Glossary
Range statement
In a unit standard, these statements refer to the type or number of tasks required to achieve, or to important aspects of the unit standard.
Record of learning (ROL)
For NCEA each candidate receives a record of learning in January that shows all the credits they have earned to date.
Reliability
The measure of consistency of an assessment tool. The tool should give similar results over time with similar populations in similar circumstances.
Self-assessment
A process in which a student engages in a systematic review of their progress and achievement, usually for the purpose of improvement. It may involve comparison with an exemplar, success criteria, or other criteria. It may also involve critiquing one's own work or a description of the achievement obtained.
Standards-based assessment
A standard-based assessment assesses learner achievement in relation to set standards. The NCEA uses standards to show what students know and can do. Standards are written statements that describe exactly what a student has to know and be able to do in order to be awarded a unit or achievement standard and therefore gain credits towards the NCEA (or other qualification). A student's achievement is benchmarked or compared to an expected level, rather than to other students' achievements (norm-based assessment).
Success criteria
Success criteria (learning outcomes/indicators) describe what students have learnt or how students are aiming to achieve a learning goal (in relation to a learning intention). The purpose of success criteria is to ensure students understand the teacher's criteria for making judgements about their work. Success criteria are always richly contextualised. If they have been involved in the creation of success criteria students are more likely to take more ownership for their learning, be self-evaluative as they are working, and questioning about the assessed work as it evolves. Measuring whether a single learning intention has been met (whether it has become an outcome) may involve co-constructing several success criteria.
Summative assessment
This is an evaluation made by the teacher at the conclusion of a unit of work, instruction, or assessment activity to assess student skills, knowledge, and understandings at that particular point in time, or the validity of an assessment task.
Unit standard
The unit standard describes learning outcomes based on national curriculum statements as well as the expectations of tertiary providers and relevant industry groups. The standard establishes the criteria against which the level of attainment (not achieved/achieved or pass/fail) is measured.