Robust, reliable and fair: How Aspeq ensures its exam results can be trusted

Assessing whether a pilot can safely operate a commercial aircraft or a gasfitter can competently install a complex gas system are matters of life and death. As world-leaders in delivering best-practice assessment and licensing services, it’s a responsibility that Aspeq takes seriously. 

A good assessment starts with good questions. Aspeq maintains a comprehensive bank of questions for every subject it tests on. The questions are written by subject matter experts who often have decades of hands-on experience and expertise in their respective fields. Aspeq works directly with its clients to develop questions that sit within the ‘goldilocks zone’ - challenging enough to suitably test a candidate’s subject competency, but in a way that is fair and reasonable. All new questions are subject to rigorous testing before they can be accepted into Aspeq’s question bank and incorporated into the exams. 

With confidence that exam questions are fair and suitably challenging, each exam’s performance is also carefully monitored to ensure its results can be trusted - that is, whether the candidate’s responses provide an accurate reflection of what they know. This work is the domain of Aspeq’s Assessment Services team who monitor patterns in candidates’ responses and overall exam performance. 

Aspeq has a range of key indicators and analytical tools to measure the performance of the individual questions and the exam as a whole. For example, at a very high level, each question in an exam is analysed to ensure the pass rate meets expectations. Candidates also have the option to provide feedback on each question, which is later analysed and reviewed to improve the quality of the questions.

Aspeq also looks at the various answer options selected and also how high and low performing candidates answer questions. The time taken to answer questions and any rapid variations in overall exam performance are also captured and analysed.

Aspeq is committed to improving individual candidate performance and uplifting the broader education and training in the wider industry sector. To deliver on this commitment, Aspeq provides candidates with information highlighting areas for improvement and gaps in knowledge. This information is also available to training organisations and clients to enhance candidate performance.

From crafting good questions, to testing and monitoring exam performance, supporting candidates to perform their best, and providing clients with analysis to inform their training, Aspeq partners with clients at every step of the assessment journey. It’s all part of Aspeq's mission to ensure that the people we trust to deliver critical services in society have the skills and knowledge they need to do their jobs safely and to the highest standard.