Assessment information

As part of your induction to Tipperary FET College, your course coordinator will give you information about your award and certificate that you are intending to achieve:

• The name of the awarding body, and,
• The title of the award or qualification,
• If your course is recognised by the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), and if so, the award type and NFQ level, and,
• If you can use your course towards further education. If you can, they will tell you how you can do this. For example, for:

• • Access: How you can use your previous experience or certification to claim an exemption for completing some parts of the course (if possible). 
  • Transfer: See what transfer opportunities are available at the same NFQ level.
  • Progression: When you successfully complete the course, your teacher or coordinator can tell you about other opportunities to use your award to gain higher-level qualifications.

Each level has specific knowledge, skills and competencies associated with it, which you need to achieve to get a particular qualification at that level.

Level 5 is the regular Leaving Certificate award. Higher levels cover some of the courses Tipperary FET College provides and courses in other third-level institutions. Tipperary FET College provides courses on the NFQ framework at levels 1-6.

The NFQ shows how you can move from one level to the next when you meet the requirements for that level. If you are doing a certified course, make sure that you understand what level your course is at and if it is on the NFQ. It is important to know this, so that you can progress after you complete your course with us.

What is assessment and why is it important?

Assessment is an important part of your learning process. It gives you:

• The chance to show your understanding of your learning and coursework,
• The chance to receive feedback from your teacher on your course progress,
• Insight into the standard you have reached.

If you have reached the standard, you will be awarded a result or grade, or both, and then the awarding body will issue you with a certificate showing this result or grade. (If you want to know more about the awarding body, your coordinator or teacher will be glad to give you more information.)

When will assessment take place?

You may be assessed:

• During your course,
• At the end of your course, or,
• During and at the end of your course.

It depends on the module that you are doing. Your teacher will give you and your student group an assessment plan which will let you know the dates of each of your assessments.

Assessment methods

There are many ways to assess what you have learned. For some assessments, you will be asked to show the practical skills that you have learned. For others, you must submit written work as part of continuous assessment or sit a timed examination.

QQI Courses

For Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) courses, there are 6 main assessment methods. These are also known as assessment techniques (see the following table). For other certificate courses, the assessment methods may be slightly different.

1. Skills demonstration - a practical demonstration of tasks
2. Collection of Work - A selection of various pieces of work
3. Assignment - A practical or research activity on a particular topic
4. Examination - Theory-based or practical assessment that is time-based and supervised in class
5. Project - An investigation of a topic or issue. This is longer than an assignment
6. Learner (Student Record) - A reflective record that reports learning experiences and activities

Stages of assessment - a graphic

Academic integrity means being honest and responsible in the work completed as part of the course of study. Academic integrity is important to help build the skills needed for study and professional life.

Assessment misconduct is anything that goes against good academic integrity and the rules of our assessment process. Think of assessment misconduct as a “breach” or “offence” that can have negative consequences for you. Find out more about academic misconduct on the academic misconduct page.

Student resources

The Learner’s Guide to Academic Integrity  introduces academic integrity principles. It outlines what academic integrity is, why academic integrity matters to students and gives examples of good and poor academic conduct.

The Academic Writing Handbook is a useful guide to help you to develop good academic writing skills.

The Referencing Handbook is an essential resource for learners, particularly if you are studying Level 5 and 6 courses. It explains how to reference the different sources of information.

Policies and Procedures

• The Academic Integrity Policy outlines our commitment to upholding academic integrity in FET programmes and centres.
• The Research Integrity Policy provides guidelines to students and staff about ethical principles, conduct and practices for research work. The guidelines give important information to help prevent undesirable practice and ensure that research processes and outcomes are robust and responsible.

Other

• The Artificial Intelligence Guidelines identifies the role of AI in the FET teaching and learning environment and provides guidance of responsible, ethical and safe use of AI.

Misconduct in academic integrity means inappropriate actions that break any rules in different kinds of assessments (for example, exams, essays or coursework) or any work done as part of the course or training. Examples of misconduct include:

• Plagiarism,
• Exam or assignment cheating,
• Using essay mills,
• Helping or receiving help from others to complete assessment or pass exams,
• Contract cheating: paying someone to do course work,
• Collusion: doing and handing in work with another learner that should be your own,
• Letting someone write your work or attend assessment instead of you (impersonation),
• Falsifying any documents, assessments, records or information.

Students need to be aware of what academic misconduct is and how to avoid it when preparing assessments. Take a look at our Learner’s Guide to Academic Integrity to help you understand how to avoid academic misconduct. This guide introduces academic integrity principles and gives examples of good and poor academic conduct.

Policies and Procedures

• The Academic Misconduct Procedure is available to all FET students, teachers, tutors and trainers. It outlines the types of misconducts, the process we use to detect and investigate suspected misconduct, and, the sanctions given when assessment or academic misconduct is found.

Summary graphic of our procedure for suspected academic misconduct

What is reasonable accommodation

In the context of assessment, reasonable accommodation is the term for the adaptation of assessment as necessary to cater for the needs of students whose personal situation means that assessment would otherwise be unfair, for example, students with a disability.

Special accommodations for assessment will be implemented in a fair and impartial manner and will neither advantage or disadvantage the student or other students.

Types of accommodations available

Adaptation to assessments may include the following:

• Modified assignment briefs/ examination papers
• Scribes/readers
• Use of sign language interpreters
• Practical assistants
• Rest periods
• Adaptive equipment/ software
• Use of assistive technology
• Extra time

How to apply for reasonable accommodation

• If you think you need accommodation for your assessment, you should talk to your tutor or another staff member in your FET centre, as soon as possible and before the assessment takes place.
• You must be able to provide evidence of the need for reasonable accommodation in your assessment. This could include an educational psychologist report, an occupational therapist report, a neurologist report or another specialist report. It cannot be a report from your GP.  See this list for eligible disability criteria that we accepted.
• Complete this Reasonable Accommodation in Assessment Application and Approval Form to request reasonable accommodation. Your tutor or coordinator or other staff member will assist you.

We will make very effort to meet the your needs wherever reasonably possible, and, if you meet the criteria.

Appealing a decision, if reasonable accommodation is not granted

• If reasonable accommodation is not granted, you have the right to appeal this decision.
• The appeal will be considered by an Appeals Committee that is independent of your centre.
• You must complete this appeal in writing using the Reasonable Accommodation in Assessment Appeal Form and submit to your FET centre.
• Your centre will then submit your appeal to Tipperary FET College's QA Office who will progress the matter to the Appeals Committee.

Procedures and Forms

1. Graphic showing process flow for reasonable accommodation
2. Reasonable Accommodation Procedure full version
3. Reasonable Accommodation Short and Easy-to-Read Version
4. Reasonable Accommodation in Assessment Application and Approval Form
5. Reasonable Accommodation in Assessment Appeal Form
6. Eligibility of disability criteria that is accepted for consideration of Reasonable Accommodation in Assessment

Examination Rules

If you are a student on a QQI Level 4 to 6 course, you may have to sit timetabled and supervised examinations. Your teachers will help you prepare for examinations by offering you the chance to sit mock exams and explaining the examination rules.

• Examinations: Planning, conducting and concluding - our procedures that we follow.
• Student Instructions for Examinations - the examination rules you need to be aware of.

Use of a Dictionary in an Examination

If English is not your first language, you may be able to apply to use a dictionary during examinations. There are specific conditions to be allowed to use a dictionary.  If this is allowed for your module or course, you will need to:

1. Ask for the relevant form to request to use the dictionary
2. Complete it
3. Get your teacher to sign it
4. Bring this form along with you and show it to your examination supervisor.

See Guidelines for Use of Dictionaries in Examinations for more information and conditions.

Assessment deadlines

Each teacher for each of your modules sets the assessment deadlines for continuous assessment and examinations. It is very important that you know your assessment deadlines and submit your work on time. You may not be given the opportunity to repeat an exam or to resubmit your work.

If you know that you have an event coming up on the day of the deadline (for example, family wedding, medical appointment), then you must plan to submit your work before the deadline.

Therefore, if you miss an assessment submission date or examinations or both, you may have to forfeit the marks. This means you may lose the marks for the particular submission. This could affect your results, final certification or both.

In general, we cannot accept late submissions. In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to submit late submissions. If you have shown us the exceptional circumstances, you must still let your teacher know of these as soon as possible.

Exceptional circumstances

If you miss an assessment deadline or cannot attend the exam on the date, due to reasons beyond your control, you may be entitled to an extension under ‘Compassionate Consideration’. However, your circumstances must be exceptional. Talk to your teacher. An extension will give you more time to complete an assessment or to sit an exam later.

Examples of exceptional circumstances

• If you suffered a bereavement,
• If you were hospitalised.

We may also regard it as exceptional circumstances if you had something serious happen that it was beyond your control, and this prevented you from:

• Submitting an assessment on time,
• Doing the examination on the date.

What to do if you miss a deadline or exam due to exceptional circumstances

You should contact your teacher as soon as possible to explain why you need an extension. You will need to provide proof of your exceptional circumstances.

How marks are awarded for exceptional circumstances

Your work will be marked as normal. Your result will not be affected.

If you are not successful in your module, you may be offered repeat assessments. However, it depends on the module and a number of other factors. You may not repeat in order to improve a successful grade.

Repeat rules

You cannot always repeat. Some assessments have special conditions or locations which mean you cannot repeat them.  For example, practical assessments that require specialist or other facilities located outside of your centre, or, access to the workplace may be difficult to get.

For some courses (for example Early Learning and Care – ELC courses), there are special rules for repeat assessments. Your coordinator will let you know if there are repeat rules are for your course.

Costs of repeats

In certain cases, we may charge students fees to repeat. For example, where there are transport needs or if special access is needed for specialised facilities. If this is the case, your centre will tell you how much it costs.

What is an assessment appeal?

Tipperary FET College has an appeals process that allows students to appeal their assessment result(s) or the assessment process, if:

• They are not happy with the grade awarded, or,
• They believe that there was an irregularity within the assessment process itself.

How and when is an assessment appeal made?

All student appeals must be made in writing and submitted to their FET centre, within the deadline given. The FET centre will send out the appeal form at the same time that final results are issued.

Students will be provided with information about the appeals process during their induction and again when final results are issued by the FET centre.

How the assessment appeals process is managed

• Once the student appeal is received by the FET Centre, the process is then managed by the FET QA Office.
• A suitably qualified subject-matter expert will be appointed to review the students assessment evidence if the appeal is a grade appeal.
• The Appeals Examiner assigned is independent of the student’s FET centre.
• Appeals in relation to the assessment process are reviewed by an Appeals Committee made up of senior staff in Tipperary ETB that are external to the FET centre.
• The Committee will review the student’s appeal against the relevant QA policies and procedures in order to reach a decision.

Notifications of assessment appeals outcomes

Students will be informed of the outcome of the appeals process directly from a staff member within the FET Centre. For detail on the deadlines of each stage of the appeals process, please check the procedure below.

Cost of appeals

There will be costs associated with processing student appeals as external experts are usually involved. There may also be administration costs. The costs will vary according to the type and number of appeals that you are making and the awarding body regulations. For a QQI grade appeal the cost is €40.00 per module.

Your centre will tell you about the costs involved and the types of appeals you can make.

Procedure and Forms

Student Appeals Procedure  - full procedure

Student Assessment Appeals -  short version

Student Assessment Appeal Form

Tipperary FET College has practices and procedures to ensure that there are systems in place to protect the security of the assessment process.

These include:

• Ensuring the security of student assessment evidence
• Ensuring the security of assessment materials, records and records
• Reviewing regularly local assessment security arrangements and updating these as appropriate.

Policies and procedures

Secure Storage of Assessment Materials, Records and Learner Assessment Evidence

A downloadable version of this information is here: