Regulating post-16 VTQs at L2 and L3

Synoptic assessment

To support progression to employment or level 3 we think it is important students have the opportunity to demonstrate their overall understanding of the course of study and to produce developed responses where they can demonstrate extended reasoning, across all assessments. Given the purpose of these qualifications, we also think it is important that there are opportunities for students to demonstrate and apply their overall knowledge, understanding and skills in realistic contexts.

Proposal

With this in mind, we propose to require, that in designing assessments, awarding organisations ensure students have opportunities to:

• demonstrate the ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, understanding and/or skills from across the full course of study
• produce developed responses which allow them to construct a sustained line of reasoning – or an equivalent logical sequence, depending on the nature of the task – which is coherent, relevant and effectively structured
• demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in response to authentic, vocationally-related contexts and scenarios

The approach taken to meet these requirements is likely to vary by subject. We do not propose to specify any weightings for these requirements. Awarding organisations may therefore take different approaches but we would expect students to be required to demonstrate them in both timetabled assessments and other forms of assessment in all Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate subjects.

Our proposed Conditions FC7 and OC7 and associated requirements and guidance are set out in Annexes B and C.