Assessment methods

Scenario-based assessment can be used for the Mandatory Unit, Improving Productivity using IT

In this type of assessment, the learner describes how IT can be used in response to a written situation.

Scenarios are developed by awarding bodies, but employers and providers can develop their own with approval from the awarding body. All scenarios need to make sure that:

• the performance, knowledge and understanding assessed matches that specified in the relevant ITQ unit
• the level is sufficiently challenging
• the demands and constraints result in purposeful use of IT and, where relevant, reflect those that would arise in the real-world

Product evidence may well form the great majority of the evidence produced for an ITQ portfolio.

Personal statements can capture evidence of things like:

• planning and decision-making
• reflection on the rationale and use of IT

Witness testimony and oral questioning can support these statements. Recording verbal personal statements can give richer evidence than written reports.

Employers can use knowledge tests to assess an employee’s knowledge and understanding of, for example, an organisational procedure.

Knowledge components set out in the standards can also be assessed by knowledge tests. In this case, assessors and internal verifiers must make sure that:

• the knowledge being tested matches that specified in the NOS
• a robust assessment methodology comparable to awarding body practices is used

Assessors should agree the use of knowledge tests with the external verifier in advance.

Simulation of work tasks and activities must take place in a realistic working environment. Simulation can be used across all units, although it’s preferable to use it in the mandatory unit.

Witnesses don’t have to be “expert”. They can be drawn from a wide range of people who can attest to the candidate’s performance in the workplace, such as: 

• line managers
• experienced workplace colleagues
• customers or clients

They need to:

• provide a written statement about the quality and authenticity of the candidate’s work
• have first-hand experience of the candidate’s performance and understanding

In particular, they can provide evidence on the candidate’s competence in:

• using specialist or bespoke IT applications
• meeting customer requirements
• working within organisational procedures

Professional discussion is an ideal method to assess the mandatory unit. Find out more about professional discussion

This allows candidates to count any relevant units towards ITQ, no matter which awarding body issues the certificate.

For a list of units and schemes that can contribute to ITQ, see the Contributing qualifications XLS 77KB