A competence-based course with no final exam

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are 'competence-based' qualifications based on national occupational standards. There is no final exam. Instead, learners build a portfolio providing evidence that they have met the assessment criteria of the NVQ, Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) language units, at the appropriate level. The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the new way of recognising achievement of vocational qualifications. Learners are supported and assessed by a qualified Assessor (most assessors are the learners’ teachers).

NVQ, QCF languages are based on the revised 2010 UK Occupational Language Standards and there are currently qualifications ranging from Entry level to level 4, with levels 1-3 most common in a 14-19 setting.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL ASSESSORS:
Assessments must be based on the NEW NVQ, QCF language units and NOT on the revised Occupational Language Standards. If you are in any doubt, refer to your awarding body. 

The awarding bodies offering these qualifications are Edexcel and OCR. There are four units at each level (Speak; Understand; Read; Write). It is possible to achieve a qualification in one or more of these skills and for the portfolio to contain skills at different levels. 

Find out more here.

The Assessment Process
Teachers often find this complicated the first year they use it, but then really appreciate the flexibility which NVQ offers to tailor courses and assessment to the needs of individuals and groups. The chart below shows the roles of each person in the assessment process. Find out more about assessor and verifier training offered by CILT here or email us. 

Can I teach the course if I am not a qualified assessor?
Teachers within a department can teach the NVQ course as language experts. However, work they have assessed must be countersigned by a fully qualified assessor. To be cost effective this is best done by someone within the school or in partnership with other schools.

CILT offers standardisation meetings which you can attend with your portfolios if you do not yet have a qualified internal verifier.  Our expert internal verification staff will be able to support you and provide an internal verification report on your work. 

The NVQ requires some teaching staff to train as assessors to achieve the A1 assessor award.
NEW: From September 2010 this will be either the Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (for those assessing in a school or college environment) or the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement for those assessing in the workplace. These qualifications enable them to assess their own students or other students' portfolios. It is not necessary for holders of D32/33 or A1 to retrain to gain the new level 3 award.   

Visit the A1 assessor award page for detailed information about the requirements of the A1 assessor award and documents related to the award. This information will help teachers who are working towards the award to understand each part of the evidence requirements for the award. 

NEW: From September 2010 onwards visit the OCR pages about the requirements of the new Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (assessor award)  and the OCR pages about new Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (internal verifier award).

CILT offers training for assessors and internal verifiers. This training is specifically tailored to linguists delivering NVQ in schools, colleges or in the workplace. 

An Internal Verifier is responsible for the quality assurance of the assessment process within the centre. As part of this, they will select portfolios to sample, documenting the process. Finally, an External Verifier from the awarding body (Edexcel or OCR) will visit the centre to monitor quality assurance and advise, enabling certification to take place.

Further information on gaining centre approval to deliver NVQ.

Click here for the list of services that the CILT Applied Language Learning Centre can offer.