Let’s just first talk about why we even need to talk about this… Imagine it: Two students complete the exact same unit but at different RTO’s. Same content delivered… Same performance criteria to meet… but then when it comes to assessments – they have two completely different experiences – one gets an observation with clear questions with detailed feedback and guidance… while the other gets a rushed observation and a vague “you passed.”
That’s not just unfair – it’s dangerous. And it’s something we need to talk about. And I’m not just talking about the observations…
Assessments in VET are not just about ticking boxes. It’s about trust. It’s about knowing that when a student is marked as competent, they’re truly ready for the workplace… and when it’s done right? It builds confidence – in learners, in trainers, and in employers who rely on our graduates.
So today, we’re diving into what makes assessments fair and consistent, why it matters more than ever in 2025, and how we can all step up to make things better – for ourselves and for our students.
Why yes, it is marking break… how did you know?
🛠 What Does Fair and Consistent Really Mean?
Fairness in assessment means every student gets an equal shot… and it doesn’t mean giving everyone the same assessment exactly – because learners are unique and different humans. Fairness is about equity: same standards, same outcomes, but support that meets the learner where they are.
Consistency means applying those standards the same way every time. Whether it’s you, me, or Bob down the hall assessing the unit, the judgment should be the same. Does it mean we are going to get it right every time? Of course not, but consistency reduces errors between students and provides a fairer outcome across this board.
But Sammie – I hear you shout – What does that actually look like?!
I got you! Here’s how consistency plays out in real life:
- A student with dyslexia gets a verbal version of the assessment – but the same competency is being judged… like an observation of the assessment.
- A group of trainers validating each other’s assessments to make sure one isn’t marking too easy (or too harsh).
- A new trainer using the same delivery tools and templates as their team, so every learner’s experience is aligned.
Consistency. This is where RTOs shine – or stumble.
It can make or break the student experience – so let’s talk about what happens when RTO’s forget about consistency in their assessments…
🚨 What Happens When It Goes Wrong?
I once worked with a student. He was smart, switched on, and eager to get into management logistics work. He passed all his units with some trainers (including me) on the business side, but when he moved over to the next set of units, the next trainer said his assessment work wasn’t good enough. He had to resubmit multiple assessments and began to question his skills.
He felt defeated. He wasn’t sure who to trust – was it the first trainer? Me? The last one? Was he actually competent?
It took weeks of meetings, re-assessment, and validation of marking to sort out. And the worst part? It wasn’t even his fault. It was the system’s. No one had standardised the marking tools between trainer teams. There was no random check of validity in the marking…
When assessments are inconsistent, students lose faith in the process and trainers burn out trying to fix issues after the fact. And then employers start questioning the value of our qualifications.
We can’t let that happen. It will genuinely ruin our profession.
🧱 So It Starts With the Tools
Fair and consistent assessment begins long before the first student opens their workbook. It starts with the tools that we use.
In case this is your first day, good assessment tools are:
- Mapped to the unit: They cover all the elements and performance criteria.
- Clear and simple: Students know what they’re being asked. Trainers know how to mark.
- Validated: That means someone else – ideally a few people – have checked that the tool works before we use it in class.
Validation isn’t just a once-a-year meeting either. Under the updated Standards for RTOs (2024), validation should be systematic and ongoing. And it’s not just about ticking off a checklist. It’s about asking:
If I gave this task to three trainers, would they all agree the student is competent?
If the answer’s no, the assessment tool needs work.
It’s really that simple. If the foundation of assessments are good, then it makes it easier for both the student and the teachers to maintain consistency. It all leads to quality outcomes in the workplace and brings our teams together.
👥 Teamwork Makes the Marking Fairer
Assessments were never meant be a solo sport.
Moderation, validation, team debriefs – these are the heartbeat of a really strong RTO. They help us stay on the same page, even when we have different teaching styles. Cuz ya girl is Neurospicy and sometimes that’s a challenge in itself…
Let me tell you about one RTO I worked with that did this brilliantly. Every Wednesday night, the really small gang held a debrief. Did I have the pleasure of enjoying tea and literal tea? Yes… you best believe we met up and chatted about class… bought up tricky assessments and compared prep notes.
- Would you mark this ‘satisfactory’?
- Does this answer show the skill, or just the knowledge?
- How would you give feedback on this?
We weren’t just trying to make assessments better – we were making each other better. And our students? They trusted the process. Because it was clearly working.
📢 Communication Is Everything
We can’t have fair assessments without clear communication.
Students need to know what they’re being assessed on, why it matters, and what success actually looks like. That’s not just a box on a cover sheet – it’s a conversation we need to have with our students for every assessment.
Trainers need to speak the same language, too.
If one trainer says a paragraph is enough and another says give me a full page, students get confused – and rightly frustrated.
So let’s actually talk about marking guides – the communication tool we use to help us mark.
They’re meant to help us be fair and consistent, but only if we actually use them – and keep them up to date. When we don’t, our students get stuck in the middle. They start wondering, Am I doing enough? What’s the right answer here?
It’s not about making life hard for trainers – it’s about giving our learners clear, steady expectations they can rely on. If we’re all interpreting the same task differently, then we’re not assessing the same thing.
That’s why it’s so important to review marking guides regularly, especially when you are delivering multiple classes of the same unit.
Take the time to check in with your team before each unit is delivered:
- Are we all on the same page?
- Have the training package updates been reflected in our guidance?
- Do the word counts, examples, and criteria still make sense for today’s students?
A well-maintained marking guide isn’t just a compliance tick – it’s a tool that builds confidence for both learners and assessors. Taking time to do a regular review keeps the marking guides accurate, useful, and fair. And let’s be real – nothing saves time like a clear guide that everyone agrees on!
Consistency comes from having clear benchmarks, examples of what good work looks like, and regular chats within the team. Simple, but powerful.
🧑⚖️ Feedback That Builds, Not Breaks
A fair assessment is also about what comes after the judgment.
Feedback isn’t just a sentence. It’s a bridge between learning and improvement. And when we do it well, we help students grow.
I love some critical feedback – but I can’t do anything with negative feedback – and my students feel the same way. If you don’t like me as a person, there is very little I can do about that… but if my tone has offended you, then that’s something I can work on…
But let’s actually talk about students and assessments… I once had a student who failed a roleplay style observation assessment… but instead of just saying you’re not competent, I sat with her and explained:
- What went well
- Where she missed the mark
- What to try next time
She came back stronger the next night and passed with confidence. She utilised my feedback to support her team during her observation and that… that’s the ripple effect of good feedback – it builds more than skills. It builds people up!
🔄 Updating and Reflecting (aka Keeping It Fresh)
The VET world doesn’t sit still – and neither should our assessments.
Units get updated. Workplace practices and legislation changes. Student cohorts shift. Fair assessments need to reflect now, not five years ago.
Have you reviewed your assessments this year? And I mean… not just checked the cover sheets, but really looked at…
- Is this still industry-relevant?
- Is this still the best way to test this skill?
- Is this accessible to the current group of students?
If not, now’s the time.
And if your RTO isn’t doing regular reviews, start the conversation.
Because fair assessments today make competent graduates tomorrow – and that’s what VET is all about.
🧠 Fair ≠ Easy
Sometimes when we talk about fairness, people assume it means being softer… making assessments easier…
Nope.
Fair doesn’t mean easy. It means clear.
It means that every student knows exactly what they’re being judged on and how they can succeed. It also means trainers apply the same rules and give every learner a real shot. Fairness. Equity.
We owe our students high standards and… genuinely… fairness is how we get there.
🧭 So, What Can We Do?
If you’re a trainer, here are a few questions you can ask yourself this week:
- Have I validated my assessments with the team recently?
- Do my students understand what competent looks like before they start?
- Is my feedback helping my students improve – or just telling them the outcome?
- Am I using the same standards as my colleagues?
And if you’re a manager or head of department…. just some brain-thoughts to consider:
- Are we giving trainers the time and tools to make assessments better?
- Are we talking about assessment quality as a team – or leaving it to individuals?
- Are our systems setting trainers up to succeed?
Fairness and consistency don’t happen by accident. Trainers aren’t mind-readers and investing in training the trainers in consistency doesn’t just happen. Fairness and consistency happen when we choose to make them a priority. It’s a choice that RTO’s make. What choice will your RTO make?
💬 Let’s Keep Talking
I’d love to hear from you… What’s working well in your RTO when it comes to fair and consistent assessments? Are there any challenges you’re navigating, or lessons you’ve learned along the way? Maybe you’ve got a story – good or not-so-good – that shows how consistency (or lack of it!) can really impact your students. Let’s share ideas and support each other in the comments below.
Because at the end of the day, assessment is more than a task. It’s a promise.
Let’s make sure we’re keeping it.
Till next time.