200445
17 July 2020 Senior secondary Number: 030/20
Directions for administration: External assessment 2020
Purpose
To advise schools that information about the administration of external assessment in 2020 is now available for schools, students, and parents/carers.
Background
In the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system, external assessment for General, General (Extension) and General (Senior External Examination) subjects is held annually in Term 4.
School principals are responsible for managing their school’s overall external assessment responsibilities and the security, storage, and movement of assessment materials within their school. They may delegate these responsibilities to an External assessment (EA) coordinator who will be QCAA’s main point of contact for external assessment logistics and administration.
Information
To support schools and school communities to prepare for the administration of external assessment in 2020, the QCAA has developed the following resources:
• Directions for administration: External assessment (DFA) — important information for school principals, EA coordinators, supervisors and QCAA invigilators about the administration of external assessment, including:
roles and responsibilities
preparing for assessment
assessment day tasks
access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (AARA).
Schools are required to follow the policies and procedures for external assessment outlined in the DFA and in the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook.
All external assessments must be administered according to QCAA requirements.
• Directions to students: External assessment — directions students must follow when sitting external assessment.
Memo
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Memo
Directions for administration: External assessment 2020 Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 17 July 2020 Page 2 of 2
• Equipment list: External assessment — information about approved equipment for all assessment, QCAA-approved calculators, student devices, subject-specific equipment, and prohibited materials.
Web links
The DFA is available via the QCAA Portal Noticeboard at www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/portal.
The Directions to students are available on the QCAA website at:
www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/assessment/external-assessment/administration.
The Equipment list is available on the QCAA website at:
www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/assessment/external-assessment/administration.
What you need to do
Ensure all staff involved in the administration of external assessment read and follow the advice in the DFA.
Ensure all students sitting external assessment are made aware of the Directions to students and Equipment list and follow the advice contained within these documents.
Finding out more
For more information about the administration of external assessment, please email [email protected] or phone (07) 3074 7570.
Claude Jones
Director, Assessment, Reporting and ICT Systems Division
