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Notes for Moderating Assessment Processes
What is moderation?
When planning for delivery of VET courses, RTOs must consult with industry in the development of
appropriate learning and assessment strategies. They must then document the methods and
processes that they will use to validate these.
The AQTF 2007 states that an RTO must validate its assessment strategies by:

reviewing, comparing and evaluating the assessment processes, tools and evidence
contributing to judgements made by a range of assessors against the same units of
competency, at least annually

documenting any action taken to improve the quality and consistency of assessment.
Validation activities are also an important tool for quality improvement, and a means for discussion
and development between training and assessment staff. Validation is the confirmation that
something is fit for a purpose, while moderation is the process by which validation occurs.
Internal moderation is done by the assessors within the RTO. External moderation relates to
assessors working across a number of RTOs.
What is validated through moderation?
The following tools and processes require validation through moderation:

Assessment tools (to confirm that the tools used during assessment to gather evidence
meet the requirements of the AQTF)

Assessment processes (to confirm that the processes used to conduct assessment and
gather evidence meet the requirements of the AQTF

Evidence (is reviewed and compared to confirm consistency of assessment outcomes).
If the moderation process does not validate the assessment processes, tools or outcomes, then
actions should be documented to demonstrate how quality and consistency of assessment will be
improved.
Moderation process
The following is a general guide for conducting a moderation process:

Plan a moderation meeting (date, time, venue, participants, method (eg face to face,
teleconference etc).

Consult with all members prior to the meeting to discuss and agree to a listing of units of
competency which will be the focus of validation. Allow approximately one hour for each
unit of competency.

Ensure that each participant brings along relevant documentation, ie copies of the unit(s)
of competency, assessment plans, tools and documentation, examples of evidence etc.

Nominate a participant to facilitate the meeting, and a participant to take notes as an
official record of the meeting.

Facilitate discussion and debate of assessment evidence and documents, and agreement
to changes or improvements needed, actions to be taken and by whom.