How can a pupil show the same skill another way?
Use an agreed response option and keep the evidence standard.
The question
The goal is to explain why a character hides a drawing using evidence from the passage. The fictional school has already agreed that one learner may point to the text and explain orally.
- MondayMia laughed at Ben’s sketch.
- TuesdayLila slid her own drawing under a book when Mia came in.
- Inference
- Give a reasonable explanation for why Lila hid the drawing.
- Evidence
- Identify a relevant part of the passage.
- Link
- Explain how the evidence supports the inference.
“How would you let the learner respond and decide what they have shown?”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: Keep the same goal
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Keep the inference, evidence and link criteria.
The strong move. The goal is a text-based explanation. The same evidence criteria apply in either response mode.
Replace the text-evidence criterion with participation.
Tempting, but it misses something. Participation gives no evidence that the learner can support the inference from the text.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d use the same passage and check all three criteria. Writing speed is outside this task.”
Why it works: The goal is a text-based explanation. The same evidence criteria apply in either response mode.
Step 2: Use the agreed option
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Use the agreed oral option and retain the criteria.
The strong move. The response mode is already agreed and the teacher remains responsible for the judgement.
Ask the learner to finish a written answer first.
Tempting, but it misses something. The case gives an approved way to show the same learning. Requiring writing first adds a barrier outside the goal.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d let the learner point to the passage and explain aloud. I’d ask the class teacher to confirm how they want the evidence recorded.”
Why it works: The response mode is already agreed and the teacher remains responsible for the judgement.
Step 3: Check what the answer shows
The learner points to the Tuesday sentence and says, “I think Lila was worried Mia would laugh.”
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Ask the learner to explain the link.
The strong move. A neutral question gives the learner a chance to supply the link.
Supply the link and record all three criteria as met.
Tempting, but it misses something. The missing link would come from the adult. The record would give the learner credit for evidence they did not give.
See how a strong candidate says it
“The learner gave a plausible inference and pointed to relevant text. I’d ask how that detail supports the inference.”
Why it works: A neutral question gives the learner a chance to supply the link.
Step 4: Agree a next check
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Share the evidence and keep the approved option for the next check.
The strong move. The handoff gives the teacher a specific next check within the existing arrangement.
Change the support arrangement based on this answer.
Tempting, but it misses something. One response gives limited learning evidence. The designated staff own changes to the arrangement.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d tell the teacher which two criteria the pupil showed and which one still needs evidence. We can try a comparable passage with the agreed option.”
Why it works: The handoff gives the teacher a specific next check within the existing arrangement.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Use the agreed oral response and check the link with a neutral question.
- Because
- The learner has shown an inference and relevant text, with the reasoning link still open.
- What would change it
- An explanation from the learner would supply the remaining evidence.
Common traps
- Lowering the learning goal when the response mode changes.
- Giving the pupil the reasoning you want to assess.
Check your answer
- I kept the same goal.
- I used the agreed response option.
- I checked the remaining evidence.
- I left plan decisions with the school.
Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026