Which term describes evaluating a broad range of skills and knowledge?

• A. Competency Assessment
• B. Evidence Review
• C. Learner Portfolios
• D. Moderation Outcome

Answer: (A)

Evaluating a broad range of skills and knowledge is best described by competency assessment. This approach measures what a learner can actually do across a variety of tasks and contexts, against a defined set of competencies or standards. It goes beyond memorized facts to assess practical performance, judgment, and applied understanding—exactly what a criminology learner needs to demonstrate, such as analysis, ethical reasoning, communication, and the ability to produce clear, evidence-based reports. Competency assessment uses clear criteria and multiple kinds of evidence to give a holistic picture of capability.

Related ideas like evidence review focus on checking what evidence exists to support claims, portfolios are collections of work over time, and moderation outcomes ensure consistency among assessors. While related, they don’t capture the broad, integrated evaluation across many skills that competency assessment provides.