What is the difference between an assessment tool and an assessment instrument? (Clause 1.8)

An assessment instrument is part of the assessment tool. 

The assessment instrument is the documented activities developed to support the assessment method and used to collect the evidence of student competence. 

An assessment instrument could include:

• oral and written questions
• observation/demonstration checklists
• projects, case studies, scenarios
• recognition or workplace portfolios
• workplace portfolios

An assessment instrument will include:

• the tasks to be administered to the student
• an outline of the evidence to be gathered from the candidate
• the evidence criteria used to judge the quality of performance (i.e. the assessment decision-making rules).

The assessment tool comprises the assessment instrument and the context and conditions of assessment.  An assessment tool can also contain the administration, recording and reporting requirements of the assessment.