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A1 – Assessor Award Evidence Requirement: Observation by assessor

Observation by your assessor of you giving feedback to a candidate. Download an observation form (rtf, 10KB) for use by your assessor.

During the observation your assessor will be looking for the following to meet Element A1.3.  Guidance is provided in italics.

Provide feedback and support to candidates on assessment decisions

Performance criteria
You must be able to do the following:

a) give candidates feedback at an appropriate time and place
Make sure that the feedback is confidential and takes place at an appropriate time (for speaking, this may be immediately after an assessment).

b) give candidates feedback in a constructive and encouraging way, which meets their needs and is appropriate to their level of confidence
Your assessor will be considering the relationship built up with the candidate and looking for constructive and encouraging comments as far as possible with guidance for improvement given in an encouraging way.

c) clearly explain your assessment decisions on whether candidates’ evidence of competence is good enough
During your feedback you should refer to the National Language Standards performance criteria, range and knowledge evidence and explain to the candidate how they have met or perhaps failed to meet certain criteria.

d) give candidates advice when they cannot prove their competence and on how they can develop the necessary skills or provide more evidence
During your feedback you should give candidates advice on what they need to do in order to fully meet the criteria if they have not done so. Even if candidates have met the criteria they could be given tips on improving pronunciation, grammar etc.  

e) encourage candidates to get advice on your assessment decisions
When giving your feedback you could mention other people who could be consulted if the candidate does not agree with your decision (eg internal verifier).

f) identify and agree the next steps in the assessment process and how candidates will achieve these
In your observed feedback you should advise candidates what the next task will be and explain it to them. You could also be observed conducting a progress review (rtf, 10KB) with the candidate.

g) follow the agreed complaints and appeals procedures if candidates disagree with your assessment decisions
You will probably not be observed doing this but you should be able to describe your complaints and appeals procedure to your assessor.