End-Point Assessment

If you had a read through our recent blog on the different types of Assessor roles, you will have seen us mention several different methods of assessment. Typically, NVQ Assessors (who take learners through the entire qualification) assess learners against ‘Learning Outcomes’ and ‘Assessment Criteria’. On-programme Assessors guide the learner through the majority of their qualification, ensuring their KSBs (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours) are up to standard.

When it comes to End-Point Assessments (EPAs), the assessments carried out are completely different to the on-programme element. This is why there are special Independent End-Point Assessors (IEPAs) who carry these out.

What is the purpose of an EPA?

Let’s have a little recap. An EPA is created to make sure that an apprentice is fully competent to carry out their job. KSBs are the main tools used to measure this competency. If an IEPA doesn’t believe the apprentice has hit all of the KBBs, then they are not fully competent and would therefore fail their End-Point Assessment.

What does an EPA involve?

Unfortunately, there is no common format for an EPA, they vary between each apprenticeship. The best way to find out what is included within an EPA or a specific apprenticeship is to look at the assessment plan. We have written a quick guide on how to find an assessment plan if you are unsure.

The assessment plan will outline the main requirements for the final test, and which methods should be used to assess the learner. Employers themselves can determine the KSBs required for the job roles, but the assessment plan will guide them on how to test for occupational competence.

One thing to note is that EPAs aren’t designed to test every single aspect of the standard. Hence the apprenticeship being split into the on-programme section and the end-point section.

Some of the following methods are commonly used to test competence:

• Multiple choice tests
• Evidence portfolio (such as a logbook)
• Observations on the learner’s practical skills
• Professional discussion
• Projects carried out in the workplace
• Portfolio-based interview
• Project presentation

Apprenticeship Standard

We mentioned earlier about the KSBs being found within the assessment plan but there is also another document you need to be aware of; the Apprenticeship Standard. This contains all of the KSBs that the apprentice needs to meet, whereas the Assessment Plan details what KSB each method is evidencing.

The Apprenticeship Standard also contains additional information including the duration of the Apprenticeship, the level of the Apprenticeship, any qualifications needed beforehand (e.g. Maths, English), and career progression opportunities.

Where does an EPA take place?

EPAs are carried out under exam conditions, so they need to be carried out where the apprentice can concentrate. Usually they take place at their employer’s premises. If an apprentice fails all or part of their EPA they are able to resubmit for testing. However, the apprentice will have already been put forward for the EPA by their on-programme assessor so they should be ready for that stage.

We hope this has helped to look at some of the assessment methods used in EPA. It is a hard question to give a direct answer to as they vary so much between apprenticeships. If you would like any further information on End-Point Assessments please give our team a call on 01205 805 155.

Are you looking to begin your career as an End-Point Assessor? We are here to help guide you through exactly what you need to achieve. Research conducted through the Future Apprenticeships programme estimated that between 23,000 and 42,000 assessors are required to deliver end-point assessments each year. As you can see, there is definitely a great need for new EPAs!

Start with the basics

First thing’s first, you need to have a clear understanding of what end-point assessment is. Our EPA in 60 seconds video gives a good overview of this. Basically, it is a synoptic assessment that only occurs at the end of an apprenticeship. It must be carried out by an independent EPA, and an apprentice must undergo the EPA in order to complete their apprenticeship.

Look at the specific assessment plans

An assessment plan will give you the most definitive answer about the standards you will require. They explain the key elements of the end-point assessment. Sometimes they also outline the requirements and qualities of the EPA. Finding an assessment plan is fairly easy, you just need to start on the Institute for Apprenticeships website.

One of the most common requirements for an EPA is to have relevant, up-to-date industry experience. You should already have a CPD record that shows how you have been improving your skills and knowledge through extra training and qualifications. Now is a good time to think about whether there are any events or conferences that you can attend (ideally EPA-specific) to improve your CPD record.

Update yourself with the new assessment methods

If you have experience of being an NVQ Assessor, or an On-Programme Assessor, you may not be familiar with the specific methods of end-point assessment and how they slightly differ from standard assessments. The ‘professional discussion’, for example, needs to be led by the EPA in a way that is impartial and takes account of the content the apprentice is in.

Grading is another thing that you will need to familiarise yourself with. Most end-point assessments are graded as a Pass, Fail, Merit or Distinction. You need to understand these in detail so you award students with the correct mark.

Speak to End-Point Assessment Organisations

End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) are approved awarding bodies, training providers and professional bodies who are registered to carry out Independent End-Point Assessments with apprentices. Have a chat with an EPAO approved for the standards you want to assess. They will be able to help explain the requirements you will need. Some EPAOs have additional standards that exceed those laid out in the assessment plan; so it is always best to ask them.

Qualifications

It goes without saying that in order to become an EPA you will need qualifications. Ideally, you will have the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) as this is the most highly regarded assessor qualification.

We would also advise that you take an IQA qualification. This is because by understanding assessment from a quality assurance point of view, this will help improve your assessment skills. The Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practices is a good place to start.

Another really useful thing would be to attend an EPA Workshop, like the one we hold. This will give you the foundations to explore becoming an EPA, and also put some of the skills into practice. The mock end-point assessments unit at the end of the course will help identify whether you are ready to step into a new job as an EPA.

If you would like any further help or information on how to get a job as an end-point assessor, please give us a call on 01205 805 155 or email us – training@brooksandkirk.co.uk

The term ‘gateway’ crops up quite a lot when it comes to apprenticeship standards. We wanted to take a look into this in more detail; as well as providing you with some tips on knowing whether an apprentice is ready for the gateway.

Firstly, we need to run through the assessment stages. When an apprentice has completed their vocational qualification, the training provider will be able to sign off the ‘on-programme’ element. We talked about this in more detail on a recent blog explaining the difference between an Assessor and an End-Point Assessor. 

Once the apprentice has had their on-programme element signed off, they then enter the ‘gateway’ stage. They have already developed the knowledge, skills and behaviours required, with the aim of being competent in their job role. The second stage is where the apprentice shows their competence in an end-point assessment. At the gateway, the employer (along with the apprenticeship provider) gives the go-ahead that the apprentice is competent in their role. Therefore, they’re prepared enough for the end-point assessment.

Mandatory Gateway Requirements

As you are probably aware, each assessment plan has different mandatory gateway requirements, but here are a few common examples:

• Achievement of a required qualification e.g. a Diploma
• Completion of a workplace portfolio
• A letter signed by the employer confirming readiness for the end-point assessment
• Self-assessment by the apprentice
• Achievement of an accredited Health & Safety qualification

It is essential that in the run-up to the gateway decision, the assessor is in close contact with the End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). They will provide guidance on how mandatory gateway evidence should be collected, and the processes following this.

Is The Apprentice Gateway-Ready?

The assessor will have a good indication as to whether or not the apprentice is ready for the gateway stage. The employer will also be able to assist with this. There are several different approaches that can be taken, but here are four questions that may help with the decision-making process:

1. Is there sufficient evidence that the apprentice is ready?
2. Does the evidence show achievement of gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of them?
3. Is there a certainty that the achievement is at the level required?
4. Does the assessor consider the apprentice to be competent?

Once the assessor is certain all of the questions have been met, they should know the apprentice is ready for the gateway. The employer will then need to create a letter that confirms they believe the apprentice is competent. When this, along with the evidence, has been submitted to the EPAO and they are happy, the apprentice will move onto the end-point assessment.

We hope this has helped to give you an insight into the gateway stage of an apprenticeship, and how this joints together the on-programme and end-point assessments. If you have any questions surrounding the topics we have discussed, please feel free to call us on 01205 805 155.

End-Point Assessment is a confusing topic, and one we always get asked questions on. In case you haven’t seen it, we have put together a video series called EPA in 60 seconds to give you an introduction to EPA. Here are some of the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

What is an End-Point Assessment?

An End-Point Assessment (EPA) is a one-off assessment that apprentices have to undertake at the end of their course. This allows them to officially complete their apprenticeship.

The EPA is a series of tests that must be taken, in order to prove the apprentice has the ability and competence to carry out the role they have been training for. This leads us nicely onto the next point.

How does End-Point Assessment work?

The EPA takes place at the end of an apprentice, following ‘on-programme’ training. This is where the apprentice receives vocational training from the training provider. The employer then has a discussion with both their apprentice and the training provider, in order to assess whether the apprentice is ready for the EPA. This stage is often referred to as the ‘gateway’.

The main purpose of the EPA is to determine whether the apprentice has learned all of the necessary Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) during their apprenticeship. Helping to prove that they are competent across all areas. It isn’t always a case of pass or fail though, there are three grading scales: Fail, Pass or Distinction. The End-Point Assessor gives the apprentice a score for each of the KSBs; based on their performance in the EPA alone.

What does the End-Point Assessment involve?

We have written a specific blog about what an end-point assessment involves, but briefly it must consist of 2 or 3 different assessment methods. The best way to see what the EPA will involve for your specific apprenticeship is to look at the assessment plan. These are widely available online, so just have a quick Google. Alternatively, here is our guide on how to find an assessment plan.

What is the difference between EPA assessment plans & regular assessment plans?

Firstly, let’s have a look at an EPA assessment plan. They are predefined documents (not written by the assessor) that outline everything you need to know about the EPA. They generally include:

• Guidance on the exact requirements for the assessor
• How the assessments should be scored
• Details of what quality assurance methods need to be in place

The most important thing to note is that EPA assessment plans will specify which assessment methods must be used, and what they must involve. Some of the most common assessment methods used in EPAs include: examinations, workplace observations, professional discussions, interviews, portfolio of work, multiple-choice tests and projects.

A regular assessment plan is a document created by an NVQ assessor and given to the learner. It will include information on the specific assessments that will be carried out, and the criteria for meeting the assessments. The assessment methods are slightly different to an EPA assessment plan and can include: observations, professional discussions, question and answer, projects and assignments, RPL, witness testimony and work products.

What is an End-Point Assessment Organisation?

You may have heard of the acronym EPAO, which stands for End-Point Assessment Organisations. They are organisations that have been approved by the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) to deliver the EPA of apprentices. The EPA must be delivered by an independent EPAO, who have nothing to do with the rest of the apprentice’s NVQ, employer or training provider involved.

The main responsibility of an EPAO is to ensure all apprentices receive the same standards in their EPA.

How much does the End-Point Assessment cost?

An EPA costs on average between 10-20% of the overall cost of the apprenticeship delivery, but must not exceed 20%. The price may vary depending on the requirements set out in the standards, including the assessment tools, methods and estimated completion time.

For levy-paying employers, the EPA is included within the overall training costs and therefore paid for with their levy contributions. For non-levy paying employers, the EPA is priced separately from the overall training. In this instance, the employer pays a third of the EPA cost, and the ESFA pays for two-thirds.

We hope this has answered some of your burning questions regarding End-Point Assessment, but if there is anything else you would like to know please give us a call on 01205 805 155 and we will be happy to help.

We often get asked if there is a difference between an Assessor and an End-Point Assessor. The answer is: yes, there is! Although there is some crossover between the two positions, they’re not quite the same. In this post, we’re going to take a more in-depth look at the difference between the two.

The role of the Assessor

An Assessor – whether an NVQ or On-Programme Assessor – is there every step of the way through a learner’s journey. They assess through the apprenticeship or course through a variety of assessment methods. They’re also there to offer support to learners when it comes to their assessment. The Assessor becomes familiar with the learners and is there for the long-haul. They may even take part in aspects of apprentice training, delivering learning material.

When using learning to drive as a metaphor, you can think of the Assessor as the driving instructor; checking you’re doing everything right and pushing you in the right direction when you’re picking up bad habits.

The role of the End-Point Assessor

The Independent End-Point Assessor (IEPA) is far less hands-on. The IEPA assesses on a one-off basis during the End Point Assessment – a new requirement for apprentices at the end of the apprenticeships. Using learning to drive as a metaphor, you could think of the IEPA as the person in the passenger seat during the final driving test.

The IEPA is someone completely unknown to the apprentice and unrelated to the learning institution. They assess against the course criteria without bias or prior knowledge.

What is an End-Point Assessment?

Once an apprentice has finished all on-programme aspects of their apprenticeship, they will have to face their End-Point Assessment. This may be a singular assessment or many depending on the course. Basically, the End-Point Assessment is a series of tests designed to showcase what the apprentice has learned and how well they’ve developed their skills. The EPAs answer the following question: Is this apprentice working to the industry standard?

The End-Point Assessor uses the results of these assessments to determine how well the learner has done on the course and whether they will fail the apprenticeship, pass, or pass with a merit or distinction.

The EPA a learner will face at the end of their apprenticeship will be detailed in the course’s Assessment Plan.

Do apprenticeships have both Assessors and End-Point Assessors?

Simply put, this depends on the course. When training for a BTEC as an independent qualification, there won’t be an End-Point Assessor, for example. However, for all apprenticeships, there will be both an Assessor during the learner journey, and an EPA at the finishing line.

Is there a difference in training to become an Assessor and an End-Point Assessor?

Only slightly…

To become an Assessor of any type, you must have completed a CAVA course. However, as there is a difference between the roles, there is obviously going to be a difference within the training. Check out our blog to find out how to become an Independent End-Point Assessor.

Taking an EPA workshop with Brooks and Kirk

Our new EPA Workshops are coming soon! Visit our EPA workshop page to find out more or get in touch today.

With the rise of End-Point Assessment over the past couple of years, a lot of misconceptions have popped up along the way. So, we want to clear up these myths and misconceptions so that we can all be on the same page when talking all things EPA!

Does the Level 3 EPA Award Qualify me work in End-Point Assessment?

In short, no.

The Level 3 Award in Understanding End-Point Assessment was developed by the awarding body and End-Point Assessment Organisation, Highfield. They are the only awarding body that offer this qualification and the only EPAO to require Independent End-Point Assessors (IEPAs) to hold this qualification…

The vast majority of End-Point Assessment Organisations will instead require require you to hold an industry standard assessor qualification; like the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (or equivalent).

Is End-Point Assessment replacing Internal Quality Assurance?

No, absolutely not.

Internal Quality Assurance is certainly still a necessity and it will not be replaced by End-Point Assessment. They are two completely different roles.

An IQA’s main responsibility is to quality check assessment decisions on learners completing qualifications. Whereas an IEPA is mainly responsible for carrying out assessments on an apprentice to determine whether or not they have passed their apprenticeship.

Do I need an IQA qualification to be an End-Point Assessor?

It’s certainly advisory, but it’s not actually an ‘across-the-board’ requirement.

It completely depends on two things; the requirements specified by the employer (EPAO) and the requirements set out in the assessment plan.

Some employers will just want you to have the Assessor qualification (CAVA), whilst some will also require you to have an IQA qualification as well. Furthermore, some Apprenticeships’ assessment plans specify that the IEPA must hold an IQA qualification, like the Level 3 Business Administrator.

Why can’t I find the End-Point assessment for an NVQ?

The reason you won’t be able to find an End-Point Assessment for any NVQs is because End-Point Assessments only happen in Apprenticeships. So you won’t find EPAs anywhere else. 

You can, however, find the End-Point Assessments for any Apprenticeship on the Institute for Apprenticeships website. 

Do I need to have experience in assessing before becoming an End-Point Assessor?

Nope. You don’t need experience in assessing before becoming an End-Point Assessor.

Unlike a lot of traditional assessor jobs where you find phrases like “experience in assessing required“, most IEPA positions are not as focused on the requirement for assessing experience. Instead, most EPAOs are far more concerned about prospective assessors having ‘current’ occupational experience. 

The End-Point Assessment Organisations we work closely with look for individuals who are even still working in their industry, or at least were up until very recently and then just get them to do the CAVA qualification. This then gives EPAOs the best of both worlds; a qualified assessor who has extensive and up-to-date knowledge and experience in their sector.

If there’s anything else you need to know about End-Point Assessment, take a look at our End-Point Assessment Knowledgebase. 

End-Point Assessment is a huge part of the Apprenticeship and Assessing worlds. If you’re a regular reader of our blog posts, you should know quite a lot about EPA by now. You may think that as you don’t want to be an End-Point Assessor, you don’t need to know about it. We believe otherwise. Any Assessor – including On-Programme Assessors – involved with Apprenticeships, in any way, need to know as much as possible about EPA.

On-Programme Assessors

As an On-Programme Assessor, it’s ideal that you know about End-Point Assessment. Whilst you won’t be taking your Apprentice through their actual EPA, you still need to have as much knowledge as possible about it. Your Apprentice will likely have a lot of questions about the EPA and you need to be able to support them and answer these questions.

Your candidates that are going through their Apprenticeships may also find it beneficial to have Mock End-Point Assessments. There’s no issue with the Mock EPA being conducted by yourself as the On-Programme Assessor; but it is obviously vital that you have the correct, up-to-date knowledge in order to prepare them efficiently. 

It would be especially beneficial for you to have EPA Knowledge if the company you are working for is on the register of End-Point Assessment Organisations. If this is the case, you need to know your stuff. Plus you never know; your employer might give you the opportunity to carry out an EPA – and it might be something you want to carry on doing. 

On the whole, it definitely doesn’t hurt to have the knowledge. It can open doors to many other opportunities in your career.

How Can I Gain The Knowledge?

Now, the number one way we would recommend to get to grips with End-Point Assessment is our Workshop. It doesn’t matter how much or how little experience you have in assessment; if you agree that having End-Point Assessment knowledge would benefit you, this workshop is perfect for you. We designed our comprehensive workshop to give anyone the opportunity to learn all there is to know about EPA, and put EPA skills into practice. Oh and best of all – it’s just a one day workshop. So there’s no work you need to do prior to or after attending. Phew.

If you are interested please take a look at our next End-Point Assessment Workshop. The locations and dates of our EPA Workshop vary, so if the date/location isn’t right for you there’s a good possibility there will be in the future.

For any further questions you may have about End-Point Assessment, please take a look at our EPA Knowledgebase Page.