Assessment procedure

A variety of assessment methods will be used to ensure flexible and accurate judgements can be made. A minimum of three assessment types is required to be used to determine competency to reflect industry application and knowledge in the workplace.  There is a general explanation of the assessment methods below however specific explanations and instructions are inserted in every assessment tool and Assessment Plan for each Unit of Competency.  Assessment methods may include but are not limited to:

Scenarios – are where the candidate demonstrates competency within a given scenario.  The assessor would provide feedback during the assessment and provide alternate possible situations of which the learner needs to adjust their answer or demonstration.   

Knowledge Test – assessing the knowledge aspects of the learning.  Questions could be in the form of true/false, multiple-choice and short answers.

Individual Activities – are where candidates have to research or embark on a particular learning activity on their own before as part of collecting evidence of knowledge or skills.

Group Activities – are where candidates research in pairs or in groups to research or embark on a particular learning activity as part of collecting evidence of knowledge or skills.

Written Assignment/Report – are fairly major assignments in producing a written report that has a holistic approach but has clear divisional parts, which could have separate due dates.

Observation and Demonstration – is focusing on the assessment of skills and the candidate is demonstrating the competency before the assessor.

Workbook Activities – when a learner is provided with a workbook for the unit, s/he is to complete all the tasks within to gain the relevant competency.  The activities are designed to work through attaining the unit’s knowledge and skills. 

Self-assessment – as part of the assessment, learners are given the opportunity to self assess their development in attaining the units’ competency. 

Case Studies or projects – is where a candidate is given (factual) background on a particular business case or where a candidate embarks on a project arising from the business case.  Learners need to demonstrate that they have a comprehensive understanding of the issues that arise in the case and are able to evaluate and make appropriate recommendations in accordance with the elements of competency as part of their answer.

The trainer at the beginning of each unit provides assessment requirements for each unit.  All assessment requirements are to be undertaken within the required timeframe.  Assessment activities such as written tests will be given during class times while practical activities assessed in simulated job environments will be organised for a mutually acceptable time.

Teachers will discuss all aspects of assessment requirements prior to the activity being conducted.  You will be rated as competent ‘C’ or not yet competent ‘NYC’ for each activity undertaken.  Additional reasonable attempts will be given for each activity until competency is achieved.  This is to be negotiated with your Trainer/Assessor if required.  An opportunity for a re-assessment will be given within the period of the unit attempted.  Re-assessment after the unit can be arranged but administration costs will apply. (See below details of re-assessments.)

The Australian Academy of Commerce will ensure to provide quality control across the range of assessment services by regularly reviewing the assessment outcomes and providing a second assessor at times to review competence to ensure consistency of assessments, under the assessment validation sector requirement.

Students have the right of appeal to apply in writing to the Principal within two weeks of assessment if the assessment has not been fair.  In the event that you are not satisfied with an assessment decision or process, the following procedure applies:

1. Discuss the matter with the trainer/assessor;
2. If the matter is unresolved, complete and submit the Improvement Action Record format the reception desk. 
3. Your appeal will be examined by the Principal &/or the Academic Consultant;
4. If the matter remains unresolved then the Principal and the client will nominate an independent arbitrator to examine the matter (ACPET);

If the matter is unresolved, then the student would be advised to take the matter to the educational State Training Authority, which is the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) in NSW.

If a student receives a ‘not yet competent’ in a specific assessment, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Trainer/Assessor and make arrangements to be re-assessed.

Re-assessments need to be done within the time period allocated to the unit otherwise standard administration costs (AU$100 per hour) will apply. This is also in line with student visa requirements of academic performance.  Please collect the Late Re-Assessment Form in the office to make special arrangements with your assessor and administrator for late re-assessments.

To be re-assessed, the student with the Trainer/Assessor has to fill in the Re-Assessment Form.  A student who wishes to extend their visa because their results have shown ‘Not Yet Competent’ will be allowed to do so only once (see ‘Extension of Studies’ section below) and additional fees may apply.  Therefore, it is in the student’s interest to succeed in the re-assessment during the period of enrolment.

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