Have you thought about the terms “assessor” and “moderator” before? Do your personal definitions sound the same for both?  It’s okay; you are not the only one.

Because these two can easily be confused, we have decided to give you a bit of insight into these two roles – by first giving you the definition of each and then explaining the differences in the associated duties and responsibilities.

What is an assessor?

“According to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), all assessments that lead to the awarding of NQF-based credits need to be conducted by registered assessors.” [Source]

An assessor is therefore someone who conducts assessments in relation to the qualifications and unit standards registered on the NQF.

One of the requirements for becoming a registered assessor is that you need to meet the requirements of the Conduct Outcomes-Based Assessments unit standard. To view the full list of requirements for becoming a registered assessor, click here.

What is a moderator?

A moderator is someone who conducts quality assurance in relation to the assessments carried out by assessors.

In addition to being a registered assessor, a moderator must also meet the requirements of the Conduct Moderation of Outcomes-Based Assessments unit standard. To view the full list of requirements for becoming a moderator, click here.

How do the duties of assessors and moderators differ?

An assessor is responsible for:

  1. Planning the assessments that need to be completed by learners.
  2. Conducting assessments (including assignments and tests) and marking assessments to ensure that learners measure up to the required standards. According to WorkInfo, an assessor should:
      • “Be familiar with the unit standards that they will be assessing
      • Be familiar with and use the assessment guides
      • Plan the assessment, which includes the selection, design and implementation of assessment activities.”
  3. Providing feedback. The assessor is responsible for providing detailed feedback so that improvements can be made.

A moderator, on the other hand, is responsible for quality assurance in relation to the assessment process, so he or she will perform duties like:

  • Ensuring that assignments and tests are carried out correctly and fairly.
  • Handling the concerns of learners.
  • Evaluating the performance of an assessor.

If you are interested in gaining the skills you need to work as an assessor or moderator in a certain field, then studying an education course at Oxbridge Academy will be a good option for you. Click here to find out more.

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