Myth 8 Profiles of Expected Performance (PEPs)

Facts

• NZQA produces a PEP for each externally assessed standard each year. This is a guide to the leaders of marking panels.
• PEP are ranges for each of Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit and Excellence grades that indicate the expected distributions of results for a standard. They are indicators, not targets.
• Each PEP is based on:

• • historical trends
  • analysis of other statistical information
  • the professional experience of contracted examiners and panel leaders, as well as NZQA National Assessment Facilitators.

• The PEP does not set a pre-determined target for results. It allows markers to monitor if the examination of the standard is consistent and not easier in one year than another.
• For valid reasons, such as an improved assessment format, results for a cohort of students may be outside the PEP.
• Changes such as the alignment of standards to the curriculum and other changes in standards are considered when setting and interpreting the PEP.
• Scaling is a mathematical process that is used to adjust students’ results. PEP are not used to scale results. Each student’s result for an achievement standard depends on their performance, not the group performance.