KEY POINTS:
NZQA will conduct a pilot study into the use of random sampling in moderation of internal assessment in secondary schools in September.
A total of 89 schools are scheduled to have internal assessment moderated in September, as part of normal moderation cycles.
NZ Qualifications Authority has requested the schools retain all internally assessed student work for the Level 3 standards already selected for moderation. From these, random samples will be selected.
The pilot study will investigate the outcomes of moderation from the random samples of candidate work compared with the outcomes from self-selected samples.
Currently, moderation guidelines state that schools should send work at the borderline of grades, with the aim of focusing on professional development by teachers.
Deputy chief executive, qualifications, Bali Haque, said the NZQA was committed to continuing improvement in all areas of its work and the study was a result of considering possible options to improve further the robustness of internal assessment.
"We have confidence in the current system of moderation, and the professionalism of teachers," he said.
"The random sampling pilot is a way of looking at further quality assurance of our systems."
- NZPA
