There are three key elements to assessment and reporting of student achievements in HSC VET.

This might include half-yearly and yearly reports, intermediate progress reports and so on. Internal school documentation may need adjustment to accommodate reporting on competency-based assessment. For example, a school report might comment on a student’s achievement and indicate that a more detailed account of the skills and knowledge attained are available in the competency record book.

The achievement of each element and unit of competency is recorded in a Competency Record Book. This book forms a permanent record of competency demonstrated by a student undertaking a VET course.

Competency record books were developed by the NSW Board of Studies and have been adapted by your RTO as required.

Some National Training Package requirements are very specific in detailing assessment requirements for each unit of competency.

Formal reporting of competencies is provided to the Board of Studies via e-BOS for the issuance of an AQF Certificate or Statement of Attainment.

Where secondary school students are enrolled as TAFE students for the purposes of their HSC VET course, reporting of competencies for AQF accreditation is via the usual TAFE procedures.

Syllabus documents, particularly part B, give a clear outline of both performance criteria for assessment of competence against industry standards as well as HSC requirements.

The reporting of “competencies achieved” which is provided by schools to the Board of Studies does not generate a mark towards the HSC. However, on a student’s Preliminary and HSC Record of Achievement, reference is made to the competency record book in lieu of a mark.

Excerpts from Board of Studies Bulletins have been included in Section 10. These provide regular updates on changes to syllabus documents, assessment and reporting requirements.

You should refer to future Bulletins to ensure you maintain current knowledge of Board requirements.

Illness/misadventure provisions for the optional HSC examinations in VET (see also Section 4 VET in the HSC.

A Board memo to Principals, Secondary Schools and Directors, and TAFE Institutes dated 6 April 2001 (BOS 14/01 advised that schools must provide "an indicator of likely examination performance" for use where a student lodges a successful illness/misadventure appeal.

The Board advises that the indicator is not an "assessment mark" and therefore a "structured HSC assessment program is not required, but students should be advised of the task(s) used to form the estimate".