EAL qualifications such as VRQ’s, T-Levels, and Knowledge qualifications linked to standards have components where the Centre assessment staff mark their own learners’ work.

Centres may find qualifications that once had Direct Claims Status – (DCS) are no longer available for direct claims due to the risk category assigned to each qualification. For example, the qualification risk may be set high for qualifications that have a high proportion of the units marked by a Centre, or it is used as a licence to practice, or it is requested by a regulator.

Where a Centre marks and awards qualifications on behalf on the AO, these are assigned under a risk category by EAL and may influence the DCS of the qualification.

If more than one learner has an assessment mark and is awarded a qualification on behalf on the AO at the Centre, the outcomes for each unit must be considered against the Centres’ moderation sampling strategy and must follow a detailed internal moderation process.

Internal Quality Assurance within the Centre plays an important part of the process, ensuring all the requirements are being undertaken accurately and consistently by the moderation staff.

The IQA will be the person signing off the marks and claims for certificates and must ensure they have sufficient scope within their plans and activities to ensure the moderation process is applied where appropriate in the Centre.

For further guidance please refer to the EAL Centre Requirements for Moderation of Centre Marked Assessments document which you can find located in the Document Library in Smarter Touch.

Alternatively please contact your assigned EQA or our Customer Experience Team either on live chat, email: customer.experience@eal.org.uk, or phone: 01923 652400