Assessment

What is assessment?

Assessment is the systematic process of collecting and evaluating evidence that enables your teacher to make an informed judgement about whether or not you have achieved the competencies, as stipulated in your course requirements.

During your course of study at Wodonga TAFE, you will be assessed regularly in each unit/module (or group of units/modules) you are undertaking. This is a necessary part of your course and it is your opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have acquired during your studies in that unit/module.

How will I be assessed?

As you commence each unit/module or block of units/modules, your teacher will give you a unit outline that describes the content of the unit and advises you about how and when you will be assessed. This is an important document and should be kept and referred to as you work through that unit. Units/modules may be assessed independently or in conjunction with others.

Assessment methods are varied. More than one assessment method will normally be used. Assessment methods include the following.

Written assessments

• Reports
• Assignments
• Essays
• Tests.

Portfolios

• Work samples
• Evidence of completed study
• Documentation relating to previous employment
• Workplace documents (for example, procedures, job descriptions)
• Log books or journals.

Oral assessment

• Interviews
• Presentations
• Videos/teleconferences.

Structured activities

• Projects
• Presentations
• Role-plays
• Case studies
• Fault-finding.

Observation or evaluation of practical work

• Work done as part of your work role if you are employed in a relevant field.
• Work placement which may be organised as part of your course.
• The completion of practical tasks at an Institute of TAFE under conditions that simulate what you would encounter in an actual workplace.
• Self-assessments during which you are asked to rate your own performance or reflect on your current skills and knowledge.
• Third-party assessment during which a workplace supervisor or peer is asked to assess your performance.

Assessment feedback

You will be given feedback for each assessment activity that you undertake. In many cases, individual assessment tasks will be rated using the following codes.

CA - Competency achieved indicating that the required level of competency has been demonstrated during this task.

NC - Not competent indicating that the required level of competency has not been demonstrated during this task.

What happens if my assessment task is not satisfactory?

You will always be given the opportunity to repeat assessment tasks if it is deemed that you have not demonstrated the required level of competency on the first attempt. In this situation, your teacher will provide you with feedback that will be useful in helping you to prepare for your second attempt.

Note that failure to attend a scheduled assessment task, or failure to submit assessment work by the due date without valid reason, will be considered as an assessment attempt. Although your teachers will be as flexible as possible in planning the assessment process and will take any special needs that you may have into consideration, it is your responsibility to communicate any circumstances that may affect your participation in assessment to them as soon as you can.

If you are not able to demonstrate competency on your second attempt, you may be required to re-enrol in that unit (and pay any additional fees incurred) before you can undertake further assessment.

Assessment appeals

If you feel that you have been treated unfairly during an assessment activity, or that the assessment result you have received does not accurately reflect your ability, you may appeal. Before you initiate this process, you should discuss your concerns directly with your teacher. If this is not possible, or if your concerns have not been resolved after such a discussion with your teacher, then you should take the issue to your course coordinator.

Your course coordinator will request a review of your assessment from your teacher. If this does not resolve the issue, an independent assessor will be appointed to review the assessment process and result. You will be notified in writing of the result of this review.

If you are still not satisfied with the assessment outcome, you may then raise a grievance according to the CP006 Student grievance procedure, or refer to the DP025 Institute assessment procedure.

Meeting deadlines

Some assessments are scheduled in advance to occur on a particular day (for example, practical assessments or tests). These may be scheduled to occur in a workplace or in a timetabled class or laboratory session. If you are unable to attend on that day, you must contact your teacher or course coordinator in advance of the scheduled time so that an alternative time can be set.

For extended assessments (for example, assignments or portfolios), there will be a submission date that will have been negotiated when the task was set. If you are unable to meet this deadline, you must take action before the due date.