Role of an NVQ Assessor
Britannia School of Academics 2023-12-29
Being an NVQ assessor is a highly rewarding and fulfilling career path; due to the popularity of vocational courses, there is currently a high demand for NVQ assessors in the market. One can choose to become an NVQ assessor in almost any field and industry. However, if you are wondering about pursuing this career, it is important to thoroughly understand the roles and responsibilities of an assessor.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Assessor
The primary role of an NVQ assessor is to assess and guide learners in acquiring their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). In doing so, they are responsible for planning the assessment, choosing the assessment methods according to the learner’s needs, providing fair assessment feedback and ensuring that the gathered evidence adheres to and complies with the guidelines provided by the awarding body. As an assessor, you basically ensure that the students are on the right path and meet all occupational standards in acquiring their National Vocational Qualification.
Below are some of the core responsibilities of an Assessor:
1. Planning the Assessment
You may think that an assessor’s duty will be to mark and assess the evidence produced and provided by the learners, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more responsibilities than you think.
An assessor must carefully plan the assessment first; plan the location and time and choose the right and accurate type of assessment method that best matches the learners’ needs and preferences. The assessment plan must also be inclusive and the words used in the context must be understood by all learners equally.
Additionally, an assessor must keep in mind that when conducting an assessment, they must adhere to all standards, regulations and ethical guidelines: never misbehave with learners, keep the process confidential, and ensure a fair and unbiased assessment process.
2. Align Assessment with the Learning Outcomes
Aligning assessment and assessment methods well with the intended learning outcomes is also a crucial responsibility of an assessor. For instance, if the goal is to teach a learner communication skill, then testing the learner solely on academics will be inappropriate and the assessment will be of no use. Therefore, an assessor must certify that LOCs and assessment methods operate in parallel.
3. Communicate with the Learner
Another responsibility of an assessor is to make sure the learner has been involved in the process. As an assessor is the one to shape the assessment process, communicate, discuss and explain the process so that you and the learner remain on the same page throughout and there is no room for confusion left. For instance, you may explain the guidelines or any conditions included in the assessment procedure or how to prepare assignments and present their competence.
In addition to that, while planning the assessment, an assessor is to make sure that the learner does not have any specific needs – mental or physical – and if they do, plan accordingly.
Preparation beforehand will give the assessor an upper hand in deciding which assessment techniques to use and gather as much evidence as you need for a seamless process.
4. Provide a Fair and Square and Timely Assessment Feedback
After the assessment, providing feedback might be the hardest step as it must be fair, unbiased and clear. For the betterment of and learner’s progress, constructive feedback is highly crucial.
An assessor is responsible for providing feedback that is not vague but clear, precise, and based on the facts rather than your opinions. Furthermore, whenever the assessment is completed, make sure to provide feedback promptly, as it helps in enhancing the credibility and reliability of the results.
5. Keep a Record of the Assessment Process
An assessor’s duty also includes keeping a record of its assessment planning, decision, and the learner’s progress. It is crucial to keep a trail of how much learning has taken place, what progress a learner has made, and its achievements. This will help assessors meet regulatory and awarding organisation requirements while also supporting learners in identifying and addressing areas for improvement.
6. Participation in Standardisation Meetings
An assessor is also responsible for holding and attending standardisation meetings with the Internal Quality Assurer; these meetings are crucial in making sure the assessor and IQA are on the same page and the assessment procedure is being quality assured.
Final thoughts
If you are passionate about lifelong learning and want to diversify your skills, having an assessor qualification is the perfect way to proceed. As an assessor, it would be your responsibility to assess learners while assisting and guiding them, ensuring their efforts meet the set standardised criteria. If you want to become an assessor, you must hold occupational competence to provide evidence that you can assess in external and internal (workplace) environments; the ideal and most important qualification you require is a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. For further information on how you can achieve L3 CAVA, visit this link.