Internal verification

What is internal verification?

Internal verification or standardisation is the process whereby a centre ensures it operates consistently and to national standards in interpreting and assessing the key skills.

Standards moderation, a method whereby an awarding body assures quality, looks at a whole centre rather than at individual programme areas separately. Therefore it is vital that internal verification ensures consistency and accuracy across the whole centre in a similar way.

When should internal verification be done?

Internal verification should be carried out on a regular basis (for example, two or three times a year). It should sample assessment decisions from all programme areas, all candidates, all assessors and all key skills.

Clearly, the management of internal verification will vary from centre to centre depending on size, key skills offered, and so forth. It may involve just one or two members of staff or a whole team. Similarly internal verifiers may be specific to one key skill area, or may verify in more than one area, depending on their expertise and time.

What records should be kept?

A record of internal verification should be kept. It should show which portfolios and which units have been verified, indicate whether assessment decisions were upheld or changed, and report any feedback given to the assessor(s).

Successful internal verification ensures quality and confidence when submitting portfolios for external quality assurance and candidate certification. Further information and documentation for internal verification can be obtained from your awarding body.