Information On The External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)

• QCTO’s assessment related policies: The assessment policies are available from QCTO’s website.
• Dates for the EISA: The EISA is arranged by the AQP and will usually take place in May or October of each year. SDPs have to inform the AQP three months ahead of an upcoming EISA of their candidates who will be ready for the EISA.
• Qualifying requirements for the EISA: Candidates qualify to sit for the EISA after completing the full learning program and have been awarded the Statements of Results (SoRs) for all the modules of the curriculum, based on the Internal Assessment Criteria (AICs) that were identified in the curriculum document of the qualification. After completing each Knowledge Module (KM); each Practical Skills Module (PM) and every Workplace Module (WM) successfully, the SDP has to register an SoR against the name of the candidate on the QCTO learner-data-load website. SoRs can also be awarded through RPL.
• Applying to enrol for the EISA: Candidates should apply at least three months in advance of an upcoming EISA. Candidates may apply directly to the AQP using the attached EISA application form. Skills Development Providers may also apply in bulk on behalf of their candidates. In that case, a cover letter and a batch with a separate EISA application form for each candidate has to be submitted.
• Language of assessment: The EISA is done in the form of written papers and will normally be done in English. Candidates on NQF 2 level who are not capable to do an assessment in English may apply for the assistance of interpreters. Candidates on NQF Level 5 are expected to do their course and assessments in English. Candidates who will have difficulties in doing the assessment in English should contact the AQP will in advance (at least three months) so that solutions can be sought in compliance with a learner’s constitutional rights.
• Physical or other impairment that may have an impact on the assessment: Special arrangements will be made for candidates who experience physical or other impairment. SDPs have to ensure that AQP is informed at least three months ahead of an EISA of such or physically disabled candidates to have the necessary arrangements to be made in time.
• Assessment exemplars: For both the NQF 2 and NQF 5, the EISA design is being revamped in consultation with the QCTO. As soon as they have been finalised and approved, they will be made available on this site. SDPs are responsible to familiarise prospective EISA candidates with the format and contents of these exemplars in preparing for the EISA.
• Assessment fee: The price to enrol for the EISA will be determined from time to time. Currently (2020) the fee for both NQF Level 2 and 5 EISA is R500-00 per candidate per session (thus R1,000 for the two papers). Candidates who cannot afford the assessment fee may approach the AQP to apply for a reduction, which will be considered in the case of students with serious financial challenges.
• Accredited assessment centres for the two ministry qualifications: Assessment centres and assessment sites will as far as possible be provided in geographical locations that will facilitate accessibility for candidates. ACRP (in its role as AQP appointed by QCTO) will initially function as the assessment centre for the two ministry qualifications. To enable ACRP to accommodate candidates as far as possible in terms of the location of assessment sites, it is essential that applications to do the EISA be submitted well in advance (at least three months before the next EISA). The location of assessment sites will be determined considering the whereabouts of candidates.
  
  Should further assessment centres be needed in future, this will be arranged. Institutions who have the capacity to operate as assessment centres may under certain conditions apply to be registered for this purpose. Criteria for the accreditation of assessment centres are provided in ACRP’s QMS for assessment centres  and the Assessment Centre contract document specifying all the relevant criteria, responsibilities, and functions of the assessment centre. A qualifying institution may apply to be registered as an assessment centre by submitting the application form to the AQP, who will facilitate the registration process with QCTO. Standards for the approval of assessments have also been described in the QMS for assessment centres document and the Assessment Centre contract document.
• Accredited Skills Development Providers for the ministry qualifications: The complete list of providers accredited by QCTO is available from the QCTO website. Find the relevant skills development providers by doing a search on the SAQA Identity numbers of the relevant qualifications.
• Registered assessment practitioners for the occupational qualifications for ministry: Assessment will be done by recognised assessment practitioners who are advanced subject experts. They will be contracted per particular EISA session according to their availability and the need of assessors for a particular EISA session.
• Approved assessment sites for the two ministry qualifications: ACRP (in this role as AQP appointed by QCTO) will initially also function as the assessment centre for the two ministry qualifications. In case further assessment centres will be needed in future, the ACRP has a QMS for assessment centres and an Assessment Centre contract document  specifying all the relevant criteria, responsibilities, and functions of the assessment centre. A qualifying institution may apply to be registered as an assessment centre by submitting the application form to the AQP, who will facilitate the registration process with QCTO.
• Internal moderation of assessment: Continuous evaluation of the quality of their internal assessment practices of Skills Development Providers neds to be done through internal moderation. Internal procedures to assess operations against the institution’s QMS must be put in place. A member of staff should be appointed by management to do internal moderation at least twice per annum. To serve as internal assessor and/or moderator for the QCTO ministry qualifications, an ACRP accredited CPD course for assessors and moderators is recommended. Duties of assessors and moderators and procedures to follow are described in the course documentation.
• External moderation of the institution: An AQP moderator may undertake moderation of the assessments done by an SDP. QCTO will also do site visits to do evaluations in accordance with the QCTO SDP evaluation form.
• Reporting irregularities and lodging complaints or appeals .
  
  An irregularity refers to any event, act or omission which may undermine the standard, integrity, credibility, security, or the fairness of the assessment and assessment process and its resultant outcomes.
  
  The reporting of irregularities and handling of complaints at Assessment Centres and Assessment Sites (for internal as well as external assessments) is done as described in Chapter 5 of the document QMS for Assessment Centres and Conducting of EISA. A candidate can use the form to lodge a complaint. An Assessment Centre can use the form to record an alleged irregularity by a candidate.