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How Does an NVQ Workplace Assessment Work?

Your assessor watches you work, asks questions and checks your evidence. Here is what to expect.

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Workplace assessment is the heart of an NVQ. Rather than an exam, a qualified assessor sees you working, talks to you about what you are doing and reviews your evidence. Together these show you can do the job to the standard.

What happens on an assessment visit

  1. Arrival and planThe assessor checks in with you and the site and agrees what they will see.
  2. ObservationThey watch you carry out real tasks, often for a few hours.
  3. QuestioningThey ask how and why you work the way you do, including safety.
  4. Evidence reviewThey go through photos, documents and witness statements.
  5. FeedbackYou learn which units are signed off and what is still needed.

Before the visit

Do
  • Tell your site manager the date
  • Plan work that covers your missing units
  • Have your evidence organised
Avoid
  • Booking a visit on a day with no relevant work
  • Leaving PPE or paperwork at home
  • Guessing answers you are unsure of

Some assessment can also be done remotely through video calls and an online portfolio. Read what evidence you need and what a competence-based qualification is.

Mistakes to avoid on assessment day

A workplace assessment is your chance to show the assessor real work. Small planning errors can waste the visit.

  • No suitable work on the day. Agree with your supervisor which task the assessor will see, and make sure it is happening.
  • Not telling the site. The assessor needs site induction and permission to be there. Arrange it in advance.
  • Forgetting paperwork. Have your risk assessment, method statement and any permits ready to show.
  • Not explaining your work. The assessor may ask questions as you work. Talk through what you are doing and why.

A worked example

For a carpentry NVQ, you might arrange for the assessor to watch you hang doors and fit ironmongery on a plot. You would brief them at the cabin, show the RAMS, then work as normal while answering their questions. Afterwards, ask what evidence is still missing.

Your next steps

  1. Pick a task that covers several units.
  2. Confirm the date with your supervisor and the site manager.
  3. Arrange the assessor’s site induction.
  4. Prepare your paperwork and PPE.
  5. After the visit, note any gaps and plan how to cover them.

Useful links

Start your NVQ with Coteca

Tell us your trade and what you do on site. We will match you to the right NVQ, book your assessor and help with your card when you finish.

See NVQ coursesCall 0208 099 4324

Frequently asked questions

How many assessment visits will I have?

It depends on the NVQ and your evidence. Many people have a handful of visits.

Can the assessor test me in an office?

Observation should happen in a real work setting. Questioning can happen anywhere.

What if I am nervous?

Work as you normally would. The assessor is checking your usual standard, not a performance.

Can my employer refuse a visit?

Visits need the site's agreement, so speak to your manager early.

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