Moderation of qualifications and assessment
Moderation is a process to make sure that qualifications and assessments are valid, fair and consistent. Read about why moderation is important, our moderation systems, who our moderators are and what we learn from moderation.
Why moderation is important
Our two moderation systems
How moderation works
Moderation outcomes
Who are our moderators?
For further information
Why moderation is important
Moderation is a core component of our quality assurance system. Tranzqual is required by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to manage a moderation system as part of our own continued accreditation as an Industry Training Organisation.
Moderation is a statutory requirement and is also regarded as best practice. It ensures consistency and improves quality.
We use moderation to ensure that assessments completed against unit standards are fair, valid, consistent and meet the national standard.
Our two moderation systems
Tranzqual operates two moderation systems, internal moderation and external moderation:
- Internal moderation includes the quality assurance of assessment materials and assessment decisions for those unit standards reported using Tranzqual's accreditation.
- External moderation is designed to assure the quality of assessments conducted by other NZQA accredited organisations against unit standards for which Tranzqual is the standard setting body.
Every year Tranzqual reviews the assessment results conducted by NZQA accredited organisations (for external moderation) and Tranzqual registered assessors (for internal moderation).
Accredited organisations and Tranzqual registered assessors who are selected to participate in moderation will be advised by letter of what is required.
How moderation works
To comply with Tranzqual's moderation requirements, assessors and organisations selected for moderation must:
- acknowledge receipt of the moderation request
- provide assessment materials when requested
- make a commitment to improve practices where issues are identified.
Taking part in the moderation system is a condition of an assessor's continued registration with Tranzqual. Organisations are required to participate in moderation as a condition of their accreditation.
Moderation outcomes
Moderation is designed to inform and assist all involved. Information gathered through the moderation process is used to help Tranzqual, accredited organisations and our network of assessors, to identify weaknesses in their practices and make improvements.
Information from moderation is used for:
- reviewing and revising unit standards
- developing and revising assessment materials and study guides
- targeting support systems and processes to assist our industries in problem areas
- informing the assessor registration system by identifying assessors who have significant learning needs.
Who are our moderators?
We select our moderators primarily from our current assessor network, based on what the organisation or individual has recently assessed. Wherever possible we ensure our moderators collectively have experience from across a number of the industries in our coverage.
Tranzqual will normally approach an assessor who is considered by the industry to demonstrate excellent assessment practices, to offer them the opportunity to take part in moderation work. We also welcome applications from our assessor network, which we refer to when a moderator position becomes available.
For further information
For more information about moderation please contact our Quality Assurance Manager on 0800 4QUALS (0800 478257).