Unit 1 and 2 assessment quality

assurance tool
General syllabuses, Essential English and
Essential Mathematics
December 2018

This quality assurance tool has been compiled by the QCAA to assist and support teachers in
internally quality assuring assessment instruments.

181815
 Syllabus
Technique
Unit
Topic/s

Internal quality assurance advice

Select the statement that applies to this assessment instrument.
☐ This assessment instrument is ready to be ☐ This assessment instrument is not ready to
used with students. be used with students — see the comments
provided in the Validity and Accessibility
sections below.

If the assessment instrument meets the priorities for assessment, mark the box in the ‘Yes’
column. Do not write a comment.
If the assessment instrument does not meet the priorities for assessment, mark the box in the
‘No’ column. Write a comment offering advice on how the assessment instrument could improve
in this area.
Note: For some techniques, not all of the criteria in this quality assurance tool will apply.
Validity — priorities for assessment
Alignment Yes No Comment
The assessment instrument gives students the ☐ ☐
opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the
subject matter for the unit and topic.
The assessment instrument gives students the ☐ ☐
opportunity to cover the required objectives and
performance descriptors of the ISMG or
instrument-specific standards.
Authenticity Yes No Comment
The assessment instrument allows for unique student ☐ ☐
responses, where appropriate.
The context relates to subject matter for the unit/topic ☐ ☐
and provides a clear overview and framework for the
assessment task.
Authentication Yes No Comment
Authentication strategies reflect QCAA guidelines for ☐ ☐
assuring student authorship.
Authentication strategies identify how individual ☐ ☐
students will be assessed during group work.
Checkpoints are suitable for the task and align with ☐ ☐
the authentication strategies.
Item construction Yes No Comment
The task follows the conventions for item construction. ☐ ☐
Scaffolding does not repeat or redefine information ☐ ☐
that has already been provided in the assessment
instrument.
Scaffolding provides clear instructions that inform ☐ ☐
students about the processes they could use to
complete the response or the presentation
requirements for their response.
Scaffolding does not lead students to a predetermined ☐ ☐
response.

Unit 1 and 2 assessment quality assurance tool Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
General syllabuses, Essential English and Essential December 2018
Mathematics
Page 2 of 6
 Validity — priorities for assessment
Stimulus items are relevant to the task. ☐ ☐
Scope and scale Yes No Comment
The scale of information, knowledge and skills ☐ ☐
students are required to demonstrate when
completing the task is appropriate for the syllabus
conditions.
The scope of information, knowledge and skills ☐ ☐
students are required to demonstrate when
completing the task is appropriate for the syllabus
conditions.
Stimulus items are of suitable scope and scale. ☐ ☐

Unit 1 and 2 assessment quality assurance tool Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
General syllabuses, Essential English and Essential December 2018
Mathematics
Page 3 of 6
 Accessibility — priorities for assessment
Transparency Ye No Comment
s
The assessment instrument provides clear instructions ☐ ☐
using cues that align to the objectives and ISMG or
instrument-specific standards.
Language Ye No Comment
s
The assessment instrument uses appropriate ☐ ☐
language and avoids unnecessary jargon, specialist
language and colloquial language.
The assessment instrument is free of errors and ☐ ☐
models accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation and
other textual features.
Layout Ye No Comment
s
The assessment instrument uses bold, italics and ☐ ☐
other formatting features only where relevant.
The stimulus contains minimal distractors and is ☐ ☐
accessible to all students.
The response space provided is adequate and reflects ☐ ☐
the required length of the response.
Bias avoidance Ye No Comment
s
The assessment instrument avoids bias and ☐ ☐
inappropriate content.
Audio and audiovisual elements are clear and audible. ☐ ☐
Images, diagrams or other visual elements are legible, ☐ ☐
clear, relevant and accessible.

Unit 1 and 2 assessment quality assurance tool Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
General syllabuses, Essential English and Essential December 2018
Mathematics
Page 4 of 6