Solution 1: Feeling confused is okay

This is one of a series of articles available at www.nvqweb.com that aim to develop understanding of NVQs and their assessment.

It is important to understand that it is normal to take a while to get your head around your NVQ programme. Where this is the case and things appear confusing it not because you are lacking or even that the training provider is not providing a good induction. The amount of new information and skills that need to be learnt by someone new to NVQ is significant.

As an example the following are some of the key skills and knowledge that you may need to learn before it all comes together and makes sense.

• How assessment planning works
• Different methods of assessment, how these work and how they are documented.
• How the NVQ units relate to your job.
• How the NVQ standards are organised and what you need to do in order to complete a unit.
• How evidence and other assessment documentation will be recorded and organised.
• Who does what, what is expected of the candidate and the role of others involved such as the NVQ assessor.
• How learning and assessment will take place and be arranged.
• Where needed, how to learn new skills and knowledge.

Looking at this list it is not really surprising that it does takes a few months or longer to grasp all of the necessary skills required. It also takes time for the candidate and their assessor to develop the relationship and planning to make this all happen.

In my experience full understanding does not happen until the first unit or units are completed. Once this stage has been achieved then all of the individual parts of the picture come together and things become a lot clearer. Until this happens it is important to realise that it is quite normal to be on a learning curve with the NVQ and this is not a problem. One consolation is that once you have achieved your first NVQ and gained this understanding the you will have mastered the NVQ ready for any future NVQs that you take on.