ASQA | Spotlight On validation, Chapter 1
Achieving an effective approach
Chapter 1 looks at how to use validation to get the best out of your assessment systems
Validation is a quality review process aimed to assist you as a provider to continuously improve your assessment processes and outcomes by identifying future improvements.
Validation explained
Validation is used in VET to promote and enhance quality practices in assessment.
Validation confirms quality
The Outcome Standards define validation as the review of the assessment system to ensure that:
- assessment tools are consistent with the training product and the requirements set out in this instrument [National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Outcome Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations) Instrument 2025]; and
- assessments and assessment judgements are producing consistent outcomes.
A statistically valid sample is one that is taken randomly from the set of assessment judgements under consideration. It should be sufficiently large so that the validated outcomes can be applied to the entire set of judgements.
Effective validation
An effective validation process will both confirm what is being done right, but also identify areas for opportunities for improvement.
To achieve an effective validation approach, you should ensure that assessment tools, systems and judgements:
- have complied with the requirements of the training package and the Rules of Evidence and Principles of Assessment
- are appropriate to the contexts and conditions of assessment (this may include considering whether the assessment reflects real work-based contexts and meets industry requirements)
- have tasks that demonstrate an appropriate level of difficulty in relation to the skills and knowledge requirements of the unit
- use instructions that can clearly explain the tasks to be administered to the learner resulting in similar or cohesive evidence provided by each learner
- outline appropriate reasonable adjustments for gathering of assessment evidence
- assessment samples validate recording and reporting processes with sufficient instructions for the assessor on collecting evidence, making a judgement, and recording the outcomes
- the quality of performance is supported with evidence criteria. (If the assessment samples demonstrate the judgements made about each learner are markedly different, this may indicate that decision-making rules do not ensure consistency of judgement)
- adhere to the requirements of the RTO’s assessment system
Validation occurs after assessment
Validation activities, are conducted after assessments are completed. This is so that you can consider the validity of both assessment practices and assessment judgements, to identify future improvements to the assessment tool, process and outcomes.
Validation processes and activities include:
- gathering sufficient sample of completed assessment tools
- testing how the tools and the systems in place, including assessment instructions and resources, impact the assessment findings
- check whether assessments were conducted as intended
- check whether the outcomes reflect students are fully competent.
Keeping assessment in check
Conducting a validation helps maintain the integrity of assessment outcomes and supports compliance with the 2025 Standards.
Verify that the tools:
- meet the requirements of the training package
- are designed to ensure assessment is conducted with the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence.
This will ensure that:
- future students can be accurately and consistently assessed
- your assessment system meets the compliance obligations in 2025 Standards.
Validation
- occurs after assessment is finalised
- remains a requirement of the Standards
- retrospectively reviews an assessment system and practices to make future improvements
- requires a structure to ensure the review process is successful.