• Section 1 - Purpose / Objectives
• Section 2 - Scope / Application
• Section 3 - Definitions
• Section 4 - Policy Statement
• Section 5 - Procedures
• Part A - Roles and Responsibilities
• Part B - Overview
• Part C - Validation of Assessment
• Validation Approach
• Requirements for Validation
• Part D - Moderation of Assessment
• Moderation process
• Part E - Benchmarking
• Section 6 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose / Objectives

(1) The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that assessment quality assurance processes provide clear guidance for the formal review of assessment design and practice in Higher Education course-work courses.

Section 2 - Scope / Application

(2) This procedure applies to courses offered within all Higher Education coursework courses. It does not apply to the research component of higher degree by research courses, VET/TAFE courses, or non-award courses.

Section 3 - Definitions

(3) Assessment: Victoria University defines assessment as the methods and procedures by which a student's academic progress and standard, at a given time, are measured. Within this single definition, the University recognises three broad types of assessment:

1. diagnostic — assessment that identifies the level of competency/performance/ knowledge before commencing learning in a course/ program/ learning experience but does not contribute to the student's final grade;
2. formative — assessment that provides feedback to the student during the learning experience;
3. summative — assessment that is focussed on the outcomes of the learning experience.

(4) Course: The overall program of study in which the student is enrolled - referred to by the name of the expected terminal qualification arising from it (eg Bachelor of Business course, Graduate Diploma of Marketing course).

(5) Moderation: A process of peer review to reach consensus on expected standards for student outcomes at different grade levels, relative to the level of the course or unit.

(6) Modified Assessment: An adjustment or alteration to the standard conditions or format of assessment following the development of an Access Plan. It can apply to any formal assessment task or examination. Modifications can include the time allowed to complete the assessment; the conditions under which the assessment is completed; or any aids or assistance required by the student.

(7) Unit: An individual subject within a course.

(8) Validation: Validation is a process of peer review, which occurs prior to the setting of assessment tools. It is used to check that assessment is aligned with and reflects unit learning outcomes, and that the format, content and criteria for assessment are set at an appropriate level.

Section 4 - Policy Statement

(9) See Assessment for Learning Policy.

Section 5 - Procedures

Part A - Roles and Responsibilities

Part B - Overview

(10) Assessment quality assurance is a process that occurs in addition to the day-to-day continuous improvement activities expected in unit and course design and delivery. This includes:

1. the validation of assessment tools and processes prior to use;
2. moderation of assessment outcomes, for appropriate and consistent marking of student work, and;
3. periodic benchmarking of assessment to ensure calibration of standards at discipline, national and international level.

Part C - Validation of Assessment

Validation Approach

(11) Validation of assessment is an ongoing process that must be integrated into the course and assessment design, delivery and review of the overall assessment strategy and activities.

(12) Validation activities typically involve a review of the assessment or examination paper and marking scheme or rubric prior to distribution to students. The process will be documented and analysed to facilitate future improvement to assessment.

(13) Validation involves checking that the assessment tool is likely to produce valid, reliable, efficient, fair and authentic evidence for assessment.

Requirements for Validation

(14) The validation of assessment tools is generally undertaken by the Unit Convenor as part of the unit development and review process and/or prior to first delivery of an assessment item.

(15) Validation of examination papers must additionally occur for examinations at the time of each delivery of the examination and be documented via Form AV1 - Assessment Validation.

(16) In the case of examination validation, the Unit Convenor should provide the completed form to the Course Chair.

(17) The Unit Convenor should store a digital copy of validation forms with unit files. Validation documents will be required for accreditation and review purposes.

(18) For partner course delivery only: Form AV1 - Assessment Validation must be attached to the Claim for Payment form.

Part D - Moderation of Assessment

(19) Moderation is a process whereby academic staff responsible for assessment in a course or unit reach consensus about levels of student performance in relation to a set of agreed standards. Moderation enables judgments made by different staff involved in assessing student performance to be compared and either confirmed or adjusted.

(20) Where multiple staff teach a single unit, the Unit Convenor will moderate for appropriate and consistent marking of assessment items.

(21) Where the Unit Convenor is the only assessor, the Course Chair will ensure that moderation occurs through the peer review of assessment by another staff member.

(22) All VU course assessment tasks marked by teaching staff in partner institutions will be co-moderated by VU teaching staff.

(23) Colleges may adopt a process whereby a group of staff jointly moderate assessments for several units.

(24) The Course Chair will annually carry out a cross-course moderation process, or oversee such a process, to ensure that assessment across the course is appropriate and consistent.

Moderation process

(25) Moderation activities typically involve the Unit Convenor undertaking a review of a sample of assessed work after final unit assessment, as provided by each of the unit teaching staff. Where the unit is delivered in more than one location or mode of delivery, samples from each of these must be represented.

(26) Moderation of assessment items should occur promptly following final assessment, and should not significantly delay the provision of results or feedback to students.

(27) Moderation must cover assessment tasks that make up at least 60% of the total unit marks. Tasks such as standardised multiple-choice tests do not require moderation. Where tasks such as presentations preclude post-task moderation, panel assessment and other peer review processes are encouraged.

(28) At least one sample of assessed work at each grade level must be moderated. For class sizes of 30 or above, three samples at each grade level are preferred.

(29) Marks or grades must not be altered as a result of independent assessment of only a sample of assessment items.

(30) Where significant discrepancies in grading between original and moderation are found, the Course Chair will put in place a third review. A re-marking process may also be instigated where appropriate.

(31) The Unit Convenor will confirm that moderation has been undertaken by ensuring completion of Form AM1 — Peer Moderation of Assessment.

(32) The Unit Convenor should store a digital copy of the Peer Moderation of Assessment Form with unit files, including samples of student work and related assessment items wherever possible. These documents may be required for accreditation and course review purposes.

(33) The Unit Convenor should provide a copy of the completed form to the Course Chair.

(34) For partner course delivery only: Form AM1 — Peer Moderation of Assessment must be attached to the Claim for Payment form. All assessment tasks marked by partner teaching staff must be co-moderated by VU teaching staff. The responsibility for marking of examinations is specified in the relevant partnership schedule.

Part E - Benchmarking

(35) College Deans, in conjunction with Course Chair (or equivalent) will ensure assessment standards in all courses are periodically benchmarked against similar courses in other universities and/or with relevant stakeholders (for example, industry partners or employers). This process may replicate the validation and moderation processes, or take the form of a broader review of unit and course activities and outcomes.

Section 6 - Guidelines

(36) Form AM1 — Peer Moderation of Assessment

(37) Form AV1 — Assessment Validation

(38) Unit of Study Guide template