Student services

Related information

Assessment

The majority of programs offered by TAFE Queensland incorporate competency based assessment. The purpose of assessing competency is to confirm that students can perform to the standards expected in the workplace. Assessment is defined as the process of making judgements about whether competency has been achieved. Students will be given the option to provide evidence of meeting the requirements of competency through recognition of skills and experience. Students can undertake training and assessment against the competency.

The teacher will advise prior to the commencement of training how the competency is to be assessed. Assessment will generally be progressive and involve more that one assessment item for each competency. Assessment items can include, but are not limited to: projects, case studies, oral questions, assignments, portfolios, written examinations, role plays, practical demonstrations or observation of activities in the workplace or simulated work environment.

Assessment items
Examinations
Assessment feedback
Re-evaluation of result
Alternative assessment
Deferred assessment

Assessment items

• Assessment items must be submitted to the assessor by the due date specified for a result to be recorded, unless an extension has been granted.
• Extensions will only be granted due to personal illness, or for other extenuating circumstances. Formal requests for extensions must be submitted to the teacher in writing 48 hours prior to the advertised deadline.
  • Length of extension is at the discretion of the teacher
  • A doctor's certificate must be produced to verify illness (or other documentary evidence, where applicable).
• Students are responsible for:
  • complying with the procedures for assessment item submission and collection.
  • requesting feedback and negotiating resubmission of the assessment item (if a re-evaluation is required).
  • the retention of the assessment item for a minimum period of 14 days after result are received, unless an appeal is being lodged. In this case, the items should be retained until the appeal is finished.
• To avoid plagiarism, students must properly acknowledge all information sources
• If assessment items are not submitted by the due date without an approved extension, the student will receive an unsuccessful result for that assessment item. If this is the only assessment item for this unit, students will be given the result of withdrawal. Students will have to re-enrol to gain competency.
• If students have submitted the assessment item by the due date, and it is assessed as requiring additional work, it is possible to resubmit the item. Only one resubmit will be granted for each assessment item.
• If resubmitting the assessment item and it is again assessed as requiring additional work you will be assessed as 'not yet competent' for the competency, it is required that students re-enrol to gain competency.

NOTE: Resubmissions will only be granted if the teacher considers that there was a genuine attempt at the first assessment.

Examinations

• Students will be given at least two weeks notice of examinations. If the program is less than two weeks duration, students will be advised of the examination schedule at the commencement of study.
• Only students enrolled in the competency, the examination supervisor and other authorised personnel can enter or remain in an examination room during an examination session.
• The examination supervisor may ask for photographic identification (e.g. student ID card, driver's licence).
• Students entering late for an examination will need the permission of the examination supervisor to enter the room, providing an explanation to the examination supervisor who will record the reason for lateness. In situations where the student is more than 20 minutes late, entry may be refused.
• To avoid distracting  fellow students, leaving the examination is not permitted during:
  • the first 20 minutes of an examination session of up to and including 1.5 hours duration
  • the first 40 minutes of an examination session of more than 1.5 hours duration
  • the last 10 minutes of an examination session
• A person who is given permission to enter or leave an examination room shall comply with all conditions upon which the permission is given.
• Unless approved by the examination supervisor prior to the examination, student should not bring into an examination any devices capable of conveying information about the examination such as: mobile phones, pagers, notebook computers, electronic organisers, electronic dictionaries, calculators, textbooks and program notes.
• Please ensure that mobile phones or pagers placed in the designated area of the examination room are turned off prior to the commencement of the examination.

Students are required to comply with all directions:

• detailed in examination material supplied
• set out on any notice displayed in the examination room
• given by the examination supervisor.

During an examination session, students must not:

• communicate by word or otherwise with any person other than the supervisor
• assist any other person to communicate with another person
• willingly receive a communication from any person except with the approval of the examination supervisor
• unless permitted by the examination supervisor, remove any papers or other materials provided for use during the examination.

The examination supervisor may question a student to ascertain whether there has been a breach of examination rules.

• If in the opinion of an examination supervisor, a student's behaviour is disturbing or distracting any other student, the examination supervisor may request that they leave the examination. Students refusing to leave may be dealt with in the same manner as a trespasser.
• Students are expected to be considerate of other students when entering or leaving the examination or when in the vicinity of an examination room.
• Students who believe that their performance in an examination has been adversely affected by illness, disability, bereavement or other exceptional circumstances may apply for special consideration.
• Special examination arrangements can be considered for students with disabilities, temporary incapacity or students who have been hospitalised during the examination period. Students who cannot attend the scheduled examination due to hospitalisation should apply to the Institute Director for a deferred examination, supported by appropriate documentary evidence.

Assessment feedback

• Students have the right to receive written feedback for an assessment item.
• Teachers aim to provide feedback on at least one occasion via:
  • structured class time
  • a workplace visit or
  • e-mail or phone call (for students studying flexibly)
• It is the responsibility of the student to contact the teacher to obtain the result of your assessment item and schedule feedback.
• Students should contact the assessor in cases where dissatisfied with the result of an assessment item and the feedback given.

Re-evaluation of result

• If dissatisfied with the result of an assessment item, students can submit a written application for re-evaluation of the result to the Institute Director or delegated officer. An application must be lodged together with the scheduled charge, within 14 days of notification of the result.
  • If the re-evaluation of assessment takes in excess of one hour, the delegated officer may vary the amount of the scheduled charge at actual cost.
  • If the result is upgraded to successful, the student will be refunded the scheduled charge.
• Where possible an assessor other than the original assessor should undertake the re-evaluation.
• In cases where dissatisfied with the re-evaluation outcome, students have a further right to appeal to the institute Academic Appeals Committee.
  • The notice of appeal should be in writing and addressed to the Institute Director for referral to the Chairperson of the Academic Appeals Committee and submitted within seven days of the re-evaluation decision.
  • If the appeal is not lodged within the specified time, the result will stand and the student must re-enrol in the competency.

Alternative assessment

Students may request an alternative assessment if considered that they may be disadvantaged, due to a disability or unusual circumstance.

These requests:

• should be submitted directly to the assessor
• may come directly from a student or through Student Services
• will be verified with specialist staff
• shall be approved and documented by the assessor.

Deferred assessment

• Students can apply to the Institute Director (or delegated officer) in writing for a deferred assessment giving the reason for the request.
• The application is to be made at least seven days prior to the due date of the assessment, except:
  • in emergency circumstances
  • in cases of serious illness or injury, students will need to provide a medical certificate. If the assessment date has passed, the application must be made within three working days of the concluding date on the medical certificate.
• If the Director (or delegated officer) is satisfied that the student was unable by reason of illness or other exceptional circumstances to complete an assessment task, they may allow a deferred assessment.

Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Access keys

© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and the Arts) 2008.

Queensland Government Gateway | Other languages