Controlled Assessment Policy and Procedure
1. Introduction
Ayurva Academy run therapy based courses that include counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and clinical supervision. From time to time it may be required that one or more of our students may require an alternative way to undertake their exams or assessments. This may be due to mental or physical reasons, or conditions such as dyslexia. To this end, Ayurva Academy may permit students to achieve their goals by undertaking a Controlled Assessment.
2. Scope
A controlled assessment, sometimes called non-exam Assessment (NEA), is a significant piece of coursework that contributes to a student’s grade, assessed under supervised conditions. This supervised condition may have limitations on resources to ensure the work is the student’s own. For example, a therapy session role play or Viva assessment rather than exam. This allows students to demonstrate skills and knowledge not easily tested in traditional exams, such as research, independent thinking, and practical ability.
The “controlled” aspect means that a tutor or invigilator oversees the assessment process, ensuring its fairness and authenticity.
3. Key Characteristics of Controlled Assessment
Tutor-Marked and Exam Board Moderated: Tutors assess the work, but the assessment is then submitted to the internal moderator to ensure consistent standards prior to accreditation submission.
Supervised Environment: Assessments are completed in class under the supervision of a tutorr or invigilator, ensuring a high degree of control.
Resource Limitations: Students may have limited access to resources, such as the internet, which is a key difference from traditional coursework.
Authenticity: The “controlled” nature helps ensure the submitted work genuinely reflects the student’s own effort, style and ability.
Subject-Specific Skills: Controlled assessments are designed to test skills and knowledge specific to a subject that might be difficult to assess in a timed exam.
Variety of Formats: Work can take many forms, including projects, presentations, or discussions with a tutor within Viva settings.
Contribution to Grades: These tasks contribute directly to the final grade for the qualification.
4. Levels of control:
The assessment is structured according to specific levels of control set by the examining and accrediting body:
High control: The work is completed under formal exam conditions, with strict time limits and no external resources or help allowed. The write-up phase is often conducted under high control.
Medium control: Work is supervised, but conditions are more informal. Limited tutor guidance and access to resources (including the internet) may be permitted. Time restrictions may or may not be in place.
Limited control: Research and planning stages are often under limited control. Students can work independently, including at home, with unrestricted access to resources.
5. Quality Assurance
Inspection/observation of the controlled assessments the Senior Management Team reserves the right to carry out unannounced audit visits at Ayurva courses to confirm these regulations are being adhered to.
The following policy is required for Ayurva and accreditation bodies inspection purposes:
All centres must follow this policy covering the management of controlled assessments.
This is supported by the companies including risk management and staff responsibilities, and controls to maintain the security and confidentiality of assessment, as appropriate to your centre
To ensure visits can be carried out in a timely manner: on arrival at the centre, the company senior manager or accrediting representative will introduce themselves and explain the reason for the visit
storage facilities for the assessment materials will be reviewed, along with the location of the assessment and the processes in place for the controlled assessments
the senior manager or accrediting body representative may request to speak to any individuals involved in the assessment delivery at the centre
the findings of the observation will be discussed with the tutors at the end of the visit
a completed report will be made available to the centre following the visit.
6. Administering the Controlled Assessment
Identification of students
It is essential that students are identified prior to the assessment and provided with the format of the controlled assessment. This is to ensure the students have sufficient time to prepare and authenticity and to prevent potential malpractice and maladministration.
Transportation of Assessment Materials
The assessing tutor must collect controlled assessment materials from their secure storage immediately prior to scheduled assessment time. This may include case studies, video recording equipment or other assessment materials.
Administering the Controlled Assessment
The assessing tutor is required to play a key role in the quality control of the controlled assessment process and is required to:
arrive at the assessment location in good time
ensure that the room is set up in accordance with the requirements of the assessment (for example a therapy session) and with these regulations
distribute the assessment material to students withing the agreed format and time frame
ensure that the appropriate information from the assessment pack and learning outcomes is read out to learners prior to the assessment
ensure that students only have access to the appropriate resources as allowed or required by the assessment
ensure that students understand what is required of them during the task
advise students to read all instructions carefully
ensure that students know how to show their preferred answer, respond or ideas, and how to alter their answer if they change their mind
be alert and observe students at all times during the assessment. This includes students who are observing the assessment
ensure that the assessment is supervised continuously
ensure that the length of time allocated for the assessment does not fall short or over run the authorised time specified on the assessment materials
take assessment materials and student answers/evidence from any students who leave the assessment location before the specified end of the controlled assessment
collect in all reading matter, assessment materials (used and unused) and student answers/evidence at the end of the controlled assessment
ensure that students enter their personal information onto the front cover of the assessment materials. If the assessment is a video recording of a therapy session the student must clearly say their name and date at the start of the session so it is recorded accordingly
check that the number of completed assessments agrees with the names and number of students attending the controlled assessment
complete the appropriate documents and assessment templates
return all assessment materials to the internal verifier for secure storage once marked, or for destruction if unused
7. End of the Controlled Assessment
At the end of the assessment, students must be instructed to:
Stop writing/working
Check their personal details are completed and correct
Label their work as required
Hand all evidence to the assessing tutor
If the controlled assessment is delivered in a triad setting the observing students are given clear instructions as to the format of feedback required for the students who was assessed.
If students have used paper for notes or workings that does not need to be submitted as evidence, they must be handed to the tutors for disposal. All controlled assessment materials must be collected before students leave the assessment room.