Overview of Assessment Validation

Validation is an important process that forms part of an assessment quality assurance system. Assessment validation processes are a very supportive mechanism for confirming professional judgement, and they provide the opportunity for professional exchange as well as continuous improvement.

More specifically, standard 9.2 of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) states that an RTO must validate its assessment strategies at least annually. To comply with this standard, RTOs must also 'document any action taken to improve the quality and consistency of assessment'.

Assessment validation is when assessors meet to compare and evaluate assessment methods, assessment procedures and assessment decisions. The goal of assessment validation is to ensure that assessment is valid, reliable and fair; and that decisions about competence are made on the basis of sufficient and appropriate evidence.

The aim of assessment validation is to:

• monitor and compare assessment processes and assessment decisions
• examine and compare examples of evidence submitted for assessment
• compare and evaluate assessment methods and tools
• develop assessment exemplars (model examples)

Examples of assessment validation strategies include:

• meetings, where groups of assessors have the opportunity to compare and discuss their assessment processes
• the use of external assessment panels or teams of assessors
• benchmarking exercises with other organisations to compare assessment processes, and practices
• the use of common assessment tasks by a number of assessors

It is suggested that assessors aim to meet at least twice during the cycle of the course delivery and assessment. This may be once early in the year to discuss assessment tasks, tools and evidence guides, and once later in the year after assessments have been conducted, to look at performances and assessment judgements.

Validation before assessment concentrates on:

• the design of the assessment activities
• the evidence guides and assessment tools
• the benchmarks against which learner performance is to be assessed

Validation during assessment looks at the actual assessment as it's being undertaken by a learner, as well as the assessor's performance during the assessment.

Validation after assessment has a focus on:

• the assessment task and the assessment process
• the candidate's performance
• the assessment decision that has been made
• reporting and record keeping procedures

Reference: ANTA (2005) Training and Assessment Toolbox Series 6

Click Here to find e-games