SACAI POLICY ON THE MODERATION OF SCHOOL BASED ...

28 February 2013
SACAI POLICY ON THE MODERATION OF SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT (SBA)
Hierdie Assesseringsinstruksie sal so spoedig moontlik vertaal word.
1. Aim of this Assessment Instruction
The aim of Assessment Instruction 2013-19 is to ensure that institutions and learners who are
making use of SACAI’s services understand SACAI’s policy on the moderation of School
Based Assessment (SBA). Understanding the policy is important as it informs the procedures
that are to be followed with the moderation of SBA.
2. Terminology
2.1 Assessment Body
An assessment body is an institution that has been accredited by Umalusi to do assessment
relating to the National Senior Certificate, e.g. SACAI.
2.2 Assessment Centre
This is an institution such as an independent school or provider of educational services (e.g.
IMPAK) that has been registered by SACAI as an Assessment Centre (for more information
see Assessment Instruction 2013-18).
2.3 Sub-Centre
A sub-centre is a unit or institution that has been registered by an assessment centre as a
centre (for more information see Assessment Instruction 2013-18).
2.4 School Based Assessment (SBA)
Section 21 Company / Artikel 21 Maatskappy
Reg No: 2011/100445/08)
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GARSFONTEIN
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T: 012 348 4650/5650
F: 012 348 0393
E:info@sacai.co.za
School based assessment (SBA) comprises all the assessment that is done in the course of
the year and the results, if accepted by the examination authority, form 25% of the final
promotion mark (Gr 12 result) obtained by the learner. The mark obtained in the final
National Senior Certificate examination (NSC-examination) forms the other 75%.
SBA is done by means of daily assessment aimed at monitoring learner progress (informal
questions and answers, short tasks done during the lesson or as homework) and a formal
assessment programme.
The results of daily assessment are useful to both the learner and the teacher as they give
an indication of the learner’s progress but they do not count towards the SBA-mark.
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The formal assessment programme comprises a set of prescribed assessment tasks. The
results achieved in these tasks constitute the SBA-mark which forms 25% of the learner’s
final mark for the subject.
PLEASE NOTE: SACAI’s assessment programme in 2013 is aimed at assisting the learners to obtain a
valid SBA-mark for the final NSC-mark. The SBA-mark forms the 25% of the final mark obtained by the
learner for the NSC.
2.5 Monitoring
Monitoring is the process of maintaining regular surveillance over and regulating the quality
of a process. In the case of assessment and examination the monitoring focuses on the
assessment instruments and their application.
2.6 Moderation
Moderation is the process that ensures that the assessment of learners in terms of
prescribed contents and outcomes is fair, valid, reliable and consistent in the case of all the
learners in a particular group and previous cohorts of that group, in this case the Grade 12’s
who are preparing for the National Senior Certificate examinations (NSC examinations).
2.7 Pre-assessment moderation
Pre-assessment moderation comprises the evaluation of the assessment instruments before
they are put into use. The aim is to verify the reliability and validity as well as consistency,
level appropriateness, accessibility/comprehensibility of the instrument.
2.8 Post-assessment moderation
Post-assessment moderation comprises the evaluation of the assessment instrument and its
application after it has been put to use.
2.9 Internal moderation
Internal moderation is the moderation done by an assessment centre or sub-centre.
2.10 External moderation
External moderation is the moderation done by SACAI and Umalusi.
2.11 Continuous moderation
Continuous moderation is done whenever the continuous monitoring of the SBA shows that
there is a need for the moderation of assessment work that is being done by learners and/or
the results of such assessment work.
2.12 Summative moderation
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Summative moderation is internal and/or external moderation at a specific date and
comprises the moderation of all the assessment work done by all the learners up to that
date.
3. Policy on School Based Assessment (SBA)
SBA is done according to the policy of the Minister of Basic Education. The policy is set out
in a set of documents titled the Subject Assessment Guidelines (SAGs). There is an SAG for
each subject.
The SAGs specify the formal assessment tasks that the learner has to do during the first
three terms and the weighting of the results for the calculation of the final SBA-mark. A
summary of the tasks prescribed for each subject is provided in SACAI’s respective
subject guidelines. These summaries must be strictly adhered to.
4. Policy on the monitoring of School Based Assessment (SBA)
Monitoring of SBA is done at all levels throughout the year, internally and externally. Such
monitoring can result in an unscheduled moderation exercise, e.g. when there are indications
of non-compliance.
5. Policy on the moderation of SBA pertaining to the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
5.1 Internal moderation
Internal moderation should start as early as possible in the year and its frequency should
be determined by the continuous monitoring of the school based assessment under the
supervision of the head of the assessment centre or sub-centre.
Internal monitoring should be done by subject advisors randomly throughout the year.
Internal moderation should be done whenever the monitoring shows that assistance or an
intervention is required.
There should be at least three summative internal moderation sessions: One early in the
second term, one towards the middle of the year and a last one in the third term. At least
two of these are normally followed by an external moderation, first by the assessment
body (SACAI) and then by Umalusi.
The summative moderation is done only by experienced and appropriately qualified
educationists who have been trained as moderators.
The monitoring and moderation is done according to policy determined by the Minister of
Basic Education as set out in the Subject Assessment Guidelines and other relating policy
documents.
Moderation implies that the materials are assessed in terms of the minimum requirements
and that feedback is given to the learner. Such feedback might confirm that the work
complies with the policy requirements or it might include instructions that specific steps be
taken to improve the standard or to bring the work in line with policy requirements.
In the case of learners in assessment centres or sub-centres, the monitoring is done on a
random sampling basis and the feedback given to the teachers/learners is based on the
overall outcome of the moderation.
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In the case of learners who are not in assessment centres or sub-centres, each learner’s
portfolio is checked to determine compliance and 20% or a minimum of 5 of the portfolios
are moderated and separately reported on.
The moderated portfolios are sorted into three categories: Good, average and poor. The
80% not moderated are kept to be made available at the examining body’s (SACAI’s)
request.
5.2 External moderation
SACAI moderates 20% or a minimum of 5 of the moderated learner portfolios/tasks and
might decide to include a number of those that were not moderated by the assessment
centre.
Practical Assessment Tasks (PATs) and orals are moderated at a suitable venue
arranged by the institution/institutional network in consultation with SACAI. The
moderation is done by SACAI and learners are expected to demonstrate their mastering
of the relevant skills.
The teacher files of all the teachers involved are scrutinised by SACAI to determine
whether they comply with the requirements.
The last external moderation at national level may result in an adjustment of the marks of
some or all the learners of an assessment centre. In the case of missing marks and/or
pieces of evidence the learners are given a 777 (outstanding, reason not yet known), a
444 (incomplete without valid reason), a 999 (absent with valid reason) or 888 (candidate
has withdrawn).
6. System for moderation of SBA pertaining to the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
6.1 Preparation for internal moderation
Formal agreements (memorandums of understanding) are concluded between SACAI
and each assessment centre. The agreement stipulates the roles and responsibilities of
both parties.
SACAI annually presents a training course early in the year which is compulsory for all
persons who have for the first time been made responsible for summative moderation of
SBA and SBA marks.
SACAI early every year announces the SBA moderation programme for the year. The
programme for 2013 is at Annexure 1.
The assessment centres submit the names and contact details of all the persons who
they will use as regional or national moderators to SACAI.
6.2 System for internal moderation
6.2.1 Moderation at institutional level
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Moderation at institutional level starts in the beginning of the year and is done on a
continuous basis. However, at least one summative moderation is done every term.
The moderation is done by the subject head or person identified by the principal and is
done according to the moderation policy and the portfolio guidelines for each subject.
The principal/head of centre monitors the process.
Completed reports are placed in the teacher’s file - only one report per subject area.
The report must be signed by the subject teacher, subject/phase head and the principal/
head of the assessment centre or sub-centre.
The principal/head of the assessment centre or sub-centre makes written comments.
The quarterly summary sheet is dispatched in accordance with the prescribed closing
dates to the SACAI office.
The monitor for the subject area completes the teacher’s portfolio report. The completed
report is placed in the teacher’s portfolio.
The teacher’s file must always be submitted with the learner portfolios.
The teacher’s file must contain the relevant policy documents (the DBE’s SAGs at least),
the memoranda and/or rubrics of all the tasks the learners have done and according to
which they were marked.
Subject advisors visit as many as possible institutions and monitor the SBA work. They
provide assistance and guidance wherever needed.
INSTITUTIONAL
LEVEL
Assessment centre
or sub-centre
moderates throughout
the year with one
summative
moderation per term
Home scholar’s work
moderated by tutor
FLOW DIAGRAMME OF THE SBA MODERATION SYSTEM
REGIONAL
LEVEL
Regional interschoolmoderation
or by subject
advisors of
assessment
centre
(20% sample)
National
moderation by
subject advisors
of assessment
centre
Feedback to
sub-centres, if
no sub-centres
then directly to
learner (20%
sample moderated,
100% of
those not in
institutions
checked for
compliance)
NATIONAL
LEVEL
External
moderation by
SACAI twice
per year
6.2.2 Moderation by the sub-centres or assessment centres mutually or at regional level
External
moderation by
Umalusi
Marks possibly adjusted at any of the three
moderations
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SACAI’s policy on regional moderation is as follows:
▫ Three rounds of inter-sub-centre or inter-assessment centre moderation take place
annually.
▫ The assessment centre in consultation with SACAI determines the dates for the
summative moderations.
▫ Teachers in the region are identified each year to moderate the portfolios for that
subject in accordance with the portfolio guidelines for each subject.
▫ During regional moderation all the Gr. 12 learner portfolios are moderated. The
portfolios of Gr. 10 and 11 learners are moderated on a sampling basis. Portfolios
from different learners are selected each time.
▫ The regional moderators complete a prescribed moderation report for all the
portfolios/tasks in the subject (Annexure 2). Only one teacher moderation report is
completed for each subject.
▫ Copies of all the learner reports as well as the teacher report are dispatched to the
SACAI national office.
6.2.3 Moderation at national level by the assessment centre
The moderation done by an assessment centre that does not have sub-centres and is not
part of a network of assessment centres is regarded as national moderation.
National moderation takes place at least three times a year on dates as determined by
SACAI after consultation with the assessment centre. The dates follow those for the
regional moderation if such moderation is applicable.
National moderation is done by the subject advisors of the assessment centre for the
various subjects.
The sub-centres/assessment centres submit all the Grade 12 learner portfolios and a
sample of the Grade 10 and 11 learner portfolios or tasks at a central point as determined
by the assessment centre in consultation with SACAI. The portfolios for all the subjects
are moderated at the same time.
Feedback is given to the sub-centre or if there is no sub-centre involved, to the
teacher/learner. The feedback to sub-centres is done in terms of all the learners whose
materials were moderated, e.g. a class, while in the case of individual learners where no
sub-centre is involved the feedback is given to every learner in terms of his/her materials.
The subject advisor reports are submitted to SACAI for external moderation.
6.3 System for external moderation
6.3.1 External moderation by SACAI
SACAI appoints moderators annually who are experienced in assessment design, know
the learning area well and are sufficiently qualified.
External moderation by SACAI follows after each summative moderation done by the
assessment centre.
SACAI ensures that the moderators are in possession of all policy, guidelines and other
information pertaining to SBA moderation.
SACAI monitors the summative moderation process and moderates the moderated
portfolios on a random sampling basis.
SACAI’s verifies compliance of the materials that were not included in the samples for
moderation.
6.3.2 External moderation by Umalusi
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External moderation is done by Umalusi at least once and that is in September, according
to a programme prepared by SACAI in consultation with Umalusi.
Monitoring results or other developments might result in Umalusi deciding to request
another external moderation earlier in the year.
The moderation is done by moderators appointed by Umalusi.
The moderation is done at the institution or facilities of SACAI.
Subjects as well as candidates are selected on a sample basis as determined by
Umalusi.
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