This policy sets out how National LifeSkills Academy designs, delivers and reviews the assessments that lead to a certificate. It applies to every NLSA course.

Principles

Every assessment must be valid, so that it tests what the course teaches; reliable, so that it gives a consistent result; fair, so that no learner is disadvantaged by anything other than their knowledge; and transparent, so that learners know in advance what is expected.

How assessments are designed

• Every question is written from content that appears in the course. No question tests material that has not been taught.
• Every question is mapped to a stated learning outcome, and every outcome is assessed by at least one question. The mapping is recorded and submitted with the course for accreditation.
• Assessments use a mix of question types. A proportion present a realistic scenario, so that learners apply knowledge rather than recall facts.
• Each question has one correct answer. Distractors are plausible but clearly wrong, and no two answers may be defensible.
• Questions are written in plain British English at a reading level of A2 to B1.

Pass mark and attempts

The standard pass mark is 80 per cent. A higher mark may be set where the subject is safety critical and a partial understanding could put someone at risk. The pass mark for each course is published before enrolment.

Learners have three attempts. Question order, and option order where the question type allows it, is randomised for each attempt. A learner who does not pass within three attempts is asked to work through the course again and may then contact NLSA to have their attempts reset.

Learners are told immediately whether they have passed, and receive feedback explaining the correct answer.

Fairness and access

• Assessments are untimed unless a time limit is essential to what is being tested.
• Reasonable adjustments are made on request, under the Reasonable Adjustments Policy.
• A learner who believes an assessment decision is wrong may use the Appeals Policy.

Academic integrity

Online assessments are completed without supervision. Learners confirm at enrolment that the work is their own. Suspected impersonation, sharing of answers or other dishonesty is handled under the Malpractice Policy and may lead to a certificate being withdrawn.

Monitoring and review

• Pass rates and the performance of individual questions are reviewed at least annually.
• A question that almost every learner answers correctly, or almost none does, is examined and rewritten or replaced at that review point, or earlier if we are asked to review.
• Assessments are reviewed whenever the course content changes, and whenever law or national guidance changes.
• Assessment records are retained in line with the Data Protection Policy.

National LifeSkills Academy Ltd  |  Assessment Policy  |  v1.0 September 2026