At the end of their apprenticeship, your apprentices are ready to demonstrate everything they’ve learned. Now comes the big test.
For several years, apprentices were largely assessed through continuous assessment—bits of coursework and tests delivered throughout the apprenticeship. In 2017, this emphasis shifted to end-point assessments. As the name implies, these are assessments that take place at the end of a given apprenticeship and are a chance for apprentices to show everything they’ve learned and get that all-important certification.
So how do end-point assessments work? Who manages and administers them? And what role do employers and apprenticeship training providers play in making sure every apprentice is ready to succeed?
What is an end-point assessment for apprentices?
Working together, an employer and training provider will decide when it’s the right time for an apprentice to undertake an end-point assessment. This is conducted by an accredited organisation that’s independent from both the employer and training provider: an End-Point Assessment Organisation, or EPAO.
While training providers will know which EPAOs can assess a given course, the person conducting the assessment will be 100% impartial. The costs of this assessment can be paid from an employer’s Apprenticeships Levy fund or part-funded by the government in the case of smaller businesses.
EPAOs conduct assessments based around a set of assessment criteria designed to check whether an apprentice has developed the right skills, behaviours and knowledge for a given apprenticeship. At the end, they decide whether an apprentice has passed or failed, issuing a certificate of completion or offering an option to resit or retake the assessment.
What happens in an end-point assessment?
As you might expect, an end-point assessment is highly tailored to a given apprenticeship course. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education works closely with employers in different industries to design the most relevant apprenticeships and assessment criteria, including an end-point assessment plan.
While assessments are varied, they will typically assess apprentices using a minimum of two of the following tools:
- Discussions
- Written and multiple choice tests
- Presentations
- Practical assessments
- Projects
Helping apprentices prepare for end-point assessments
A strong relationship with your apprenticeship training provider is key to successful end-point assessments. After all, there’s nothing more important than putting an apprentice forward at the right moment—when they have the knowledge and skills they need. Mistiming an assessment can be disastrous for confidence and morale.
At the same time, employers can support apprentices through assessments by:
- Allowing study leave to prepare
- Providing examples and mock assessments (your training provider can help!)
- Planning regular discussions around end-point assessments, the criteria being looked for, and how to link course material and on-the-job training to those areas
If you have questions about end-point assessments, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
