Sign In

Assessment Development Journey

From Qualification Specification to Approved Assessment — each stage builds on the last

1
Understanding Qualifications
The foundation: what qualifications are and why they matter
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 5 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Qualification Purpose

Every qualification has a specific purpose. It tells us who the qualification is...

15 min
Specification Analysis

Specification analysis is the process of carefully reading a qualification speci...

20 min
Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes describe what a learner should know, understand, or be able to...

15 min
Assessment Criteria

Assessment criteria are the specific statements describing what a learner must d...

20 min
KSBs: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

KSBs stands for Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours — the three types of things qu...

20 min
Related tools: Browse all tools
2
Specification Analysis
Breaking down qualification specifications
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 4 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Command Verbs

Command verbs are the action words in assessment criteria that tell learners wha...

20 min
Qualification Level

Qualification level indicates the complexity and demand of a qualification. In E...

15 min
Constructs

A construct is the underlying knowledge, skill, or ability an assessment is tryi...

20 min
Assessment Objectives

Assessment Objectives (AOs) are the categories used to classify what is being te...

15 min
Related tools: Spec Extractor, Command Verbs, Construct Mapper
3
Assessment Design
Designing valid and reliable assessments
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 6 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Assessment Strategy

An assessment strategy is the high-level plan for how a qualification will be as...

25 min
Assessment Methods

Assessment methods are the specific ways learners demonstrate their competence —...

25 min
Blueprint

An assessment blueprint is a matrix mapping every assessment item to learning ou...

30 min
Question Writing

Question writing (item writing) is the craft of creating assessment tasks that v...

25 min
Validity

Validity is the extent to which an assessment measures what it claims to measure...

25 min
Reliability

Reliability is the consistency of assessment outcomes. A reliable assessment pro...

20 min
Related tools: Blueprint Builder, Method Recommender, Strategy Builder
4
Item Development
Writing and reviewing assessment items
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 5 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) present a stem and several options — one correc...

25 min
Short Answer Questions

Short answer questions require learners to produce a brief response — a few word...

20 min
Extended Response Questions

Extended response questions require learners to produce longer, structured answe...

20 min
Practical Assessment

Practical assessment requires learners to demonstrate skills by doing — operatin...

20 min
Mark Schemes

A mark scheme defines how marks are awarded for each assessment item. It ensures...

25 min
Related tools: Question Reviewer, MCQ Checker, Mark Scheme Builder
5
Quality Assurance
Reviewing, approving and maintaining quality
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 7 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Accessibility

Accessibility in assessment means ensuring all learners can demonstrate their kn...

20 min
Fairness

Fairness means no group of learners is systematically advantaged or disadvantage...

15 min
Bias

Bias is systematic error that causes assessment results to be unfair to certain...

20 min
SME Management

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) provide specialist knowledge to ensure assessment...

20 min
Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance (QA) is the systematic process of checking that assessment mat...

25 min
Technical Review

Technical review systematically checks that every assessment item maps correctly...

20 min
Version Control

Version control ensures every change to assessment materials is tracked, authori...

20 min
Related tools: Accessibility, Bias Checker, QA Checklist, Version Control
6
Delivery & Evaluation
Delivering assessment and using results
Input
Specification, qualification purpose, learner profile
Activity
Analyse, define constructs, design methods, write items
Output
Blueprint, items, mark schemes, QA records
Risk
Invalid assessment, missed criteria, regulatory non-compliance
People: Assessment Developer, SMEs, QA Reviewers, Chief Examiner
Lessons: 6 lessons in this stage
LESSONS
Project Management

Assessment development project management involves planning, scheduling, resourc...

20 min
Regulation

Assessment regulation ensures qualifications are valid, reliable, and fair. In E...

25 min
Production Handover

Production handover is the process of transferring approved assessment materials...

15 min
Standardisation

Standardisation ensures all assessors apply assessment criteria and mark schemes...

20 min
Item Analysis

Item analysis is the statistical evaluation of assessment item performance after...

25 min
Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is the ongoing cycle of reviewing assessment performance,...

20 min
Related tools: Item Analysis