NZQA Assessment Support Material
Unit standard
7121
Title
Demonstrate skills to search, access, and select information
Level
1
Vocational pathways
Credits
2
Version
5
Primary Industries
Assessor guidelines
Introduction
The following guidelines are supplied to enable assessors to carry out valid and consistent
assessment using this internal assessment resource.
As with all assessment resources, assessing organisations will need to follow their own quality
control processes. Assessors must manage authenticity for any assessment from a public source,
because learners may have access to the assessment schedule or exemplar material. Using this
assessment resource without modification may mean that learners' work is not authentic. The
assessor/educator may need to change figures, measurements or data sources or set a different
context or topic. Assessors need to consider the local context in which learning is taking place and
its relevance for learners.
Assessors need to be very familiar with the outcome being assessed by the unit standard. The
evidence requirements and the explanatory notes contain information, definitions, and
requirements that are crucial when interpreting the standard and assessing learners against it.
Context/setting
This activity requires learners to plan, conduct and evaluate a search for information for a given
context.
For a more real-world context, the results of this search for information could be used for other
assessment purposes with an end-product – for example standard 3492 Write a short report.
7121 version 5
Assessor guidelines
ASM version 2
Page 1 of 4
November 2015
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
Level of performance expected
This is a level 1 standard. This means learners should be:

Using basic general and/or foundation knowledge in theory questions;

Applying basic solutions to simple problems and applying basic skills required to carry out
simple tasks;

Working in highly structured contexts, taking some responsibility for their own learning, and
interacting with others.
Conditions for assessment
This is an open book assessment.
Resource requirements
Access to a range of information sources is required.
7121 version 5
Assessor guidelines
ASM version 2
Page 2 of 4
November 2015
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
Assessment Schedule
Unit standard
7121
Title
Demonstrate skills to search, access, and select information
Level
1
Evidence requirements
Outcome 1
1.1
1.2
Credits
2
Version
Evidence for achieved
5
Judgements for achieved
Identify the purpose and scope of a search for information.
The purpose for the search is identified
in terms of the end use of the
information.
The scope of the search is identified in
terms of the purpose of the search and
the sources of information required.
Worksheet 1 – Defining the search
The learner:
Refer Worksheet 1 – example for sample
responses.

correctly identifies the purpose of their
search
Verification form.

identifies three different possible sources of
information

provides some information about the scope
of the search
Range sources of information may
include but are not limited to –
people, information technology,
printed matter;
Verification form is signed and dated by
appropriate person in the workplace.
three different types of sources.
7121 version 5
Assessor guidelines
ASM version 2
Page 3 of 4
November 2015
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
Outcome 2
Gather and select information.
2.1
Information is gathered from identified
sources and referenced.
Worksheet 2 – Completing and reviewing the
search
2.2
Information selected is relevant to the
identified purpose and scope.
Refer Worksheet 2 – example for sample
responses.
Verification form.
The learner:

gathers at least one piece of relevant
information from each source

references the source of the information
(need not be referencing orthodoxy, but
gives identifying details such as names,
authors, sites, dates etc.)

selects information relevant to the purpose
and scope of the search.
Verification form is signed and dated by
appropriate person in the workplace.
Outcome 3
3.1
Review the processes undertaken to search, access, and select information.
The review describes the extent to which
the processes undertaken and the
information gathered met the purpose
and scope of the search.

Worksheet 2 – Completing and reviewing
the search
Refer Worksheet 2 – example for sample
responses.
Verification form.
The learner:

accurately describes the process used to
search each of three different types of
sources.

provides an authentic description of the
extent to which the search gathered
information that met the purpose and the
scope of the search.
Verification form is signed and dated by
appropriate person in the workplace.
Judgements should be holistic, rather than based on a checklist approach.
7121 version 5
Assessor guidelines
ASM version 2
Page 4 of 4
November 2015
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017