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Definition of Internal Verification

Internal verification can be defined as:

"a process undertaken by a providing organisation in which assessment practices and decisions are regularly sampled and evaluated and findings are acted upon to ensure consistency and fairness".
   
Therefore Internal Verification involves two processes: verification and standardisation.

The Role of the Internal Verifier

The role of the Internal Verifier is to ensure that:

Assessment is appropriate, consistent, fair, transparent and does not unintentionally discriminate against candidates with disabilities. Tutors/assessors receive ongoing advice and support, for example, on designing assessment activities. Learners are clear about assessment requirements and are given opportunities to achieve against the assessment criteria. Learners’ work is presented in a manner that supports the verification process. Evidence of learner achievement is mapped to the assessment criteria. Award of credit is valid, reliable and consistent.

Once all the above are in place, credit can be awarded.  Internal Verifiers, who meet the minimum criteria, will be approved by the QR as authorized signatories of the Recommendation for Award of Credit (RAC) forms.  The Subject Verifier must sign the RAC where there is no Internal Verifier authorised to sign.

Minimum criteria for Internal Verifiers authorised to sign for the Award of Credit

Internal Verifiers in a Centre have been approved to sign for the Award of Credit at the point of approval to deliver the CQF.  The NOCN Quality Reviewer (QR) will monitor this approval annually.

The Internal Verifier must:

Have experience of N/OCN assessment and quality systems through acting as an Internal or External Verifier or Assessor on OCN programmes. Have attended an N/OCN approved training event on quality systems. Demonstrate a commitment to on-going professional development; it is desirable that wherever possible, authorised Internal Verifiers achieve the OCN Internal Verifier Award within three years of Centre Approval. 

The following activities must take place to underpin the internal verification process:

Planning for Internal Verification
A plan of internal verification activity must be developed indicating

• What will happen
• When it will happen
• Who will be involved?

Induction of new tutors/assessors
New tutors/assessors must:

1.  Be supplied with the units and assessment materials.

2.  Clearly understand assessment requirements and procedures.

3.  Have information about accessing OCN training opportunities and support materials.

Update for all tutors/assessors
All tutors/assessors must:

1.  Know the name of the person who will manage the Internal Verification process and the name of the Internal Verifier.

2.  Know how internal verification will happen, when it will happen and who will be involved.

3.  Be informed about issues raised through previous internal and external verification activity.

On-course monitoring
The internal verifier(s) should:

1.  Sample assessment to ensure:

• Feedback to learners is clear and constructive
• Assessment activities are standard and appropriate
• Assessment decisions are fair and consistent
• Assessment records are clear

2.  Undertake standardisation activities

3.  Ensure learners understand assessment requirements

4.  Provide advice and support for tutors/assessors and share good practice

5.  Identify good assessment practice

6.  Record internal verification activities and findings, list action points and report to tutors/assessors and the Subject Verifier

7.  Liaise with the Subject Verifier whose role it is to ensure the quality and consistency of the Award of Credit in a particular subject area within and across Centres.

End of course checking
The Internal Verifier(s) should: Monitor progress against previous action points.

1.  Ensure assessment records are complete and accurate.

2.  Ensure evidence of achievement is appropriate, standardised and mapped to the assessment criteria.

3.  Check that the Recommendation for the Award of Credit form (RAC) is complete and accurate.

4.  Record internal verification activities and findings, list action points, and report to tutors/assessors and the external verifier.

5.  Sign off learners using the Recommendation for Award of Credit forms, if authorised.

Sampling

What do Internal Verifiers sample and why?
Internal Verifiers are responsible for monitoring the quality of assessment, hence the need for them to sample assessment practices and decisions. It is not usually possible or necessary to internally moderate every aspect of assessment at each internal verification event. A properly selected representative sample should identify any issues with assessment practices and decisions.

Selecting a sample
To select a representative sample, Internal Verifiers must take account of different factors, which may impact, on the quality of assessment. These factors are used to define a sampling strategy. The sampling strategy determines the size of the sample and enables valued judgements to be made.

The key factors to consider are:

• Sites of delivery
• Tutors/assessors
• Number of units
• Delivery method
• Previous internal verification recommendations
• Assessment methods
• Special arrangements
• Subject Verifier’s recommendations
• Borderline cases
• Unit level
• Credit value.

The sample must include an element of random selection by the Internal Verifier. It is not necessary to sample across every aspect of the programme at each event but everything must be covered over a period of time, for example, a year.

Using the selected sample
Internal Verifiers should check the selected sample in three ways:

1.  By checking all the assessment for a given learner to ensure that assessment is appropriate, consistent and complete.

2.  By checking specific learning outcomes across a number of learners to ensure that assessment is consistent for all learners.

3.  By checking level and credit value to establish that standards are maintained across units, modules, tutors, sites, and over time.

Samples of work may be requested from Centres for use in regional and national standardisation events.

Record Keeping
It is important that detailed records of internal verification are kept to demonstrate that the internal verification procedures have been carried out, and to provide written feedback to tutors.

Which records should be kept?
Internal Verifiers should record two sets of information:

1.  The sample taken by the Internal Verifier, usually in the form of a matrix

2.  The comments and feedback to the tutor following the sampling exercise, showing any action required and how this was resolved.

The format for the recording forms can vary, Form M1 and Form M2 are examples.

Sample forms for Internal Verification are available on NOCN’s website www.nocn.org