The Shape of ACT Quality Assurance – System Moderation Report outlines a model to enhance processes to support the quality and comparability of grade judgements across schools and building teacher capacity to develop high quality assessment.
In 2018, the Board endorsed recommendations made by a cross sectorial committee. The purpose of this review was to examine existing BSSS assessment and moderation policies and procedures to determine if changes are required to meet future needs within a continuous school-based assessment and consensus peer-based moderation system. The Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies has worked in collaboration with senior secondary teachers to implement these recommendations.
The report proposes a multidimensional strategy for BSSS Moderation Day with the following key features:
- a range of moderation tasks including student portfolio unit grade agreement, moderation of individual assessment tasks, blind moderation of single or multiple assessment tasks, assessment instrument review and evaluation of a program of learning
- targeted and automated moderation processes (i.e. flexible moderation cycle and processes which encompass years 11/12 work across Semester 1-4 including item by item and wholistic moderation)
- provision of annotated assessment tasks and student work informed by the BSSS Achievement Standards and Quality Assessment Guidelines.
The full report can be viewed here: BSSS Shape of Moderation Report for Public Consultation (1035 KB)
Public consultation occurred from Thursday 5 May - Tuesday 31 May 2022.