APS

Awards Processing System - new computer system introduced by the SQA for Diet 2000.

Awards Processing

SQA's complete business processes for awards.

Includes the APS system.

CSYS

Certificate of Sixth Year Studies

Central marking

Where marking of scripts is undertaken by all markers at a central location, rather than marking individually

Centre

A school/college/training provider/employer that presents candidates for SQA qualifications

Core Skills

The five skills that are considered to be the most important for work and personal life:

• Communication
• Numeracy
• Information Technology
• Problem Solving
• Working with Others

The Core Skills profile was introduced in 2000.

Cut-off scores

The mark bands that determine the cut-off points used to award grade classifications (e.g. A,B,C etc)

Diet 2000

Assessment and certification of National Qualifications in the year 2000

Diet 2001

Assessment and certification of National Qualifications in the year 2001

ELLC

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee

EPS

SEB's core information system (Exam Processing System)

EX6 forms

Control forms produced for each subject by APS which contain details of the candidates who are registered to sit the final external assessment for each Centre. Each form contains details of ten candidates and is used by:

1. invigilators to record attendance of candidates at final assessment and to batch assessment material into packets for distribution to markers;
2. markers to record the results for each candidate;
3. the SQA as a control document to track candidates completed assessments and ensure all scripts distributed for marking are returned and the marks recorded; and
4. the SQA as a basis for calculating payment to markers.

Examination teams

For each subject, there is an examination team led by a Principal Assessor. Their responsibility is to undertake the necessary examination procedures from setting of question papers to final procedures undertaken following the marking of scripts.

Finalisation

An additional quality assurance process undertaken after standardisation, to sample scripts for those markers classified during marker check as being too lenient or severe, together with a review of candidates scripts that are close to cut-off scores.

HSDU

Higher Still Development Unit

Higher Still

New National Qualifications

Integris

Management information system used primarily in schools in East and West Lothian. Supplier is Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS).

Intermediate 1

Part of the new National Qualifications

Intermediate 2

Part of the new National Qualifications

JIT

Joint IT working group between SEB and SCOTVEC

MIS

Management information system

Marker checks

A review undertaken on a sample of scripts for each marker to ascertain the quality of their marking. Each marker is awarded a grade which will determine whether they are invited to be a marker in future years.

Marker code

A unique numeric code allocated to each marker to enable the marker's scripts to be tracked throughout the external assessment procedures.

Middleware

Additional software to link different computer systems

Packet allocation

The routine run within APS which allocates packets of scripts to individual marker codes. The EX6 form is produced during packet allocation.

Passmark meetings

Meetings undertaken for each subject to set the passmark for that year.

Phoenix

Management information system used primarily in schools.

Supplier is Phoenix First Limited.

Prince

Standard public sector project management methodology, stands for "Projects in a controlled environment"

RET

SCOTVEC's core information system (Record of Education and Training)

SCE Higher

Higher qualification that will be replaced by the new National Qualifications

SCN

Scottish Candidate Number - a unique 9 digit number assigned to each candidate

SCOTVEC

Scottish Vocational Education Council

SEB

Scottish Examinations Board

SEED

Scottish Executive Education Department

SEELLD

Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department

SEEMIS

Management information system used in schools and some further and higher education colleges in the old Strathclyde region. Supplier is SEEMIS.

SITS

Management information system used in further education colleges. Supplier is Strategic Information Technology Services.

SQA

Scottish Qualifications Authority

SQAnet

SQA's extranet which is intended to allow Centres to view reports on processing status and to provide the means for electronic submission of files.

SVQs

Scottish Vocational Qualifications

Scottish Qualifications Certificate

New cumulative certificate introduced in 2000.

A single record of all qualifications achieved over time by a candidate.

Standardisation

The quality assurance process undertaken which makes adjustments for severity, leniency or inconsistencies between markers for each subject.