Assessment materials are used for the theoretical element of a qualification. STA must ensure the assessment process is robust, valid and assessing a learner’s knowledge. They are designed to test a learner’s knowledge, understanding and application, they require the learner to read the question and use their cognitive thinking skills to work out the correct answer.
When developing the assessment questions STA must ensure they are assessing learners to the required standard for the level of qualification. For example, a level 2 qualification is equivalent to a GCSE level qualification and a level 3 is equivalent to an A level qualification. The style and options within the MCQ assessment papers will reflect this levelling, not the number of hours within the course.
MCQ assessment materials include:
- Learner Answer Sheet – this is the sheet the learner will mark their answers on.
- Learner Assessment Paper – this contains the assessment questions.
- Tutor Marking Scheme – this provides the answers to the assessment questions allowing the tutor and second marker to mark the assessment.
Why do they need to be kept confidential?
Confidentiality is paramount to ensure the assessment process is robust, valid, transparent, and fair for all learners completing the assessment regardless of where the assessment takes place. Confidentiality ensures the assessment reflects an accurate measure of attainment for all learners in their chosen qualification.
Why are these rules in place?
As STAs qualifications are regulated we have a regulatory/legal obligation to ensure all Approved Training Centres (ATCs) maintain confidentiality in assessment materials and put appropriate measures in place to prevent anything impacting the validity and/or reliability of an assessment before awarding a regulated qualification.
What will happen if rules aren’t followed
If STA procedures are not followed and confidentiality of assessment materials are not maintained, STA will void the assessment as it will not be a valid assessment and sanctions will be applied to the ATC and/or tutor in line with the Safety Training Awards Sanctions policy.
STA have a regulatory obligation to investigate any breaches in confidentiality of assessment materials to see what went wrong and how severe the breach was and what impact this may have on the learners assessment outcome.
As soon as STA become aware of a breach of confidentiality of assessment materials we have a regulatory obligation to notify the regulatory authority, detailing what action has or will be taken and they will conduct their own investigation on the validity of the qualification. As part of this process STA are also obliged to notify all other Awarding Organisations of the breach as the ATC / Tutor may also be approved to deliver their regulated qualifications.
Process on Printing Confidential Assessment Material
Print Learner Assessments
- Log into STA Online.
- If you are the ATC Administrator: Navigate to the course record via Manage Courses and click the Resources option from the Actions drop down menu.
- If you are the Tutor: Click the Course Resource Vault option and select the appropriate course from the list shown.
- Click the Print Learner Assessment button. This will generate the Learner Answer Sheet and Assessment Paper for the course.
- Print off the required number of papers.
- Close the document.
Print Marking Scheme
- Now click the Print Marking Scheme button. This will generate the Tutor Marking Scheme for the course.
- Print off one copy.
- Place Tutor Marking Scheme into a sealed envelope.
- Close the document.
Securing and Storing Assessment Material
- Now place all Learner Assessments, along with the sealed envelope containing the Marking Scheme into a further sealed envelope.
- Mark the envelope with the course reference and date of assessment.
- Store the sealed envelope in a secure place where access is limited to ATC staff only.
During the Assessment
- The assessment envelope must not be opened until the assessment is ready to begin and must be done in front of the learners.
- Under no circumstances should assessment papers be issued to learners to complete at home / in their own time or assessment papers permitted to leave the assessment room.
- If there is a problem with the assessment papers, STA must be contacted immediately for advice and guidance.
Following Completion of the Assessment
- On completion of the assessment, all Learner Assessment Papers must be securely destroyed or returned to STA.
- ATCs, tutors, assessors or learners must not retain any confidential assessment materials.
- ATCs must keep the Learner Answer Papers and Tutor Marking Scheme for quality assurance activities.
- To support ATCs and tutors with the procedures please see the qualification assessment strategies and STA Multiple-Choice Question Assessment Paper Guidance document which are available on STA Online as well as the MCQ assessment training video available here.
