Formal definitions of assessment types Reforms to qualifications: Factsheet 1

Abstract

The educational system in England is undergoing major reform by the Department for Education (DfE) and the national regulator, Ofqual. Reforms are underway for both vocational and academic qualifications. This factsheet provides definitions of types of assessment that are mentioned in the reforms. The aim is to clarify the distinction between external/internal versus exam/non-exam assessment. It is important to note that the DfE and Ofqual use certain terms in ways that differ from their more common usage in everyday language.