Assessor Guide

US ID: 115759
Conduct moderation of outcomes-based assessments ID: 115759 Credits: 10 NQF Level: 5
1. This is a generic unit standard, and applies to internal and/or external moderation within all fields of learning. It is accepted
that moderation happens in different ways and at different levels in different sectors, including different models for what
constitutes internal versus external moderation. This standard is intended to cover any situation in which moderation occurs,
whether this be internally, i.e. within the ambit of the provider-assessor, or externally through cooperating providers, or
externally through professional bodies and quality assurance bodies.
2. Assessment of candidate-moderators will only be valid for award of this unit standard if the following requirements are met:
• Moderation is carried out for assessments that include candidates with special needs, and RPL situations. Where real
assessments are not available to cover these situations, the candidate is able to demonstrate how special needs and RPL
situations would be addressed within their moderation plan and process.
• Moderation covers assessment instruments, assessment design and methodology, assessment records; assessment decisions,
reporting and feedback mechanisms.
• Moderation is carried out for assessments involving a variety of assessment techniques, such as work samples, simulations,
role-plays, written items, oral, portfolios and projects.
• Moderation activities include pre-assessment interactions with assessors, interactions during assessments and postassessment
interactions.
• Moderation involves at least two sets of real assessment materials for the same standards and at least six assessor decisions.
• The assessments that are moderated are in relation to a significant, meaningful and coherent outcome statement that
includes assessment criteria and allows for judgements of competence in line with SAQA’s definition of competence i.e.
embraces foundational, practical and reflexive dimensions of competence. This means that moderation of simple, single-task
assessments will not be valid for awarding this unit standard.
3. For the purposes of assessment against this unit standard, candidate-moderators should have access to organisational
assessment and moderation policies, procedures and systems. It is assumed the organisational policies and procedures are of
a quality sufficient for accreditation purposes. Where candidate-moderators are assessed in organisations that do not have a
moderation system in place, assessors of moderators should provide a mock system for the purposes of the assessment.
4. This unit standard applies to all Moderators, regardless of whether a person carries out moderation internally, as part of an
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organisation’s quality assurance system, or externally, as part of an ETQA or other process to verify assessment results supplied
by the provider or assessment agency.
Further range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or
assessment criteria.