Whitby Community College Policy Document
Adopted by the Governing Body on 18 March 2009
Internal Verification:
What is Internal Verification?
; IV means checking work is fit for purpose before it is handed out to students. For example:
1. Learning Objectives are clearly stated on the assignment/coursework brief 2. Tasks related to the mark range for the criteria. Are the Tasks appropriate. Is the language
and presentation appropriate
3. Hand in hand out dates
OVERALL: IS THE ASSIGNMENT FIT FOR PURPOSE?
; IV also means checking the marked work is verified before been handed back to the
students. For example:
1. Has the work been assessed/marked appropriately
2. Is the feedback constructive, linked to relevant grading criteria, identifies opportunities
for improved performance
3. Does the grading decision need amending?
OVERALL: IS THE FEEDBACK FOR THE STUDENT FIT FOR PURPOSE?
Why is it important:
It is now a mandatory process for all Vocational Programmes (See Centre Risk Assessments). Also, recent Record of Visits from the LEA are now clearly showing the need and expectation of Internal Verification in academic programmes. Internal verification covers all of the terms used previously such as. Internal Verification is becoming the language used to describe all of the above and is designed to perform 1.Work Scrutiny 2. Moderation 3.Standardisation.
The attached is process which aims to satisfy the demands of all our subjects in a standardised format which can be changed/amended but must contain the salient requirements.
The 4 steps of Internal Verification:
(Maximum requirement is 4 steps... An awarding body may provide assignments that are ‘fixed’
and cannot be changed therefore Step 1 is redundant)
1. Complete standardised assignment brief (Appendix 3) If applicable cross reference with
any associated course documentation.
2. Checking the work before it is handed out to the student ( Appendix1)
3. Checking marked work before it is handed back to the students (Appendix 2)
4. Ensuring an IV schedule is in place (Appendix 4)
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Internal Verification Guidance
Verifying Assignment / Coursework / Prior to Issue (see Appendix 1)
Completed by Subject Leader (Internal Verifier)
The Documents
Check that the teacher marking the work has given you the most up to date version of the Assignment / Coursework.
You should also have a copy of the unit specification and the grading criteria.
The Assignment / Coursework:
Check:
； Is the Assignment / Coursework relevant to the unit specification?
； Are the coursework outcomes indicated on the cover sheet? The Assignment/Coursework (see Appendix 3) should clearly state which outcomes the coursework is covering, there is a tracking grid to indicate if and when the student has achieved the outcomes.
； Does the assignment / coursework actually require the student to cover the outcomes that it states?
； Are the tasks clearly stated and understandable? Are they achievable?
； Are the assessment /grading criteria specific and clear? Do they indicate exactly what the student must do to achieve a particular grade? Do they comply with the Awarding Body’s criteria (where applicable)?
The Details
； Check the issue/hand in dates are current.
； Check accuracy of other data – title of coursework, unit title, name of teacher, etc.
The Authorisation
； If you are sure that all the conditions have been met you should confirm the assignment is fit for purpose
on the IV Sheet (Appendix 1) initial and date in the ‘IV
Approved Prior to issue’ box on the Assignment Brief (see Appendix 3)
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Internal Verification Guidance
Verifying Marked Coursework before it is handed back to the students
Completed by the Subject Leader (Internal Verifier)
(see Appendix 2)
The Internal Verification should occur before all marked coursework is returned to the students. So, you should obtain the IV samples from the teacher marking the work as soon as they have been marked, and conduct the IV promptly. The verified coursework can then be returned to the teacher marking the work to give back to the students at the same time as the rest of the coursework. You should also make time to discuss with the teacher marking the work any of your observations that may have implications for the coursework items that were not verified.
The Documents
You should have a sample of coursework marked by the teacher marking the work. This should amount to not less than 10% of the total group size. There should be a cross section of grades.
The Subject leader should ensure that work from as many students as possible (ideally, all of them) is selected for IV over the course of the year. Teachers can help by selecting different students each time they hand over any coursework for verifying.
You should use the provided Internal Verification Sheet (Before marked assignment is handed back to the student) sheet (see Appendix 2) This part of the process is the same as moderating coursework.
The Process
Complete the details – unit, teacher marking the work, title etc on the IV Sheet (see Appendix 2) most of this is already created on the sheet and simply needs checking and inserting.
Read the coursework. There is no need to re-mark the coursework but you need to confirm that the grade awarded by the teacher marking the work is appropriate for the standard of work submitted. You also need to check that the work has covered the outcomes, and the grading criteria, as stated on the assignment / coursework.
Read the feedback from the teacher marking the work. The feedback is Interim and Summative within the Assignment / coursework template (see Appendix 3), or the teacher marking the work may write it throughout the coursework, or it may be a combination of both. If the Feedback is summative only then please amend the template to suit.
In each case the feedback should be clear and thorough. It should be clear to the student what the strengths were of the coursework and which aspects could have been improved. The student should be clear as to why they achieved that grade and what they needed to have done to achieve a different grade. The student has to have I:\Staff-Read Only\College Policies\Assessment\Internal Verification policy (2007).doc
learned from the assignment / coursework. If they do not know what was good or bad about their work they may as well not have done the coursework in the first place. Good feedback is more useful than a grade.
Has the teacher marking the work addressed skills issues such as spelling, grammar, style, referencing? Has the teacher marking the work indicated on the cover sheet that the outcomes have been met?
After Verification
Date and sign the IV sheet (Appendix 2) and sign the IV Sample grid on the Assignment / Coursework (Appendix 3)
The teacher marking the work should record in the master grade file that the coursework has been IV’d. The
subject leader should keep this file. However, sometimes the Verifier or the subject leader will record the grade. It is important that you ensure who is to record the IV process and note on the IV sheet the date when this was done.
Arrange to discuss with the teacher marking the work any issues that you have raised in your verification. Any contentious issues need to be discussed and, theoretically, if there is no agreement between the teacher marking the work and verifier, the verifier’s view should be final.
Note
The Subject Leader should have compiled an IV rota for the year (please see Appendix 4) You should ensure that you have a copy of a rota for each of the courses on which you teach. You can then be pro-active in planning ahead your time for verifying, and can chase the tutors if you have not received coursework to verify at the time stated on the rota.
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Appendix 1
INTERNAL VERIFICATION (Prior to initial issue to students)
THIS PROCESS ONLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ONCE FOR ANY ASSIGNEMENT/COURSEWORK
THAT IS USED AGAIN. MERELY STATE IT HAS BEEN IV‟D ON THE
ASSIGNMENT/COURSEWORK TEMPLATE (appendix 3)
* Some points on the checklist may be N/A
Award
Unit
Teacher
INTERNAL VERIFIER CHECKLIST Y/N* Comments
Are accurate unit details shown? Y/N*
Are assessment criteria to be addressed Y/N*
listed?
Does each task show which grading Y/N*
criteria are being addressed?
Is it clear how the student can generate Y/N*
evidence to cover the grading criteria?
Are the tasks appropriate? Y/N*
Is there a scenario giving an outline Y/N*
context
Is the language and presentation Y/N*
appropriate?
Is the timescale for the assignment Y/N*
appropriate?
Will the conduct of the assessment be Y/N*
valid and reliable?
Overall is the assignment:
Y/N*
„FIT FOR PURPOSE ?‟
Internal Verifier
Signature Date: * If “No” is recorded and the Internal verifier recommends remedial action before the brief is
issued, the Assessor/Marker and the Internal verifier should confirm that the action has been
undertaken
Confirmation of remedial action
Assessor/Marker
Signature Date: Internal Verifier
Signature Date: I:\Staff-Read Only\College Policies\Assessment\Internal Verification policy (2007).doc
Appendix 2
INTERNAL VERIFICATION (Before marked assignment is handed back to student)
Award Teacher
Unit(s)
Assignment/Coursework
title:
Learner‟s name:
Which criteria has the Pass / C Merit / B Distinction / A
assessor awarded? *Delete or amend
Do the criteria awarded Y/N* Details
match the Grading
Criteria referenced in
assignment / brief?
Has the work been Y/N* Details
assessed accurately?
Is the feedback to the Y/N* Details
learner:
; Constructive
; Linked to relevant
grading criteria
; Identifies opportunities
for improved performance
; Agrees actions
Does the grading decision Y/N* Details
need amending?
*If “No” is recorded and the Internal verifier recommends amendment of the assessment
decision, the Teacher and the Internal verifier should confirm that the action has been
undertaken
Confirmation of remedial action
Teacher
Date:
Signature
Internal Verifier
Date:
Signature
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Prepared by
Date
IV Approved Prior to
issue to students Assignment/Coursework Date IV Sampled before marked assignment is
given back to the
students. Appendix 3 Date
Unit Name
Unit No Assignment/Coursework Portfolio
Number (if applicable) Ref(if
appl)
Assignment/Coursework
Name:
Student Name Teacher
Summary of Learning
Outcomes
Hand Out: Hand In: Submitted On:
Scenario – Insert general context of what the assignment or coursework is about.
Specific Tasks related to the marks given for each available grade
1> Description of Task
Then state the mark ranges and associated criteria for obtaining an A at A level or a D in Vocational
Programmes etc. Each possible grade should be covered.
Tutor feedback- Interim ( if applicable) and Summative
Grading Criteria Teacher Feedback:
What you need to do to attain or improve your
grades and general comments.
Task Tick if
Achieved 1 Tasks Marked
2 Tasks missing or still to
be marked
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3 Student Action Plan
(SMART) Targets
By date:
Overall Teacher Feedback 4
Overall / Summative Grade/ Mark Range Awarded: Completed Signed by Teacher: 5
Signature:
Date:
* This mark may change by Internal Verification or Awarding Body judgments
Students Comments YES NO OTHER COMMENTS
Was enough time allocated?
Were tasks challenging
Were tasks and requirements clear?
Student Declaration:
My signature below indicates my confirmation that:
； This is all my own, independent work or that of my group for group work. I understand the
guidelines regarding plagiarism and have indicated clearly any aspect which is not my own
using appropriate referencing techniques
； I understand that it is my responsibility to retain a copy of this work until I have received
final certification for this programme
Student Signature………………………….. Date…………………………………..
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Appendix 4
Internal Verification Rota for the Year
Completed by Subject Leader (Internal Verifier)
Teacher /Marker Teacher/Marker Teacher/Marker
Assignment/Cwk Assessment/Cwk Assignment/Cwk Assessment/Cwk Assignment/Cwk Assessment (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked
assignments been handed assignments been assignments been
back to the student) handed back to the handed back to the
student) student)
Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date:
Teacher /Marker Teacher /Marker Teacher /Marker
Assignment/Cwk Assessment/Cwk Assignment/Cwk Assessment/Cwk Assignment/Cwk Assessment/Cwk (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked (Prior to issue) (Prior to marked
assignments been handed assignments been assignments been
back to the student) handed back to the handed back to the
student) student)
Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Date:
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