Standards for the Design, Administration, Marking, Quality Assurance, Security, and Approval of Assessments
Summary
The ATU-CPAC Assessment Standards provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring that assessment is valid, reliable, fair, secure, transparent, and evidence-based.
These standards ensure that candidates are assessed against approved learning outcomes, competency frameworks, professional requirements, and clear assessment criteria.
Through strong assessment design, secure administration, qualified assessors, internal quality assurance, external oversight, and continuous improvement, ATU-CPAC protects the credibility of ATU-issued professional certifications, assessed certificates, and completion-based credentials.
1. Purpose of the Standards
The ATU-CPAC Assessment Standards define the requirements for designing, approving, administering, marking, verifying, recording, and quality assuring assessments used in professional certification programs, assessed training programs, completion-based programs, practical evaluations, portfolio reviews, examinations, and other approved assessment activities.
These standards are intended to ensure that assessment decisions are valid, reliable, fair, transparent, impartial, evidence-based, secure, and professionally credible.
Assessment under ATU-CPAC must confirm that candidates or learners have achieved the required learning outcomes, competencies, professional skills, knowledge, ethical requirements, and performance expectations.
ATU-CPAC regulates and governs assessment requirements, while all final certificate and professional certification decisions remain under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.
Standard 1: Assessment Governance and Authority
1.1 Assessment Authority
All assessments used for ATU-CPAC-governed programs must be approved, controlled, and quality assured according to ATU-CPAC requirements.
Approved providers, assessors, assessment centers, and partners shall conduct assessment activities only within their approved scope.
1.2 Assessment Scope
Each assessment must be linked to an approved program, certification scheme, assessed training program, competency framework, or learning outcome structure.
1.3 Separation of Roles
The assessment system must clearly distinguish between:
- Training delivery
- Candidate preparation
- Assessment administration
- Assessment marking
- Internal quality assurance
- External quality assurance
- Result approval
- Certification or certificate decision
- Certificate issuance
1.4 Final Decision Authority
Assessment results shall support certification or certificate decisions, but the final decision to issue an ATU credential remains under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union through approved ATU-CPAC procedures.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment policy
- Assessment responsibility matrix
- Approved assessment scope
- Assessment approval records
- Assessment governance procedure
- Assessor authorization records
- Result approval procedure
- Certification decision procedure
- Version control records
Standard 2: Assessment Strategy
2.1 Assessment Strategy Requirement
Each approved program or certification must have a documented assessment strategy explaining how assessment will confirm achievement of the required learning outcomes, competencies, and professional standards.
2.2 Assessment Strategy Components
The assessment strategy should include:
- Purpose of assessment
- Target candidates or learners
- Learning outcomes or competencies assessed
- Assessment methods
- Assessment components
- Assessment weighting
- Passing requirements
- Assessment conditions
- Evidence requirements
- Marking approach
- Feedback arrangements
- Retake or resubmission rules
- Quality assurance arrangements
- Security controls
- Recordkeeping requirements
2.3 Alignment with Program Purpose
Assessment must be appropriate to the purpose, level, complexity, and professional expectations of the program or certification.
2.4 Assessment Mix
Where appropriate, assessments should use a balanced mix of knowledge, application, performance, and evidence-based methods.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment strategy document
- Assessment plan
- Assessment map
- Competency-to-assessment alignment matrix
- Assessment weighting table
- Assessment approval records
- Quality assurance plan
- Review and update records
Standard 3: Assessment Design and Development
3.1 Assessment Design Principles
Assessments must be designed to be:
- Valid
- Reliable
- Fair
- Transparent
- Practical
- Secure
- Inclusive
- Evidence-based
- Appropriate to level
- Aligned with approved criteria
3.2 Assessment Blueprint
Each assessment should have a blueprint that defines:
- Assessment components
- Content areas
- Competencies assessed
- Learning outcomes assessed
- Question or task types
- Weighting
- Duration
- Difficulty level
- Passing score
- Critical criteria
- Evidence requirements
- Assessment conditions
3.3 Assessment Tools
Assessment tools shall include:
- Written examination
- Online examination
- Scenario-based questions
- Case study assessment
- Practical task
- Professional project
- Portfolio of evidence
- Workplace evidence
- Observation checklist
- Oral questioning
- Professional discussion
- Simulation
- Presentation
- Reflective report
- Viva or interview
- Role play
- Performance demonstration
3.4 Assessment Instructions
Assessment instructions must be clear, complete, and accessible to candidates, assessors, invigilators, and internal quality assurers.
3.5 Approval Before Use
Assessment instruments must be reviewed and approved before being used with candidates or learners.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment blueprint
- Assessment instruments
- Candidate assessment briefs
- Assessor guides
- Marking schemes
- Rubrics
- Observation checklists
- Model answers where applicable
- Assessment approval forms
- Version control logs
Standard 4: Validity of Assessment
4.1 Validity Requirement
Assessment must measure what it is intended to measure.
The assessment must provide sufficient evidence that the candidate has achieved the required learning outcomes, competencies, knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors.
4.2 Content Validity
Assessment content must reflect the approved curriculum, competency framework, professional standard, or learning outcomes.
4.3 Construct Validity
Assessment tasks must require candidates to demonstrate the actual competence being assessed, not unrelated abilities.
4.4 Professional Validity
For professional certification and practical programs, assessment must reflect real professional practice and workplace expectations.
4.5 Validity Review
Assessment validity must be reviewed periodically and whenever there are major changes to the program, certification scheme, professional role, or assessment method.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Validity review records
- Assessment mapping documents
- Competency alignment matrix
- Learning outcome alignment records
- Professional relevance review
- Subject expert review records
- Assessment revision records
- Version control records
Standard 5: Reliability and Consistency of Assessment
5.1 Reliability Requirement
Assessment decisions must be consistent across candidates, assessors, assessment sessions, delivery modes, providers, and assessment centers.
5.2 Standardized Criteria
Assessors must use approved marking criteria, rubrics, checklists, answer keys, or performance descriptors.
5.3 Standardization Activities
Providers and assessment centers must conduct standardization activities to ensure assessors interpret criteria consistently.
5.4 Multiple Assessors
Where multiple assessors are involved, assessment decisions must be monitored for consistency and fairness.
5.5 Borderline Decisions
Borderline results must be reviewed carefully through internal quality assurance before results are finalized.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Marking criteria
- Assessor guidance
- Standardization meeting records
- Assessor comparison records
- Moderation records
- Borderline review records
- IQA sampling records
- Corrective action records
- Result approval records
Standard 6: Fairness, Accessibility, and Inclusion
6.1 Fair Assessment
Assessment must be fair, impartial, and free from discrimination, bias, inappropriate influence, or unnecessary barriers.
6.2 Clear Candidate Information
Candidates must receive clear information about:
- Assessment purpose
- Assessment tasks
- Assessment conditions
- Assessment deadline
- Evidence requirements
- Marking criteria
- Passing requirements
- Retake or resubmission rules
- Appeals process
- Academic integrity rules
6.3 Reasonable Adjustments
Reasonable adjustments may be provided where appropriate, provided that they do not compromise the validity, reliability, or integrity of the assessment.
6.4 Equal Treatment
All candidates must be assessed against the same approved criteria.
6.5 Language and Clarity
Assessment language must be clear, professional, and suitable for the candidate level and program context.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Candidate assessment guide
- Reasonable adjustment policy
- Candidate support records
- Assessment briefing records
- Accessibility records
- Appeals information
- Equal opportunity policy
- Candidate communication records
Standard 7: Assessment Criteria and Rubrics
7.1 Clear Assessment Criteria
Each assessment must have clear criteria that define how candidate performance or evidence will be judged.
7.2 Rubrics
Where assignments, projects, portfolios, practical tasks, or professional reports are used, rubrics must define performance levels clearly.
7.3 Critical Criteria
Where certain competencies are essential for professional practice, the assessment must identify any critical criteria that must be achieved.
7.4 Pass and Fail Rules
The assessment must define how pass, fail, competent, not yet competent, graded, or percentage-based decisions are made.
7.5 Feedback Criteria
Assessor feedback should be linked to the assessment criteria and should help candidates understand strengths, weaknesses, and required improvement.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment criteria
- Rubrics
- Performance descriptors
- Marking sheets
- Observation checklists
- Candidate feedback forms
- Pass/fail decision rules
- Grading policy
- Assessor guidance notes
Standard 8: Assessment Methods
8.1 Method Selection
Assessment methods must be selected according to the competency, learning outcome, professional level, evidence requirement, and program purpose.
8.2 Knowledge Assessment
Knowledge assessment shall include:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Short-answer questions
- Scenario-based questions
- Matching questions
- True or false questions
- Case-based questions
- Open-book or closed-book exams
- Online tests
8.3 Performance Assessment
Performance assessment shall include:
- Practical demonstration
- Observation of performance
- Simulation
- Role play
- Workplace task
- Professional presentation
- Skills demonstration
- Project implementation
8.4 Portfolio Assessment
Portfolio assessment shall include:
- Work samples
- Reflective accounts
- Professional evidence
- Employer statements
- Project outputs
- Observation records
- Certificates or prior evidence
- Assessment logs
- Candidate declarations
8.5 Integrated Assessment
For higher-level professional certification, assessment should combine knowledge, application, professional judgment, evidence, and performance where appropriate.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment method rationale
- Assessment tasks
- Exam papers
- Practical task instructions
- Portfolio guidance
- Observation records
- Candidate submissions
- Assessment logs
- Assessment review records
Standard 9: Assessment Administration
9.1 Controlled Administration
Assessment must be administered according to approved procedures.
9.2 Candidate Registration
Only registered and eligible candidates shall take approved assessments.
9.3 Identity Verification
Candidate identity must be verified before assessment.
9.4 Assessment Conditions
Assessment conditions must be communicated and applied consistently, including:
- Date and time
- Duration
- Location or platform
- Permitted materials
- Prohibited materials
- Supervision requirements
- Submission process
- Technical requirements
- Late submission rules
- Candidate conduct rules
9.5 Attendance and Submission Records
The provider must maintain accurate records of attendance, submissions, examination participation, and assessment completion.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Candidate registration records
- Identity verification records
- Assessment attendance records
- Exam session reports
- Submission logs
- Invigilation records
- Online assessment logs
- Candidate conduct records
- Incident reports
Standard 10: Assessment Security
10.1 Security Requirement
Assessment materials, candidate evidence, marking schemes, results, and certificate-related assessment data must be protected from unauthorized access, misuse, leakage, alteration, or loss.
10.2 Secure Storage
Assessment materials must be securely stored physically or digitally.
10.3 Access Control
Only authorized persons shall access assessment materials, answer keys, candidate submissions, results, and quality assurance records.
10.4 Examination Security
Where exams are used, security controls must cover:
- Exam paper preparation
- Question bank control
- Printing or digital access
- Secure delivery
- Candidate identity verification
- Invigilation
- Collection of papers
- Online proctoring where applicable
- Incident reporting
- Secure result processing
10.5 Breach Response
Any suspected assessment security breach must be reported, investigated, documented, and corrected.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment security policy
- Secure storage records
- Access control logs
- Question bank controls
- Exam paper control records
- Invigilation reports
- Proctoring records where applicable
- Security incident reports
- Breach investigation records
- Corrective action records
Standard 11: Academic Integrity, Malpractice, and Maladministration
11.1 Integrity Requirement
Assessment must protect academic and professional integrity.
11.2 Candidate Malpractice
Candidate malpractice shall include:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Impersonation
- Collusion
- Falsified evidence
- Unauthorized assistance
- Misuse of AI tools where prohibited
- Submission of another person’s work
- Breach of assessment conditions
11.3 Staff or Provider Maladministration
Maladministration shall include:
- Insecure assessment handling
- Incorrect instructions
- Unauthorized changes to assessment
- Poor recordkeeping
- Improper marking
- Conflict of interest
- Result manipulation
- Failure to follow ATU-CPAC procedures
11.4 Investigation
All suspected malpractice or maladministration must be investigated fairly, documented clearly, and reported where required.
11.5 Sanctions
Confirmed malpractice or maladministration may result in reassessment, result cancellation, candidate sanctions, assessor sanctions, provider corrective action, suspension, or withdrawal of authorization.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Malpractice policy
- Candidate authenticity declarations
- AI use policy where applicable
- Investigation records
- Evidence records
- Decision letters
- Sanction records
- Corrective action plans
- Reporting records
Standard 12: Assessor Requirements
12.1 Assessor Competence
Assessors must have appropriate subject knowledge, professional experience, assessment competence, and understanding of the approved criteria.
12.2 Assessor Approval
Assessors must be approved before conducting assessment activities.
12.3 Assessor Responsibilities
Assessors must:
- Apply criteria consistently
- Review evidence carefully
- Make evidence-based decisions
- Provide appropriate feedback
- Maintain confidentiality
- Declare conflicts of interest
- Follow assessment procedures
- Keep accurate records
- Cooperate with IQA and EQA
12.4 Assessor CPD
Assessors must maintain competence through continuing professional development, standardization, training, and review.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessor CVs
- Assessor approval forms
- Qualification records
- Professional experience records
- Assessment training records
- CPD records
- Assessor observation reports
- Assessor standardization records
- Conflict of interest declarations
Standard 13: Marking, Judgement, and Feedback
13.1 Evidence-Based Marking
Assessment decisions must be based on candidate evidence and approved criteria.
13.2 Marking Consistency
Assessors must use the same marking approach for all candidates.
13.3 Feedback Quality
Feedback should be clear, professional, constructive, and linked to assessment criteria.
13.4 Recording Assessment Decisions
Assessment decisions must be recorded accurately and must show how the decision was reached.
13.5 Reassessment Decisions
Where reassessment or resubmission is allowed, the reassessment decision must be recorded separately and clearly.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Completed marking sheets
- Rubric records
- Candidate feedback records
- Assessment decision forms
- Marking notes
- Reassessment records
- Assessor comments
- Result sheets
- IQA review notes
Standard 14: Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment
14.1 IQA Requirement
All assessment systems must include internal quality assurance to confirm that assessment tools, assessment decisions, assessor judgments, and candidate feedback meet ATU-CPAC requirements.
14.2 IQA Sampling
IQA sampling should include:
- Different assessors
- Different programs
- Different assessment methods
- Different candidate groups
- Borderline cases
- Failed cases
- High-scoring cases
- Resubmissions
- Practical assessments
- Portfolio evidence
- Online assessments
14.3 IQA Review Areas
IQA should review:
- Assessment validity
- Reliability of decisions
- Fairness of assessment
- Quality of evidence
- Use of rubrics
- Quality of feedback
- Assessor consistency
- Recordkeeping
- Security compliance
- Candidate support and reasonable adjustments
14.4 IQA Feedback
Internal quality assurers must provide clear feedback to assessors and require corrective action where needed.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- IQA policy
- IQA sampling plan
- IQA reports
- Assessor feedback records
- Standardization meeting records
- Corrective action records
- Assessment approval records
- Result approval records
- IQA sign-off records
Standard 15: External Quality Assurance of Assessment
15.1 External Oversight
ATU-CPAC shall apply external quality assurance to assessment tools, assessment delivery, assessor decisions, provider records, authorized assessment centers, and certification results.
15.2 EQA Activities
External quality assurance shall include:
- Review of assessment instruments
- Review of assessment security
- Sampling candidate evidence
- Reviewing assessor decisions
- Observing assessment activity
- Auditing assessment records
- Reviewing IQA records
- Checking complaints and appeals
- Reviewing malpractice cases
- Approving or withholding result release
15.3 EQA Outcomes
External quality assurance shall result in:
- Acceptance of results
- Request for additional evidence
- Required corrective action
- Increased sampling
- Reassessment requirement
- Suspension of assessment activity
- Limitation of provider scope
- Referral for investigation
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- EQA reports
- External sampling records
- EQA correspondence
- Corrective action plans
- Follow-up evidence
- Result approval records
- Assessment center audit reports
- Monitoring records
Standard 16: Results Management and Approval
16.1 Result Accuracy
Assessment results must be accurate, complete, verified, and recorded securely.
16.2 Result Approval
Results must be internally quality assured before submission for final approval or certificate request.
16.3 Result Categories
Assessment results may include:
- Marking | Percentage score where approved
- Pass
- Fail
- Distinction or merit where approved
- Competent
- Not yet competent
- Referred
- Deferred
- Resubmission required
16.4 Result Communication
Candidates must receive results through approved communication channels and within defined timelines.
16.5 Result Changes
Any change to an assessment result must be authorized, documented, justified, and quality assured.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Result sheets
- Assessment decision records
- IQA result approval records
- EQA result approval records where applicable
- Candidate result notifications
- Result amendment records
- Certificate request records
- Registry submission records
Standard 17: Retake, Resubmission, and Reassessment
17.1 Retake Rules
Where exams or practical assessments are used, retake rules must be clear, fair, and consistently applied.
17.2 Resubmission Rules
Where assignments, portfolios, projects, or reports are used, resubmission rules must define:
- What can be resubmitted
- Deadline for resubmission
- Feedback allowed
- Maximum number of resubmissions
- Additional fee where applicable
- Reassessment process
- Evidence requirements
17.3 Reassessment Integrity
Reassessment must assess the same criteria and must maintain the same standard as the original assessment.
17.4 Candidate Support
Candidates should receive appropriate guidance on the reasons for referral or failure and what is required for reassessment.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Retake policy
- Resubmission policy
- Reassessment records
- Candidate feedback
- Resubmitted evidence
- Reassessment decision forms
- Fee records where applicable
- Final result records
Standard 18: Appeals and Complaints Related to Assessment
18.1 Assessment Appeals
Candidates must have the right to appeal assessment decisions or assessment procedures according to approved ATU-CPAC procedures.
18.2 Grounds for Appeal
Appeals may relate to:
- Procedural error
- Incorrect application of criteria
- Evidence not considered
- Reasonable adjustment decision
- Suspected bias
- Maladministration
- Result recording error
18.3 Complaints
Candidates may submit complaints relating to assessment administration, communication, support, facilities, technology, assessment conditions, or staff conduct.
18.4 Independent Review
Appeals should be reviewed by competent persons who were not involved in the original assessment decision, where possible.
18.5 Appeal Timeline
Appeals must be submitted within the approved timeframe, normally within 15 days from notification of the assessment decision unless another approved policy applies.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Appeals policy
- Complaints policy
- Appeal forms
- Complaint forms
- Investigation records
- Review records
- Decision letters
- Corrective action records
- Escalation records
- Final outcome records
Standard 19: Records Management
19.1 Assessment Records
Assessment records must be accurate, complete, secure, and retrievable.
19.2 Required Records
Assessment records shall include:
- Candidate registration records
- Candidate identity verification
- Assessment attendance
- Assessment submissions
- Marking records
- Feedback records
- Result records
- IQA records
- EQA records
- Appeals and complaints
- Malpractice records
- Certificate request records
19.3 Retention
Assessment records must be retained for the period required by ATU-CPAC policy, legal requirements, or the approved provider agreement.
19.4 Confidentiality
Assessment records must be protected from unauthorized access and handled confidentially.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Records management policy
- Retention schedule
- Assessment archive
- Secure storage evidence
- Access control logs
- Data protection records
- Disposal records
- Audit records
Standard 20: Online, Digital, and Remote Assessment
20.1 Digital Assessment Controls
Online or remote assessment must be secure, accessible, reliable, and appropriate for the assessment purpose.
20.2 Platform Requirements
Digital assessment platforms should support:
- Candidate identification
- Secure login
- Controlled access
- Timed assessment
- Submission tracking
- Evidence upload
- Audit trail
- Data protection
- Result recording
- Technical support
20.3 Remote Proctoring
Where remote proctoring is used, candidates must be informed of the requirements, privacy implications, and technical conditions before assessment.
20.4 Technical Failure
The provider must have a procedure for dealing with technical failure, lost submissions, platform errors, or interrupted assessments.
20.5 Digital Evidence
Digital evidence must be stored securely and must be authentic, traceable, and accessible for quality assurance review.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Digital assessment policy
- Platform access records
- Candidate login records
- Submission logs
- Proctoring records where applicable
- Technical incident reports
- Digital evidence records
- Data protection records
- Backup records
Standard 21: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
21.1 AI Use Policy
Where artificial intelligence tools may be used by candidates, trainers, assessors, or providers, the permitted and prohibited uses must be clearly defined.
21.2 Candidate Disclosure
Candidates must disclose the use of AI tools where required by the assessment instructions.
21.3 Authenticity of Evidence
AI-assisted work must not replace the candidate’s own competence, judgment, authorship, or performance evidence.
21.4 AI in Marking or Feedback
If AI tools are used to support assessment administration, marking, feedback, or plagiarism checking, human oversight must remain in place.
21.5 Prohibited AI Use
AI use shall be prohibited where it compromises authenticity, confidentiality, security, fairness, or the validity of assessment.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- AI use policy
- Candidate AI declaration
- Assessment instructions on AI use
- Authenticity checks
- Assessor review records
- AI-supported marking controls where applicable
- Misuse investigation records
- Candidate guidance records
Standard 22: Assessment Review and Continuous Improvement
22.1 Periodic Review
Assessment tools, results, procedures, and quality assurance records must be reviewed periodically.
22.2 Review Inputs
Assessment review shall consider:
- Candidate performance data
- Pass and fail rates
- Assessor feedback
- Candidate feedback
- IQA findings
- EQA findings
- Appeals and complaints
- Malpractice cases
- Employer feedback
- Sector changes
- Changes in professional practice
- Technology changes
22.3 Improvement Actions
Where review identifies weaknesses, improvement actions must be documented, implemented, and monitored.
22.4 Version Control
Assessment tools and procedures must be version controlled to ensure that only approved versions are used.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment review reports
- Performance data analysis
- Feedback analysis
- Improvement plans
- Updated assessment tools
- Version control logs
- Approval records
- Corrective action evidence
- Review meeting minutes
Standard 22: Assessment Review and Continuous Improvement
22.1 Periodic Review
Assessment tools, results, procedures, and quality assurance records must be reviewed periodically.
22.2 Review Inputs
Assessment review shall consider:
- Candidate performance data
- Pass and fail rates
- Assessor feedback
- Candidate feedback
- IQA findings
- EQA findings
- Appeals and complaints
- Malpractice cases
- Employer feedback
- Sector changes
- Changes in professional practice
- Technology changes
22.3 Improvement Actions
Where review identifies weaknesses, improvement actions must be documented, implemented, and monitored.
22.4 Version Control
Assessment tools and procedures must be version controlled to ensure that only approved versions are used.
Compliance Evidence
The provider or assessment body should maintain:
- Assessment review reports
- Performance data analysis
- Feedback analysis
- Improvement plans
- Updated assessment tools
- Version control logs
- Approval records
- Corrective action evidence
- Review meeting minutes
Assessment Methodology Framework
ATU-CPAC assessments shall use a combination of the following methodologies according to the program purpose, level, and competency requirements:
- Knowledge-Based Assessment
Used to assess theoretical understanding, technical knowledge, concepts, rules, principles, terminology, standards, and decision-making foundations.
Examples include examinations, quizzes, short-answer questions, matching questions, and scenario-based MCQs.
- Application-Based Assessment
Used to assess the candidate’s ability to apply knowledge to realistic professional situations.
Examples include case studies, scenario analysis, problem-solving tasks, and professional decision-making exercises.
- Performance-Based Assessment
Used to assess practical competence through direct demonstration of skills.
Examples include observation, simulation, role play, presentation, workplace task, or practical demonstration.
- Portfolio-Based Assessment
Used to assess evidence collected from learning, practice, projects, work outputs, reflection, and professional experience.
Examples include project outputs, work samples, reflective accounts, employer statements, and assessor observations.
- Project-Based Assessment
Used to assess planning, implementation, analysis, evaluation, and production of a professional output.
Examples include reports, strategic plans, designs, training plans, evaluation plans, business cases, and applied projects.
- Professional Discussion or Interview
Used to assess depth of understanding, professional judgment, ethics, decision-making, and authenticity of evidence.
- Integrated Assessment
Used for higher-level certification or complex professional programs by combining knowledge, practical application, evidence, and professional discussion.
Compliance Rating System
ATU-CPAC shall classify assessment compliance findings as follows:
Compliant
The assessment system meets the standard and maintains sufficient evidence.
Minor Non-Compliance
The requirement is generally met, but documentation, consistency, clarity, implementation, or recordkeeping requires improvement.
Major Non-Compliance
A key assessment requirement is not met, creating risk to assessment validity, reliability, fairness, security, candidate protection, or certificate credibility.
Critical Non-Compliance
There is serious failure, malpractice, assessment manipulation, unauthorized result change, insecure assessment handling, false evidence, data misuse, or conduct that threatens the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.
Assessment Decisions
Assessment Decisions
Based on assessment and quality assurance outcomes, ATU-CPAC shall recognize or recommend one or more of the following decisions:
- Assessment approved
- Assessment approved with conditions
- Assessment returned for revision
- Candidate passed
- Candidate failed
- Candidate referred for resubmission
- Candidate deferred
- Candidate required to retake assessment
- Result accepted
- Result withheld pending investigation
- Result cancelled due to malpractice
- Assessment tool suspended
- Provider assessment activity suspended
- Assessment center authorization limited or suspended
- Corrective action required
Obligations of Approved Providers
Approved providers conducting assessment must:
- Use only approved assessment tools
- Follow approved assessment procedures
- Register eligible candidates only
- Verify candidate identity
- Provide clear assessment instructions
- Maintain assessment security
- Use approved assessors
- Apply approved rubrics and criteria
- Conduct internal quality assurance
- Submit accurate results
- Keep assessment records securely
- Report malpractice or incidents
- Cooperate with ATU-CPAC monitoring
- Implement corrective actions where required
Obligations of Assessors
Assessors must:
- Assess only within their approved competence
- Apply criteria consistently
- Make evidence-based decisions
- Provide clear feedback
- Maintain confidentiality
- Declare conflicts of interest
- Report malpractice concerns
- Participate in standardization
- Cooperate with IQA and EQA
- Keep accurate assessment records
- Avoid bias or inappropriate influence
Obligations of Candidates
Candidates must:
- Follow assessment instructions
- Submit authentic work
- Respect deadlines
- Attend assessments as required
- Provide accurate identity and eligibility information
- Avoid cheating, plagiarism, collusion, impersonation, or falsification
- Declare use of AI tools where required
- Respect assessment security rules
- Use appeal and complaint procedures appropriately
- Maintain professional conduct throughout assessment
Minimum Assessment File Requirements
Each assessment file should include:
- Assessment strategy
- Assessment blueprint
- Assessment instruments
- Candidate assessment brief
- Assessor guide
- Marking rubric
- Model answers where applicable
- Assessment approval form
- Candidate registration records
- Candidate identity verification records
- Candidate submissions
- Marking records
- Feedback records
- Result records
- IQA sampling records
- EQA records where applicable
- Retake or resubmission records
- Appeals and complaints records
- Malpractice records
- Security records
- Assessment review reports
- Version control records