The moderation process follows a structured workflow that supports assessment quality, consistency, and continuous improvement. It provides a documented record of how moderation decisions were reached and ensures assessments are reviewed before being released to learners.
Moderation should be a collaborative, evidence-based process that focuses on assessment quality rather than assessment development. The goal is to ensure that assessments are aligned to learning outcomes, appropriately pitched, and capable of supporting fair and consistent assessment decisions.
Step 1: Assessment Ready for Moderation
The assessment writer ensures the assessment package is complete and ready for review before submitting it for moderation.
Important: Assessments submitted for moderation should be substantially complete.
Moderation is intended to review assessment quality, alignment, and validity. It is not an assessment development process. If significant sections are incomplete or require substantial redesign, the assessment should be further developed before being submitted for moderation.
Step 2: Upload the Moderation Package
The assessment writer:
- Uploads the moderation package into the designated SharePoint moderation folder.
- Notifies the moderator that the assessment is ready for review.
The moderation package should include all assessment documents required for moderation, including assessment tasks, rubrics, marking guides, and any supporting documentation.
Step 3: Moderator Review
The moderator reviews the assessment using either:
During the review, the moderator should:
- Consider the entire assessment package.
- Review alignment with learning outcomes
- Check the assessment is operating at the correct NZQCF level.
- Review instructions for clarity.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the rubric and marking guidance.
- Identify areas that are Met, Partly Met, or Not Met.
- Record observations and evidence using the approved moderation templates.
Principles for Providing Feedback
Moderators should focus on:
- Evidence-based observations.
- Alignment with learning outcomes.
- Assessment level requirements.
- Assessment validity and reliability.
- Clarity of learnerinstructions.
- The effectiveness of marking guidance.
Feedback should help improve the assessment while maintaining the moderator’s independence.
A Note About Track Changes
Track Changes and comments should primarily be used to identify areas for improvement, clarification, and refinement.
If a moderator finds themselves making extensive edits, rewriting large sections, or redesigning assessment activities, this may indicate that the assessment is not yet ready for moderation.
Moderators should provide professional feedback and recommendations, not become co-writers of the assessment.
Maintaining this distinction helps ensure moderation remains independent, objective, and credible.
Step 4: Feedback and Discussion
Moderation is a professional, evidence-based conversation between the moderator and assessment writer.
Discussion should focus on:
- Evidence gathered during the review.
- Alignment with learning outcomes.
- Areas requiring clarification or amendment.
- Assessment quality and validity.
- Recommendations for improvement.
The purpose of the discussion is to reach a shared understanding of any required changes and ensure that moderation decisions are supported by evidence.
Using the Moderation Templates
The moderation templates are the primary tools for recording moderation evidence.
The Pre-Assessment Moderation Checklist Template and Pre-Assessment Moderation Report Template should be used to:
- Record moderator observations.
- Capture assessment writer responses.
- Document agreed actions.
- Record moderation outcomes.
- Maintain evidence of moderation discussions.
- Create a clear audit trail.
Why This Matters
- Using the templates throughout the moderation process:
- Keeps moderation discussions organised.
- Provides evidence of decisions made.
- Supports transparency.
- Makes completion of the Online Moderation Report Form significantly easier.
- Ensures moderation evidence is readily available if required.
All moderation evidence, including moderation templates and supporting documents, should be retained within the designated SharePoint moderation folder.
Example
Moderator Observation
Learning Outcome 3 requires learners to analyse and justify responses.
The current assessment tasks require learners to identify and describe issues only.
Evidence
The learning outcome requires higher-order thinking and judgement. However, the assessment tasks do not provide learners with sufficient opportunity to demonstrate these requirements.
Discussion Outcome
The moderator and assessment writer discuss the findings and agree that additional assessment activities are required.
Agreed Amendment
The assessment writer includes activities requiring learners to:
- Analyse a scenario.
- Evaluate potential responses.
- Justify recommended actions.
Evidence Recorded
The moderator’s feedback, the assessment writer’s response, and the agreed amendments are documented in the moderation template and stored in SharePoint as part of the moderation record.
Step 5: Assessment Writer Response
The assessment writer:
- Reviews moderator feedback.
- Responds to comments.
- Makes agreed amendments.
- Documents changes made.
- Updates the moderation template where required.
The moderation template should clearly show how feedback has been addressed throughout the process.
Step 6: Moderator Approval
Once amendments have been completed, the moderator reviews the revised assessment and determines the final moderation outcome.
Possible outcomes may include:
- Met
- Partly Met
- Not Met
- Approved after amendments
The final outcome should be recorded in the moderation documentation.
Step 7: Complete the Online Moderation Report Form
After moderation has been finalised, the moderator completes the Online Moderation Report Form.
Important
Moderation is not complete until the Online Moderation Report Form has been submitted.
Because the moderation templates capture feedback, responses, amendments, and outcomes throughout the process, much of the information required for the Online Moderation Report Form should already be available.
Simple Process Flow
Assessment Ready → Upload to SharePoint → Moderator Review → Feedback and Discussion → Assessment Writer Response → Moderator Approval → Online Report Submitted
Final Thought
Effective moderation is more than reviewing an assessment. It is a documented, evidence-based process that supports assessment quality, promotes consistency, and strengthens confidence in assessment decisions. By using the moderation templates, recording professional discussions, and maintaining clear evidence in SharePoint, moderators and assessment writers create a transparent audit trail that demonstrates how moderation has contributed to assessment improvement.
For more on moderation:
Pre-Assessment Moderation Essentials
What to Review During Moderation
The Moderation Process
Quality Moderation Tips and Common Issues