Assessment Guide

At the beginning of your training, your trainer will explain:

• Your training schedule
• The assessment requirements
• Any learning and assessment materials you will use
• The digital tools or portals required for your course
• How to access Student Support

• Read the Student Handbook for More Information

Before starting your training and assessment, you will complete onboarding activities through the Student Portal. These include a Suitability Self-Assessment and a Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skills Assessment, commonly called an LLND Assessment.

Suitability Self-Assessment

The Suitability Self-Assessment helps Zokal:

• Confirm that you meet the course entry requirements
• Understand your current skills, knowledge and industry experience
• Identify any specific training needs
• Identify LLN, digital, physical or other support requirements
• Determine what support may help you complete the course
• Plan reasonable adjustments and support strategies

LLND Assessment

The LLND Assessment considers the core skills of:

• Learning
• Reading
• Writing
• Oral communication
• Numeracy

The activities are similar to the tasks you may need to complete during your chosen course.

Your trainer will review your responses and contact you when support or follow-up is required.

• For complete information about onboarding, visit Getting Started

Some courses require you to complete learning and assessment activities before attending your scheduled training.

When pre-work is required:

1. 1Access your learning and assessment materials through the RTO Pilot Student Portal.
2. 2Request the materials by email if you cannot access them through the portal.
3. 3Complete the required assessment activities.
4. 4Return the completed assessments by email.
5. 5Allow Zokal to mark the work before you attend your course.

As a Zokal student, you are expected to:

• Participate actively in training
• Meet attendance, engagement and assessment-submission deadlines
• Complete your assessment work honestly and independently
• Submit your own original work
• Cite external sources correctly
• Declare any approved external tools, including AI
• Communicate early when you need help
• Request adjustments when required
• Follow all Work Health and Safety instructions
• Respect the confidentiality of information encountered during training
• Follow the Student Code of Conduct

You have the right to receive accurate, timely and accessible information about your assessments and progress.

Competent

A Competent result means you have successfully met the applicable requirements for the unit. Certificates and Statements of Attainment are issued for units in which students have been assessed as competent. Zokal will issue the applicable AQF certification documentation within 30 calendar days of course completion, provided you have successfully completed the applicable requirements, all course fees have been paid, and you have supplied a valid Unique Student Identifier.

Not Yet Competent

A Not Yet Competent result means you have not yet demonstrated all the required skills or knowledge. When you are assessed as Not Yet Competent at the completion of training, Zokal will offer two opportunities for further training and reassessment, with no additional reassessment fee for those two opportunities. If you are assessed as Not Yet Competent on the third attempt, you will be required to withdraw from the course.

Tell your trainer as early as possible if you:

• Need help understanding your learning or assessment requirements
• Are at risk of falling behind
• Require LLND or digital-skills support
• Have a disability, health condition, learning need or personal circumstance affecting your assessment
• Need a reasonable adjustment

Depending on your identified needs, support may include:

• Extra assessment time
• Alternative-format resources
• Simplified language
• One-to-one tutorials
• Assistive technology
• LLND support
• Digital-skills coaching
• Adjusted practical activities where permitted

• Read the Student Handbook

Academic integrity means:

• Submitting your own work
• Citing your sources correctly
• Declaring any external tools used
• Acting honestly and independently during assessment

You must not engage in:

• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Collusion
• Data fabrication
• Impersonation
• Unauthorised AI or digital-tool use

Breaches may result in outcomes ranging from resubmission to failure of the unit. All suspected academic-integrity breaches are documented and handled through a fair process.

You must submit original assessment work that reflects your own knowledge and ability.

Cheating includes:

• Using unauthorised notes or devices
• Asking another person to complete your work
• Sharing assessment answers

Plagiarism includes using another person's words or ideas without correctly acknowledging the source. This also applies to information obtained from generative AI tools.

Possible misconduct outcomes

For a minor or first offence, you may be required to resubmit the assessment with support. Serious or repeated misconduct may result in:

• Failure of the unit
• A recorded misconduct outcome

External sources used in your assessment must be acknowledged correctly. The Student Handbook identifies Harvard referencing as an example of an acceptable referencing method.

Before submitting your work:

1. 1Identify all external information you have used
2. 2Cite the source accurately
3. 3Include the required reference information
4. 4Declare approved AI use on your assessment cover sheet
5. 5Ask your trainer when you are unsure how a source should be acknowledged

Examples of AI and digital tools identified in the Student Handbook include:

• ChatGPT
• Grammarly
• Bard
• Generative AI tools
• Search engines used during study

When AI use is permitted

You must declare:

• The tool used
• The version used
• The purpose for which it was used
• The extent of its contribution

This information must be included on your assessment cover sheet. Your trainer will review whether the AI use was appropriate and relevant to the assessment task.

You must not:

• Upload Zokal assessment tasks to public AI platforms
• Upload RTO documents to public AI tools, websites or forums
• Submit AI-generated work without disclosure
• Use AI-generated content unless it has been approved and properly cited
• Use AI or digital tools to impersonate another person
• Use technology to fabricate data or assessment results
• Use AI to avoid required learning activities

Zokal provides learning and assessment resources for your personal study and development. These resources may include:

• Digital platforms
• Course PDFs and handouts
• Case studies
• Training-room equipment and software
• Logbooks and forms
• Assessment templates
• Practice tasks

You may:

• Use course materials for your own learning and assessment
• Save personal notes or assignments as directed by your trainer
• Use AI only when explicitly permitted and declared
• Ask for clarification before beginning an assessment

You must not:

• Share or publicly upload assessment tasks
• Distribute Zokal resources to another person
• Share course content or login credentials
• Copy, modify or repurpose Zokal assessments
• Publish assessment materials on websites, forums or AI platforms
• Use digital tools to fabricate results or avoid learning activities

Zokal's training and assessment content remains the property of Zokal Safety Training or its licensed third-party providers.

Unauthorised use may result in:

• Withdrawal of access to resources
• Academic-misconduct procedures
• Legal consequences for serious breaches

You have the right to challenge an assessment result if you believe it is incorrect, unfair or inconsistent. Zokal's assessment-appeals process is designed to ensure decisions are reviewed impartially and are based on evidence.

Step 1: Speak with Your Trainer

Raise your concern with your trainer or assessor within seven calendar days. Be specific about:

• The assessment result you are questioning
• Why you believe the result should be reviewed
• The assessment evidence relevant to your concern

Your trainer will discuss the outcome with you and attempt to clarify or resolve the issue.

Step 2: Submit a Formal Appeal

If the matter is not resolved through the informal discussion, submit the Complaints and Appeals Form through the Student Portal within seven business days of that discussion. Zokal will acknowledge the submitted form in writing within five business days.

Step 3: Review and Investigation

The RTO Manager will convene a review panel that does not include the original assessor. You may:

• Attend the review meeting
• Provide supporting evidence
• Bring a support person

A written outcome will be provided within 15 business days.

Step 4: Independent Reassessment

A qualified independent assessor may reassess your original or revised work. The independent reassessment will occur within 10 business days. You must submit the requested work and attend any scheduled reassessment.

Step 5: Independent Review Board

If you remain dissatisfied, you may request an independent review. The Review Board may include an external RTO representative who has not previously been involved in your case.

When you believe procedural fairness has been breached after the internal process is exhausted, you may escalate the matter to an appropriate external agency.

Before completing or submitting an assessment, confirm that you have:

• Read and followed your trainer's instructions
• Completed any required pre-course work
• Met the assessment-submission deadline
• Completed the work yourself
• Cited all external sources
• Signed the Academic Integrity Agreement when required
• Declared any approved AI use
• Used Zokal's resources only for your own study and assessment
• Avoided sharing or uploading assessment content
• Asked for clarification where needed
• Requested support or reasonable adjustment as early as possible

Is the LLND Assessment part of my course result?

No. The LLND Assessment is not counted towards your overall result. It helps your trainer identify whether you require additional assistance or support.

Why do I complete a Suitability Self-Assessment?

It helps Zokal confirm that you meet the entry requirements and identify any LLN, digital, physical or other support needs before training begins.

Where can I learn more about the onboarding assessments?

Visit the Getting Started page for detailed information about the Student Portal, Suitability Self-Assessment, LLND Assessment and pre-course requirements.

Where do I access pre-course assessments?

Required learning and assessment materials are available through the RTO Pilot Student Portal. You may request to receive the materials by email.

Must pre-course assessments be completed before attendance?

Yes, when pre-work is required for your course. The completed assessments must be returned by email for marking before you attend Zokal Safety Training.

What does Not Yet Competent mean?

It means you have not yet demonstrated all the competency requirements for the unit.

How many reassessment opportunities do I receive?

After the initial assessment, Zokal provides two further training and reassessment opportunities without an additional reassessment fee.

What happens after the third unsuccessful attempt?

You will be required to withdraw from the course.

Can I receive support with an assessment?

Yes. Communicate with your trainer early when you need assistance or require an adjustment.

Can I use ChatGPT in an assessment?

Only when your trainer has explicitly permitted its use. You must declare the tool, version, purpose and extent of use on your assessment cover sheet.

Can I upload an assessment question to an AI tool?

No. Zokal assessment tasks and RTO documents must not be uploaded to public AI tools, websites or forums.

Can I appeal an assessment result?

Yes. Begin by raising the concern with your trainer within seven calendar days. If it is not resolved, submit a formal appeal through the Student Portal within seven business days of the discussion.

Ask before submitting your work.

Your trainer can clarify your assessment requirements, explain what resources are permitted and connect you with Student Support when assistance or reasonable adjustment is required.