AQA Global Quality Assurance
Independent assurance for assessments that matter
Around the world, assessments play a defining role in learners’ futures. Governments, awarding organisations, learners and the public need confidence that exams and qualifications are fair, robust and genuinely measure what they claim to measure.
AQA Global Quality Assurance provides independent assurance of assessment quality, grounded in the expertise of the UK’s largest awarding organisation. Through a structured suite of quality assurance services, we work in partnership with awarding organisations to strengthen assessment quality and demonstrate credibility with stakeholders.
Our approach supports improvement, builds trust and provides clear external validation, without imposing a particular qualification system.
A trusted partner in assessment quality
AQA Global draws on over 120 years of experience in large‑scale assessment design, delivery and standard setting. Each year, AQA issues over four million certificates in the UK, and supports education systems internationally.
Our quality standards are based on AQA’s own assessment practices and are benchmarked against internationally recognised frameworks, including global standards for educational and psychological testing. Our role is independent, evidence‑based and focused on long‑term confidence in assessment outcomes.
We work collaboratively, respecting national contexts, languages and assessment purposes, while applying consistent international expectations of quality.
A complete suite of AQA Global Quality Assurance services
Our services are offered as a coherent suite. Organisations can engage at the level that best reflects their maturity, ambition and needs, while clearly understanding how confidence can be built over time.
- Assessment Validity Audit
Foundational assurance of assessment quality
The Assessment Validity Audit is the entry point for most clients and can be used as a standalone service.
We review a defined suite of assessments to evaluate whether they measure what they are intended to measure. This includes scrutiny of assessment materials, underlying curriculum or specifications, item‑level evidence and the alignment of outcomes to purpose.
Assessments are benchmarked against international standards, and our experts provide a clear, practical report highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. This service provides robust, independent insight and supports evidence‑based enhancement of assessment quality.
We provide a certificate of completion of the Assessment Validity Audit.- Qualification Quality Assurance
Independent quality assurance of specific qualifications
At this level, AQA Global provides formal quality assurance for a defined set of qualifications. In addition to the Assessment Validity Audit, we assess capability across six core areas of assessment, including specification design, marking consistency, standard maintenance and assessment security.
Quality-assured qualifications are recognised as meeting a high global quality standard. This provides governments, schools, universities and employers with assurance that the qualifications are credible, fair and professionally delivered.
Qualifications receive a formal statement of quality assurance and supporting communications materials that organisations can use in public‑facing contexts, not including student certificates.- Qualification Quality Assurance and Endorsement
The highest level of confidence
Endorsed qualifications represent the highest level within the AQA Global Quality Assurance suite.
Building on quality assurance, Endorsement allows the AQA Global ‘endorsed’ mark to appear on student certificates for the approved qualifications. This signals strong, evidence‑based confidence in both the assessments and the organisation delivering them.
Endorsement of qualifications includes additional quality controls and approval processes to protect the integrity of assessment outcomes and the value of student certification. This level is intended for high‑stakes qualifications where visible, external assurance provides particular value to learners and stakeholders.
Qualifications receive a formal endorsement of quality assurance and supporting communications materials that organisations can use in public‑facing contexts, including student certificates.- Organisation Quality Assurance
Confidence in systems, people and processes
Quality assurance for organisations focuses on whether an awarding organisation has the necessary structures to design, deliver and award assessments to a high international standard.
We review the people, governance, quality assurance processes and operational systems across the full assessment lifecycle. This includes assessment development, marking and evaluation, standard maintenance and secure administration.
Organisation Quality Assurance provides visible assurance to stakeholders that assessment operations are aligned with international best practice. We provide a formal statement of quality assurance and supporting communications materials that organisations can use in public‑facing contexts, not including student certificates.
This service can be undertaken independently of the qualification Quality Assurance and Endorsement services.
Who the services are for
AQA Global Quality Assurance is designed for ministries of education and awarding organisations responsible for:
- school‑age qualifications and assessments
- university entrance and selection tests
- high‑stakes progression or certification assessments
- diagnostic, baseline and national monitoring assessments
The services are suitable for assessments delivered in English and some other languages. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
A flexible, partnership‑based model
The AQA Global Quality Assurance suite is designed to be flexible and proportionate.
Organisations can begin with a focused review or progress across multiple services over time. Each engagement is bespoke, reflecting local priorities, assessment purposes and maturity, while maintaining consistent quality expectations.
We provide more than assurance – we support improvement, share expertise and best practice, and encourage sustainable assessment quality.
Building trust where it matters most
By achieving AQA Global Quality Assurance, organisations can:
- demonstrate independent assurance of assessment quality
- build trust with learners, parents, universities and employers
- strengthen internal assessment capability and consistency
- reduce risk in high‑stakes assessment programmes
- increase confidence in decisions based on assessment outcomes
Above all, the suite supports education systems to evidence quality, not simply claim it.
Recognised international best practice
AQA Global Quality Assurance services reflect established assessment expertise and are benchmarked against recognised international standards for educational assessment.
Anna Greene: our expert in quality assessment
Anna Greene has worked in Education reform for 15 years, developing and delivering high quality products and services to esteemed international clients and partners.
Anna has led complex multifaceted education reform programmes on curriculum development and implementation, curriculum and assessment alignment, teacher professional development, assessment and qualification development and delivery, as well as national education system evaluation.
Contact us to arrange a discussion with Anna and explore how AQA Global Quality Assurance could support your organisation.
AQA Global Quality Assurance is a suite of independent quality assurance and endorsement services. They do not constitute accreditation, regulation or recognition by universities.
Quality assurance or Endorsement does not imply equivalence to UK qualifications, including GCSEs or A-levels, and does not represent joint certification. Annual renewal is required to retain quality assured or endorsed status and to continue to use AQA Global Quality Assurance marketing materials.
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Email: info@aqaglobal.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3960 0671
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Our London office
AQA Global Assessment Services
Lynton House
7-12 Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9LT
UK
Offices in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Bahrain, Sharjah and Hong Kong
Events
Meet with our experts at a conference near you.
We regularly attend education and assessment events around the world, often presenting our latest research.