Assessment performance management
Ensuring that examinations and examining processes perform as expected is an essential part of any Awarding Organisation’s quality assurance processes, and provides the underpinning confidence that candidates’ results are fair and reliable.
AlphaPlus has extensive experience of quantitative methods for assessment performance management (both classical test theory and item response theory approaches), and of the processes and workflow employed to assure quality. We work with graded/compensatory models of assessment, minimum competence and criterion-based assessments. Our team involves staff who have held senior roles in UK Awarding Organisations.
We undertake statistical performance monitoring both in-programme and post-hoc for a number of clients. We also monitor marking, moderation, standardisation and grading/awarding processes as part of a number of evaluation projects for high stakes qualifications. This work includes comparability over time and cross-cohort monitoring for fairness – one of the major challenges facing Awarding Organisations today.
Clients
- For the Driving Standards Agency, we undertake performance management activities for the UK Driving Theory Tests (for car, bike, lorry and passenger transport vehicle drivers, and for approved driving instructors). This suite of tests represent the world’s largest on-screen testing programme with around 2 million candidates each year
- For QCDA, we monitor assessment performance of Functional Skills as part of the Independent Evaluation
- For QCDA, we monitor assessment processes for the new specification GCSEs and A levels in England and Wales
- We undertake performance management consultancy for a number of major UK vocational Awarding Organisations.
