ASSESSMENT PLAN

1.0 MODULE CODE: GSD 06101/ACT 06105/CST 06107/SPT06106/ ITT06107

1.1 MODULE NAME: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
1.2 QUALIFICATION: Ordinary Diploma (NTA LEVEL 6)
1.3 INTRODUCTION

This assessment plan has been prepared by the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) for the
module/course named Business Communication. The assessor(s) plan to assess the learning
outcomes stipulated within the NTA curriculum flexibly based on the student’s ability to apply
competencies involving application of knowledge, skills and understanding in a wide and
unpredictable variety of contexts with substantial personal responsibility for the work of others,
and responsibility for policy, planning, execution, evaluation and resources.

The assessment was developed in October 2023 to be implemented for the first time in the first
semester of the academic year 2023/2024.

2.0 ENABLING AND SUB-ENABLING OUTCOMES

ENABLING OUTCOME
2.1 Apply communication
skills to communicate in
various business contexts
SUB ENABLING OUTCOMES
2.1.1 Explain concepts in business communication.
2.1.2. Describe four basic routes of communication in organisations.
2.1.3. Describe common barriers to effective communication in business
contexts.

2.1.4. Appraise advantages of oral, written, and non-verbal

communication in business contexts.

2.1.5. Describe written correspondences in business contexts

2.1.6. Describe spoken correspondences in business contexts

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 2.1.7. Organize business meetings and attend job interviews.

2.1.8. Give seminar presentations

3.0 SPECIFICATION OF COMPETENCIES

SN Sub-enabling outcomes and Related Competencies to be Assessed 27
Tasks (Ability To …)

Understanding

Tasks under
Knowledge

Number of
Attributes
Wider

CA &
Skills

SE
K S U WA CA SE
1. Sub-enabling outcome: Explain concepts
in business communication
Related Tasks:
- Define what business
communication is.
√
- Distinguish business communication √ √ √
from social communication.
- Identify key objectives of business √ √
communication
2. Sub-enabling outcome: Describe four basic
routes of communication in organisations.

Related Tasks: √ √
- Identify route of communication in
business contexts

- Illustrate each route of communication

in business contexts √ √
- Explain the functions of each route of
communication √ √
- Explain advantages and disadvantages
of each route of communication
3. Sub-enabling outcome: Describe common
barriers to effective communication in
business contexts.

Related Tasks: √ √

2
SN Sub-enabling outcomes and Related Competencies to be Assessed 27
Tasks (Ability To …)

Understanding

Tasks under
Knowledge

Number of
Attributes
Wider

CA &
Skills

SE
K S U WA CA SE
- Define a phrase ‘barrier to effective
communication’
- Identify common barriers that fall under √
linguistic, social, physical, √
organisational, and psychological to
effective communication
4. Sub-enabling outcome: Appraise
advantages of oral, written, and non-verbal
communication in business contexts
Related Tasks: √ √
- Identify forms of oral communication
in business contexts.

- Assess the advantages of oral √ √

communication in business contexts

- Identify forms of written √ √

communication in business contexts

- Assess the advantages of written √ √

communication in business contexts

- Identify forms of non-verbal √

communication in business contexts

- Assess the advantages of non-verbal √ √

communication in business contexts.

5 Sub-enabling outcome: Describe written

correspondences in business contexts.

Related Tasks:
- Describe principles of written
correspondences in business contexts. √ √

3
SN Sub-enabling outcomes and Related Competencies to be Assessed 27
Tasks (Ability To …)

Understanding

Tasks under
Knowledge

Number of
Attributes
Wider

CA &
Skills

SE
K S U WA CA SE
- Identify types of business letters √
- √
- Describe three formats of business
letters
-
- Write business letters √ √
-
- Describe a format of a memo √
-
- Write memos √ √
-
- Identify main parts of a report √
-
- Describe the function of report in √ √
business settings.
-
- Write a simple report √ √

6. Sub-enabling outcome: Describe spoken

correspondences in business contexts

Related Tasks: √ √
- Construct oral questions (Wh-and
Yes/No) that seek/confirm various
information
- Respond to questions (Wh-and Yes/No)
from customers face to face or through √
telephone
- Identify acceptable and unacceptable √
non-verbal cues in public speaking √ √
-

4
SN Sub-enabling outcomes and Related Competencies to be Assessed 27
Tasks (Ability To …)

Understanding

Tasks under
Knowledge

Number of
Attributes
Wider

CA &
Skills

SE
K S U WA CA SE
- Use appropriate non-verbal cues in √ √
public speaking.

-
7. Sub-enabling outcome: Organize business
meetings and attend job interviews.

Related Task:
- Identify meeting items; Notice,
Agenda, and minutes
√ √
- Describe three types of Agenda √ √
- Write minutes of meeting √
√
- Identify the dos and don’ts of two
orientations of job interview
8. Sub-enabling outcome: Give seminar
presentations.

Related Tasks:
Identify the dos and don’ts in presentation √ √

Dramatize presentations √ √
√ √

4.0 EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS/RUBRIC

4.1. Duration, Number of Questions, Marks Distribution, and Sections

4.1.1 The duration of comprehensive test will be 1.40 minutes, and duration for Semester
Examination (SE) will be 2.30 hours.

4.1.2. For CA there will be one assignment (offered in tutorial session) one quiz (administered
through e-learning) and one comprehensive test. The assignments and quiz will cover various parts

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of the module. The comprehensive test will have FIVE questions grouped in Sections A, B and C,
(with sub-parts). Section A will be composed of “true and false” questions and multiple-choice
questions. Section B will be comprised “matching items questions. Section C will be comprised
of a case studies and essay questions. The student will be required to answer all 5 questions.

Marks distribution for Comprehensive Test

Section No of items/questions Marks for each item Total

A 40 1 40
B 20 1 20
C 2 20 40
100%

4.1.3. For Semester Examination (SE), there will be 6 questions in sections A, B, C and D. Section
A will have 25 true and false items. Each item in this section will carry 1 mark. Section B will be
comprised of 25 multiple choice items, covering the various parts of the module. Each item in
section B will carry 1 mark. Section C will have 10 matching items, and each item will carry
1mark. Section D will be comprised of two open ended question, which will have a total of 40
marks.

Summary mark distribution for SE

Section No of items/questions Marks for each item Total

A 25 1 25
B 25 1 25
C 10 1 10
D 2 20 40
100%