier/Team Leader
 SQA Qualifications Manager: Hilary Rutherford