Last updated: 19 Mar 2008

Diploma assessment

All Diplomas have external assessment and a variety of approaches will be used.

Assessment criteria for each unit within Diploma qualifications is outlined within the Diploma catalogues on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ). More detailed information (for example, the form of the assessment and approaches to applied learning and assessment) is available within Diploma qualification specifications published on awarding body websites.

Different methods of internal assessment will also be used in the Diploma. Awarding bodies set out requirements to support internal assessment through moderation and verification, and there are rules and checks in place to make sure that learners' work is their own.

The NAA is working with awarding bodies and DCSF to develop guidance on managing internal assessment for principal learning and project components. The guidance builds on good practice for quality assurance in existing qualifications, with professional expertise available at a local level underpinning high-quality assessment. This guidance, and associated support and training for staff in Gateway 1 consortia, will be available during the summer term 2008. Further information is available from the NAA website.

Diploma marking and grading

The Diploma is graded at all levels. To achieve the overall Diploma qualification, learners will need to pass all components within the Diploma, including functional skills and additional and specialist learning.

The Diploma grade is derived from the aggregate score of principal learning and the project.

The grading of the Diploma will be reported in the following way:

• Foundation Diploma: A*, A, B or ungraded (U)
• Higher Diploma: A*, A, B, C or ungraded (U)
• Advanced Diploma: A*, A, B, C, D, E or ungraded (U)

A Diploma transcript will record and report a learner's achievements in units and qualifications within the Diploma programme. It will contain grades at unit level and record the achievement of personal, learning and thinking skills, as well as the completion of work experience.

Further information on grading, reporting and assessment is available in The Diploma: an overview of the qualification, available from the right-hand side of this page.