Assessment policy HNC and HND

Assessment Policy Higher National Certificate/Diploma 2015 1

Introduction The Higher National course is a vocational qualification and is designed to prepare you for working life or to further enhance your present work. To achieve this, the course is designed with an emphasis on learning not teaching. The role of the staff if to provide you with the information required for you to be able to demonstrate understanding. The assignments you will complete are designed to provide you with opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge you have learned and devise appropriate solutions to business-related problems. For this reason, the course is student-centred with an emphasis on experiential learning, i.e. learning by doing.

A lot of emphasis is placed on skills development. Through this course you will develop skills such as numeracy, self-management, communication, team working, ICT and problem solving, amongst others. This transferable skills development will enable you to adjust and cope as life changes and will enhance your chances of long-term success, especially in the job market.

Assessment of Subject Content A wide range of assessment methods is used on the course. These can include peer assessment, oral presentations, practical exercises, role play, and written assignments. Some may be time constrained and held under exam conditions.

When it comes to marking your work, a tutor has to assess whether you have met the stated outcomes or not. The outcome(s) being assessed and feedback are provided via a Front Cover, Feedback Sheet and Assignment Brief which are attached to each assignment. These documents must be returned with your completed work. Also, to help tutors to make comments on the actual work, it is a requirement that you provide a 2�/5 cms right-hand margin using Arial font, set at 12 points. All work must be word processed unless there are genuine mitigating circumstances.

Assessment Policy The grades awarded on the Higher National course are Pass, Merit, Distinction, Refer or Fail.

A Refer means that you have not met the criteria for a Pass and must redo all the work, or aspects of it, to bring it up to standard. You will only be given one chance to redo a Referred piece so you should always seek the advice of the tutor on how to improve the work. Re-marked work can only achieve a Pass grade. If the criteria are still not met, then you will Fail the assignment. Failure of any assignment means that you have failed the unit. Assessment is based on criteria provided by BTEC, which equates to the Pass grade. BTEC also provide descriptors for Merit and Distinction grades, which are shown below:

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Pass

Merit

Distinction

In order to achieve a Pass the learner must:

In order to achieve a Merit the learner must:

In order to achieve a Distinction the learner must:

M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions

D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions



Meet all the requirements defined in the pass assessment criteria for each unit

M2 Select, design and apply appropriate D2 Take responsibility methods/technique for managing and s organising activities M3 Present and communicate D3 Demonstrate appropriate convergent, lateral findings and creative thinking

NB: The Indicative Characteristics what a student has to demonstrate to achieve a descriptor) are provided in appendix 1.

It should be noted that some outcomes may not allow the use of all the descriptors, therefore tutors will select and identify the appropriate ones. There will only be one Distinction opportunity per unit. In order to obtain an overall Merit or Distinction in a unit, all three areas in the descriptors (see table above) have to be met at Merit or Distinction level, otherwise the lowest grade achieved will form the overall grade for a unit. This means that you could gain two Distinction or Merit descriptors and one Pass grade for the unit, but your end grade will only be a Pass. Flowcharts showing how unit grades and final grades are awarded are shown on pages 5 and 6.

Should you fail to submit an assignment by its due date you will automatically be given a Refer grade, if you have not arranged an extension in advance with your tutor. Extensions will only be given in exceptional circumstances, e.g., illness – in which case a sick note may be required, bereavement, work/family problems. Extensions have to be agreed at least one week before the due date of the assignment, otherwise the tutor can refuse a request. A record of extensions agreed is kept in order to ensure that individuals do not try to abuse the extension system. Extension forms are available in the HE common room on Its learning.

Late work can only achieve a Pass grade. However, should late work be a Refer you will still get one chance to meet the required standard.

Non-submission of work altogether will result in a Fail grade. A Fail grade in any piece of work on any unit means you fail the unit(s) and therefore cannot achieve the full award. The alternative is to Re-sit the unit at a later date.

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Should you wish to appeal against a grade awarded on an assignment, you should first record this on the Feedback Sheet in the space provided for this purpose and return it to the tutor concerned outlining the reasons for the appeal. The tutor will review the matter and give you written or verbal feedback. Should you still be dissatisfied with the feedback you can then refer the matter to the programme manager, stating your reasons in writing, and s/he will review the appeal. You will receive a response within fifteen working days.

How Many Assignments Will You Be Expected To Do? Assessment in each unit will take place throughout the programme. The number of outcomes you have to complete is designated by BTEC. The number is different for each unit, but there will be a minimum of one and a maximum of three in each unit. Some assignments will be classbased and/or time constrained. For any time-constrained assignment, your tutor will advise you of any additional resources you will need to complete the assignment. Some class-based assignments will take the form of case studies, which you will be given a copy of at least two weeks in advance.

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Assessment Flowchart

Merit and Distinction grades have three descriptors each. Circle each individual descriptor achieved.

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Final Unit Grade Flowchart

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Appendix 1 Merit grade Merit grade descriptors

Exemplar indicative characteristics Centres can identify and use other relevant characteristics. This is NOT a tick list.

In order to achieve a merit the learner must: 

identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions

The learner’s evidence shows, for example:



effective judgements have been made



complex problems with more than one variable have been explored



an effective approach to study and research has been applied



select/design and apply appropriate methods/techniques



relevant theories and techniques have been applied



a range of methods and techniques have been applied



a range of sources of information has been used the selection of methods and techniques/sources has been justified



the design of methods/techniques has been justified



complex information/data has been synthesised and processed



appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied



present and communicate appropriate findings



the appropriate structure and approach has been used



coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience



a range of methods of presentation have been used and technical language has been accurately used



communication has taken place in familiar and unfamiliar contexts



the communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media have been used.

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Distinction grade Distinction grade descriptors

Exemplar indicative characteristics Centres can identify and use other relevant characteristics. This is NOT a tick list.

In order to achieve a distinction the learner must: 

use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions

The learner’s evidence shows, for example:



conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified



the validity of results has been evaluated using defined criteria



self-criticism of approach has taken place



realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for success



take responsibility for managing and organising activities



autonomy/independence has been demonstrated



substantial activities, projects or investigations have been planned, managed and organised



activities have been managed



the unforeseen has been accommodated



the importance of interdependence has been recognised and achieved



demonstrate convergent/lateral/ creative thinking



ideas have been generated and decisions taken



self-evaluation has taken place



convergent and lateral thinking have been applied



problems have been solved



innovation and creative thought have been applied



receptiveness to new ideas is evident



effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar contexts.

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