Capella Associates Resources

Overview

For full detail, please see: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/improvement-technician/  

All apprentices must take an independent assessment at the end of their training to confirm that they have achieved occupational competence. Rigorous, robust and independent end-point assessment (EPA) is essential to give employers confidence that apprentices completing an apprenticeship standard can actually perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard.

The L3 programme is assessed through 3 sections:

Assessment Method Requirements

Multi Choice Exam

• 40 questions to be completed in 40 minutes
• Multi-choice, selecting 1 answer from 4 possible answers
• Open book

Project Report

• Report to be based on the apprentice’s improvement project(s) completed during the apprenticeship.
• Must clearly show a business benefit to the apprentice’s employer.
• Must follow the steps of one of the recognised problem-solving methodologies.
• Must show how the KSBs listed in Annex 3 have been achieved.
• Format: a visual, concise summary document (i.e. ‘A3’ report or similar) with typical length of 1-3 sides of A3. Supporting documents are permitted but all supporting documentation must be submitted as part of the overall report.
• The report must be authorised by means of a ‘signed statement’ from the apprentice’s line manager to confirm authenticity and business benefit.
• Must be submitted by the apprentice to the EPAO within 1 month of the Gateway
• Assessment.

Presentation of the Project Report

• 30-40 minutes presentation by the apprentice.
• The presentation made must be on the project(s) which is the subject of the apprentice’s report and as such, detail the improvement project(s) carried out by the apprentice, following linearly the steps of the applicable improvement methodology applied to the project(s).
• The apprentice should clearly explain the reasons for project selection, how each improvement tool was used, business benefit of the project including a key performance indicator measure (for example, hours saved, money saved) and how the apprentice worked with a team of people during this project.
• It is up to the apprentice how this information is presented, for example through
• ‘Powerpoint’ or through a large copy of the project ‘A3’ report. Supporting documents, images, charts are permitted.
• The presentation must be authorised by means of a ‘signed statement’ from the apprentice’s line manager to confirm authenticity and business benefit.
• The apprentice must bring their project report and any supporting documents to the presentation & questioning and be prepared to show extracts from these to the independent assessor if required during the questioning.
• Audience to include one employer representative (usually supervisor of the apprentice or above).

Questioning of Report and Presentation

• 25-35 minutes questioning by independent assessor
• For each of the required KSBs which are not naturally evidenced through the report and presentation, the independent assessor should ask questions to elicit evidence that the KSBs have been attained, or otherwise. In addition, the independent assessor should ask questions to enable accurate assessment against the pass/merit/distinction criteria where further information is required to address any ‘gaps’.
• Open questions must be used, for example: Explain in detail... Describe…Give an example… Demonstrate... Take us through your calculation of… Where do you find…How did you… What was the objective…
• Audience to include one employer representative (usually supervisor of the apprentice or above). Their role is to confirm validity of the information provided in the question and answer section, provide guidance to the assessor in terms of employer policy and practice where requested and to create a realistic presentation environment.

Professional Discussion Underpinned by CPD Log

• 50 – 60 minutes
• The log will be reviewed by the independent assessor prior to the professional discussion.
• The apprentice must bring a copy of their log and referenced evidence to the professional discussion and be prepared to show extracts from these to the independent assessor if required.
• The independent assessor will ask 13-15 open questions and can ask follow-up questions for clarification to elicit evidence that the KSBs have been attained, or otherwise and to enable accurate assessment against the pass/merit/distinction criteria.
• The apprentice will be asked, with reference to their log book, to explain how KSB’s required were practically achieved.  Question coverage of the KSB’s must be in line with the coverage matrix shown in Annex 3.
• Open questions must be used
• Audience must include one employer representative (usually supervisor of the apprentice or above). Their role is to confirm validity of the information provided in the professional discussion and provide guidance to the assessor in terms of employer policy and practice where requested.

Timing

The EPA must be completed within 2 months of completion of the EPA gateway.  By the end of month 1, the apprentice must have submitted their log and project report with all support documentation to their EPAO and have prepared their  presentation.  The “report presentation & questioning” and “professional discussion underpinned by the log” will take place on the same day during month 2 with a minimum notice period of 2 weeks.

The apprentice should be notified of the EPA outcome in writing within 4 weeks of the completion of the EPA, including detail of areas for further development and improvement where they have failed. 

EPA Grading

Each assessment element will be individually graded – fail (0), pass (1), merit (2), distinction (3).  A fail in one or more of the assessment methods will result in a fail in the EPA. 

Overall Grading Matrix