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beginner ⏱️ 8 min read

Getting Started as a Moderator

Set up your moderator account and learn to run sampling, verify assessment decisions, and produce moderation reports in skillSYMS.

For: Moderators

Summary

As a moderator you safeguard assessment quality: you sample assessed evidence, verify that decisions are fair and consistent, and report your findings. This guide orients you in the moderator portal.

Who This Guide Is For

  • Internal and external moderators on QCTO programmes
  • Quality-assurance staff verifying assessment integrity

Prerequisites

  • A moderator account (your SDP administrator invites you and assigns the moderator role)
  • Your moderator registration / scope on file with the provider

Step 1: Sign In and Open Your Queue

Sign in at /login and open the Moderator dashboard (/moderator). Your Queue lists assessments and packs awaiting moderation.

Step 2: Select Your Sample

Go to Sampling to build or review the sample of assessed work to moderate. Follow your provider’s sampling plan (by assessor, module, decision type, etc.).

Step 3: Verify Assessment Decisions

  1. Open an item from your queue.
  2. Review the evidence, the assessor’s decision, and the feedback given.
  3. Confirm the decision is justified, consistent, and compliant.

Step 4: Record Your Moderation Decision

Record your outcome β€” for example accept, reject, or conditional β€” with notes. Where you disagree with an assessor, your notes drive the corrective action.

Step 5: Produce Reports

Go to Reports to generate moderation reports for your provider and for audits.

Tip: Keep your moderation notes concrete and evidence-linked β€” they are exactly what external verifiers and auditors look for.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Sampling too narrowly β€” cover the range of assessors, modules, and decisions.
  2. Unrecorded rationale β€” always note why you accepted or rejected.
  3. Moderating your own assessments β€” never moderate work you assessed.

Verification Checklist

  • You can see your moderation queue
  • You have built or reviewed a sample
  • You have recorded a moderation decision with notes
  • You can generate a moderation report

Next Steps