2. What is the EPA?
• End Point Assessment (EPA) is the final assessment for an apprentice
to ensure that they can do the job they have been training for. The
EPA evaluates if you have developed the Knowledge, Skills and
Behaviours (KSB’s) as required in the standard. These are the criteria
by which you will then be deemed to be fully competent by your
employer.
• Employers want and need a workforce equipped with the relevant
academic qualifications of course but they also need a workforce who
are able to display and utilise the knowledge skills and behaviours
required to build a successful career within industry.
3. What is the EPA?
• Your EPA comprises an overall synoptic assessment which takes place
at the end of your degree, it comprises of a work-based project, a
review of your portfolio, an interview and a presentation . It has been
designed to assess apprentices in a consistent way irrespective of the
nature of your employment.
• End-Point Assessment is made up of a number of assessment
elements which the apprentice must pass in order to complete the
apprenticeship. In its most simplistic form your degree is proof of
your academic aptitude, your EPA however is a showcase for you to
show the KSB’s you have developed throughout your apprenticeship.
5. Gateway
• The Gateway process is issued to confirm that the apprentice has
achieved and has met the pre-requisite requirements of the standard
before they can move on to their End Point Assessment.
• Imagine that ‘Gateway’ is very much like passport control when you
are going on holiday, in order to board the plane you have to have a
boarding pass and a passport. Gateway is no different really, in order
to progress to EPA you must have the following already in place:
• Level 2 (equivalent) in English and Mathematics
• Degree Completion
• Work Based Project meets the requirements of the degree
• Portfolio Completed
6. The Work Based Project
• Is a substantial piece of work which you will undertake during the last
year of your degree. The project will provide substantive evidence
from a business related project to demonstrate your Knowledge Skills
and Behaviours (KSB’s) that you have acquired during your
apprenticeship.
• The End Point Assessment integrates the outcomes from the project
alongside a presentation and an interview to form the End Point
Assessment.
7. The Work Based Project
• This will enable you to show an understanding of commercial
pressures and will evidence your depth of perspective alongside your
thinking and problem solving skills.
• The Synoptic project must also show the following:
• Each project MUST show the following:
• The application of core and specialist knowledge skills relating to your business project.
• Your approach to planning and your ability to deliver the completed project in a timely manner.
• Your application of the behaviours from the standard.
• REFLECTION AND EVALUATION: Apprentices are required to document and reflect on their own
assumptions made at the beginning of the project and evaluate the consequences of judgements
made.
8. Your Portfolio
• Range of materials and documents that show your ability to
demonstrate management concepts.
• It will demonstrate your very best work and will evidence your ability
to apply your knowledge and understanding in a ‘real’ work
environment to achieve ‘real’ work objectives.
• Evidence can be in the form of reports, minutes, peer reviews, and
feedback from your manager.
• We will work with you to ensure this is complete and meets the
standard required.
9. Your Portfolio cont’d
• Your portfolio will again be sent to an independent assessor from the
CMI who will note particular aspects from it that they might wish to
discuss during your presentation or interview.
• They will use this information on which to base their judgement and
might use it as a tool to explore your wider knowledge and to
establish a breadth of understanding.
10. The Presentation
• Is a structured discussion between you, your employer and your
University lecturers focusing on the outcomes of your work based
project.
• The presentation examines what you have produced, the standard of
your work and how you have formulated those outcomes.
• The presentation will typically last 15 minutes and will describe the
objectives and outputs from your project.
• The university will provide you with guidance on the nature of the
presentation and the criteria to be used.
11. The Presentation
• The purpose of the presentation is to review:
• What you set out to achieve – did you achieve it?
• What your outcomes were – what have you produced?
• The standard of your work.
• How you dealt with any issues arising. Have you evaluated your project and how you have
performed in its completion?
• To clarify any questions that the University/Employer have regarding your project or your
methodology.
• To explore broader aspects of your project including how it was carried out in more detail.
• To confirm that you have achieved the requisite Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours as required.
12. Practical Requirements of the Presentation
• The presentation and the Q&A session in total will last an hour, this
will be conducted on a face to face basis unless COVID remains active
in which case assessment will likely be conducted remotely.
• The assessment panel will comprise of your employer, a
representative of the University and an independent assessor from
the Awarding Body (CMI)
13. Q&A Session
• The questions will require you to draw on your experiences
throughout your apprenticeship and will focus on the findings of your
work based project.
• You will not be required to remember exact details relating to your
project but the assessor will expect you to comment on the
conclusion of your project and it will be of benefit if you are able to
evaluate your own project and comment on situations where things
perhaps didn’t go to plan.
• This will show the assessor a breadth of knowledge and maturity and
will evidence your problem solving skills.
14. Conclusions:
• You must view your EPA is a showcase for you all to show off the KSB’s and
business acumen that you have acquired during your apprenticeship.
• Your employer will contribute to your EPA assessments and will help the assessor
judge this against the standard.
• The Panel will allocate marks based on their assessment of the portfolio, work
based project, presentation and Q&A Session and this will not impact the marks
that you are awarded for your degree - the grading’s are as follows:
• Distinction – 70+
• Merit – 60+
• Pass – 50+
• Fail – Less than 50