You might expect that apprentices would view their assessors – responsible for deciding grades - with nervousness or suspicion. 

But in a OneFile survey of apprentices, most said that assessors were a ‘major influence’ during their learning, and ranked assessors as 9/10 overall.   

Not only that, but apprentices were pretty united on what makes a great assessor.

100% of apprentices surveyed said 'clear communication' was the most important trait for a great assessor, closely followed by 'passion for the field' and 'knowledge sharing', which were mentioned by 61% and 43% of apprentices respectively. 

Our apprentices viewed assessors as being vital throughout training, with huge impact on their whole experience.  

Based on their feedback, here are five top tips on how you can become best in your field as an assessor:

1. Clear communication

When it comes to supporting learners, communication is key. Our survey found this was the top trait of a great assessor, and the great news is, there are loads of ways you can maintain communication with learners. It's important to be reliable, approachable, and easy to contact – either by phone, email, online messaging or face-to-face.

2. Passion for your field

This one came up a lot in our survey too – and for good reason. Enthusiasm is infectious, so if you display a genuine passion for your field, your apprentices will too. This will encourage your learners to work harder and achieve more – so even if you're having a bad day, try to stay smiling!

3. Sympathetic to work/life balance

For many young learners, an apprenticeship might be their first experience of the working world. They might struggle to juggle assignments, work tasks and social commitments at first, which can feel overwhelming. Make sure you lend a sympathetic ear and help them to manage their workload and stick to deadlines.

4. Keeping a level head

Being an assessor is challenging, but it’s important to keep your tone fair and positive when giving feedback. Be honest, and make sure your comments are specific, constructive and actionable.

5. Speed of marking work

Like you, apprentices are busy, and work hard to complete tasks around their social lives. With so much going on, it means a lot when you assess their work quickly and fairly. Using an e-portfolio makes assessments so much easier as there are no lengthy notes or paperwork to negotiate, just a collection of evidence that can be assessed online. It's simple, quick and convenient! 

To find out more about how OneFile can help you become a better assessor, download our infographic.