Assessment Principles

This resource outlines key principles of quality assessment, including alignment with learning goals, fairness, scaffolding, collaboration, accessibility, and meaningful integration. Adhering to these principles helps create inclusive and impactful assessments that enhance the student learning journey. Assessment is central to effective teaching and learning, shaping student experience and academic standards. This resource outlines eight core principles, described in the University of Newcastle Assessment Framework, which underpin robust assessment practices at the University of Newcastle.

1. Validity: 

Assessments must accurately measure achievement of learning outcomes and align clearly with course and program objectives.

2. Reliability: 

Assessment outcomes should be consistent across context sand assessors, supported by clear marking criteria and moderation.

3. Fairness and Equity:

Assessment must provide all students, regardless of background or ability, an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge.

4. Transparency:

Clear communication of assessment expectations, criteria, and standards helps students understand requirements and reduces ambiguity.

5. Educational Impact:

Assessment should support and enhance student learning through constructive feedback, fostering continuous improvement and engagement. Assessment of, for and as learning.

6. Relevance:

Assessment should not only be academically rigorous but also meaningfully aligned with the evolving needs of students, disciplines, and society.

7. Future Proof:

Leverage digital tools to enhance assessment efficiency, feedback quality, and learner experience while minimising unnecessary burden on staff and students.

8. Promote Academic Integrity:

Through purposeful assessment design, embedding integrity principles, and leveraging GenAI ethically and transparently.