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Portfolio

Compiling a Portfolio is one way of ensuring that, with the support of your assessor, evidence is collected systematically. This section will outline what is meant by a portfolio and explain the different types of evidence.

Compiling your portfolio

  • What is meant by a portfolio?
  • Why do you need a portfolio?
  • How should you index the portfolio?
  • How should you organise the portfolio?

What is meant by a portfolio?

Put very simply, it is a way of organising the collection of pieces of evidence. It will usually be in the form of a ring-binder of a file. You may wish to put forward video, photographs, audio tapes or pictures separately, however these must still be referred to within the portfolio.

Why do I need a portfolio?

It is very unlikely that your assessor will be able to assess your competence against all areas of your standards in one session. There, you will need to collect information relating to each assessment as you work towards your qualification. At each assessment, your assessor will review your progress to date and make suggestions concerning what you need to do next. This can only be done if there is an easy way to refer to your evidence, and a portfolio provides this.

How should I index the portfolio?

How you choose to label the evidence is your decision but it is important that it is easy for you to explain to your assessor since it will be your responsibility to show the evidence you have collected, and not the assessor’s role to search for it. You need to ensure you log your evidence which will help you keep track of it as you go along and will help you feel ready to be assessed.

How should I organise the portfolio?

Allocate letters or numbers to label each different piece of evidence and use this ‘code’ whenever you refer to it. You may need to refer to a piece of evidence more than once within your portfolio, but this will not matter if you have given a clear code and know where to find it. You will not need to photocopy each piece of evidence and include it in every section as long as you know where to find it within the portfolio.

Remember …

Your assessor will be able to advise you on putting your portfolio together.

Your Approved Assessment Centre will also be able to provide you with the necessary forms that will need to be included, for example to help you present ands log your evidence.

Suitability of evidence

Your assessor will need to be satisfied that your evidence as a whole is:

  • sufficient
  • authentic
  • relevant
  • current

You need to ensure any evidence included in your portfolio mets these criteria.

What is sufficient?

Your evidence must cover all aspects of the performance criteria and range statements for each element you are seeking to achieve. Some qualifications require specific evidence and you should check your standards to see what is needed. Sufficient does not mean a mass of evidence. It simply means collecting enough evidence to demonstrate competence.

What is authentic?

You must be able to explain and substantiate the evidence you put forward, it is important, therefore, to ensure you only submit evidence relating to your own performance.

What is relevant?

Any evidence must relate clearly to the qualification you are seeking to achieve. Assessors are only interested in evidence directly related to the requirements set out in the standards. That is, evidence which clearly links a candidate’s performance with specific areas of their chosen qualification. You should avoid the inclusion of reference documents, training materials and other evidence that does not demonstrate competence.

What is current?

‘Current’ means evidence relating to skills, attitudes and knowledge you can currently demonstrate. There is no time limit specifying what current evidence is and what is not. But, since your assessor will be assessing your current level of competence, you must ensure that it clearly relates to activities and areas of work you could still perform if required to do so.

Your assessor can help you determine what is sufficient, authentic, relevant and current.

Summary of Portfolio use

Whilst your portfolio will take effort and time to complete, it is also a means of focusing and demonstrating your particular strengths and achievements to other.

It should develop along with your achievements and take on a dynamic role as:

  • a full record of achievements to date
  • proof of your competence
  • a full resource bank of your abilities
  • a reference tool for staff appraisal
  • a basis for career development
  • a record of your continuing professional development

In relation to NVQs your Portfolio provides:

  • a clear demonstration of your competence against particular elements and units
  • a focus for your assessment
  • a means to bring together evidence for more than one element/ unit
  • a focus for the identification of training/learning needs

Remember..

Putting your portfolio together now will not only help you as you work towards your current qualification but also provide you with a useful reference tool for your future career.