Internal quality assurance is a crucial element of a centre’s quality assurance system.

Robust, effective internal quality assurance ensures that all learners are assessed fairly and consistently to the specified standard. 

Internal quality assurance checks that the assessment process (i.e. from pre-course planning to the recommendation for the award of credit) is fit for purpose and is implemented accurately, fairly and consistently. 


The Process

 Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) must keep accurate written records of the outcomes of the following steps:

1. Pre-course delivery review of units and/or qualifications

The IQA checks the validity and suitability of the units and/or qualifications selected by assessors.

If the units are no longer suitable (due to the needs of the learner cohort or because the units have expired etc), alternatives are sourced from our unit database or qualification database.

2. Pre-course delivery internal quality assurance

The IQA reviews all assessment materials, tasks and methods to ensure they are fit for purpose.

3. Internal quality assurance

The IQA develops a sampling plan linking to the assessment plan.

The IQA selects a sample of learners’ assessed work to check that assessors are assessing learners’ work accurately, fairly and consistently. 

The IQA also checks the consistency of assessment decisions across units and/or qualifications.

4. Internal quality assurance of assessment decisions  

The IQA regularly reviews assessors’ assessment judgements.

Mid-course internal quality assurance identifies any issues and provides the opportunity for corrective action to be taken before the award of credit is compromised.

The IQA reviews assessors’ judgements with reference to the principles of assessment

5. Internal quality assurance of practical activities

The IQA observes practical assessments where appropriate (i.e. where there is no written or tangible evidence generated by the learner) to observe, monitor and assess learners’ response.


Useful documents

For further guidance on effective Internal Quality Assurance read our Guide to Internal Quality Assurance

List 1: Staff involved in assessment and Internal Quality Assurance

Checklist 1: Course and quality assurance information

Checklist 2: Pre-delivery review of units

IQA1: Internal quality assurance of a new exercise or task

IQA2: Internal quality assurance risk-based sampling plan

IQA3: Internal quality assurance of assessment decision

IQA4: Internal quality assurance observation of assessment