Which term is used to outline the standards for assessing learner performance nationally?

• A. External Moderation
• B. Quality Assurance Form
• C. Mark Bands
• D. Task Setting

Answer: (C)

Mark bands describe the levels of achievement and include descriptors that define what work at each level looks like. They are used nationally to rate learner performance against standard criteria, so teachers can judge evidence consistently and fairly, and moderators can compare marks across centres. They show how far the learner has progressed and set expectations for the quality of work. The other options relate to procedures rather than the standard against which work is judged: external moderation checks consistency but doesn’t establish the standards themselves; the quality assurance form documents processes; task setting concerns designing tasks rather than outlining the assessment standards.