Grading and standardisation update
Our evaluation of the grading for NextGen: HN qualifications is now largely complete. We have a well-defined approach with a set of design principles, templates and guidance which will remain consistent across all NextGen: HN qualifications.
The key design principles are that:
- the qualifications will have whole qualification grading – a learner's achievement across the breadth of the qualification content will be reflected in their final grade
- the learner will receive a grade of Achieved, Achieved with Merit, or Achieved with Distinction
- the grade will be based on a grading matrix with a set of holistic criteria that reflect the key characteristics expected of a learner who has successfully completed the qualification
- the learner's engagement with, planning around, and reflection on meta-skills will form part of their final grade
We believe these principles will bring a robustness and reliability to the qualifications as they roll out to more centres over the coming years.
Alongside this, as part of our evaluation, we have identified a clear requirement for a national standardisation process, which will be applied to all NextGen: HN qualifications when the roll out to centres beyond the pilot.
This standardisation process will ensure that grades awarded at different centres, and over time, for the same qualification, will be awarded at the same standard of learner achievement. We will share more information on this approach as we define it over the coming months.
The standardisation approach will be supported by a new set of overall grading descriptors. These are a refinement of the descriptors used during the pilot, and are now closely aligned to the SCQF framework to ensure usability and a shared understanding across the Scottish education community.
More information on these principles, the approach to standardisation, and the updated grade descriptors, will be shared in the form of a short video soon to be uploaded to our website, and a more detailed e-learning module on SQA Academy, which we expect to be available in the next few months.