Link to ITQ assessment criteria

1. Index

1. Introduction

2. Common features

3. Evidence

4. The qualifications

• Entry 1 and 2 (Bronze 1 2 and 3)
• Level 1 (Silver)
• Level 2 (Gold)

Click on the Index link to go to the start of that section

2. Introduction

Ingot assessment is designed to be formative and personalised. Common features are listed first, then an explanation of details for individual qualifications.

3. Common features

1. Assessment criteria are provided for each unit. The assessor must make a judgement about the learner's performance in relation to each of the criteria statements.
2. The assessor judgment is recorded as L, S or H against the assessment criteria.
3. All the assessment criteria start out as N meaning no assessment evidence.
4. When there is some evidence that the learner has made some progress towards a particular criterion but there is insufficient evidence of full and secure competence, the assessor records L meaning lower than.
5. When there is sufficient evidence that the learner can securely meet the requirements of the particular statement, the assessor records S meaning Secure in these requirements.
6. If there is clear evidence that the learner is performing above and beyond the stated level, the assessor records H meaning higher.
7. When all the criteria in a given unit are at S or H, the learner has successfully passed the unit.

4. Evidence

The evidence of the learner achieving a unit can be provided in many ways. Most often for the Level 1 and level 2 qualifications it will be through an e-portfolio of web pages related to the assessment criteria and witness statements by the assessors. For entry level qualifications assessor witness statements, individual files, lesson plans and results recorded for internally set tests and tasks are all acceptable. There is guidance associated with each of the criteria linked to them in the relevant pages on the web site. TLM does not rigidly specify how evidence should be gathered as different evidence will suit different circumstances and we don't want assessment to dictate learning. However, we do need evidence and so assessors should be able to justify the judgements they have made against the criteria by providing evidence to their Account Manager.

5. The qualifications

5.1. Entry levels 1, 2 and 3 (Bronze 1, Bronze 2 and Bronze 3)

Entry Level 1 - IPU - 6 criteria all matched as "Secure" by trained assessor to pass

Entry Level 2 - IPU - 6 criteria all matched as "Secure" by trained assessor to pass

Entry Level 3 - IPU and at least one other unit to pass

Trained assessors match criteria during general learning activities. Evidence of activities from schemes of work and lesson plans are verified by the Account Manager at annual visit and by dialogue with assessors in the course of normal work. Assessor requests award when all criteria are graded "S" or higher in the on-line mark book. Account Manager authorises certification when satisfied that this certification is justified. The assessor should be prepared to provide evidence on request from the Account Manager

Pass at Entry Level 1 can satisfy all the requirements for English NC level 1

Pass at Entry Level 2 can satisfy al the requirements for English NC level 2

Pass at Entry Level 3 can satisfy all the requirements for English NC level 3

Optional non-accredited certificates for NC Level teacher assessment are available to recognise this achievement.

5.2 Level 1 (Silver)

Level 1 ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills (Open Systems and Enterprise) 13 credits - The Silver INGOT

Each unit requires all criteria in the unit to be "S" (secure) in order for the unit to be passed. The assessor should ensure that there is sufficient evidence in the learner's e-portfolio to justify the designation of "S" to criteria. This evidence should be drawn at least in part from a small scale enterprise project where the learner works collaboratively with others to investigate something or produce a report or resource useful to others. This should be several hours work drawing on skills from across the units and contributing specifically to the unit Improving Productivity Using ICT. There are some example project briefs here.

The assessor should be familiar with the assessment criteria and their links to the National Curriculum APP criteria.  Achieving a pass in the ITQ can then result in The TLM NC IT certificate Level 5 (non-accredited).  The assessor guidance is designed to put the ITQ assessment criteria into contexts that cover the National Curriculum Programme of Study at Level 5 so that a pass will automatically map to National Curriculum Level 5.

5.3 Level 2 (Gold)

ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills (Open Systems and Enterprise) Minimum 16 credits

Using technology to support working with others to learn or create resources

Pass - 1 mandatory unit at Level 2 (IPU) 4 credits. Optional units of 12 credits or more with at least 5 at level 2 or above and 7 from the ITQ framework. Up to 4 credits from a sector specific unit at any relevant level.

Exempt units: ICT Skills for Life, ICT Essential Skills (NI).

Equivalent units Functional Skills

Current points allocated 46 equivalent to those of a grade B GCSE.

Evidence

The assessor should ensure that there is sufficient evidence in the learner's e-portfolio to justify the designation of L, S or H to criteria. This evidence should be drawn at least in part from a small scale enterprise project where the learner works collaboratively with others to investigate something or produce a report or resource useful to others. This should be at least 20  hours of work drawing on skills from across the units and contributing specifically to the unit "Improving Productivity Using ICT". Longer projects are fine as long as there is appropriate evidence from them across the relevant criteria. There are some example project briefs here.

For candidates achieving level 3 units, there should be a clear outcome from the unit that is useful to other people and of a good standard of presentation. The presentation should be produced in web pages and might build on work in the small scale enterprise project or be a new project in its own right. A good subject would be to produce Javascript puzzles to teach something useful there are examples and documentation about how to do this on the community site here.

If assessors provide evidence that the learner has covered the NC programmes of study as a result of their work using the guidance and links from the assessment criteria, there is the optional TLM Gold INGOT NC certificate (non-accredited).