ISO 29992-2018 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 29992:2018 — Assessment of outcomes of learning services — Guidance. This International Standard provides guidance for planning, developing, implementing and reviewing assessments used to measure learners' outcomes (knowledge, competence and performance) in learning services.

Abstract

ISO 29992:2018 gives recommendations and good-practice guidance for the design and use of assessments that measure individual learner outcomes and learner progress. It is intended for organizations that provide, select, develop or use assessments within learning services. The document explicitly excludes direct evaluation of programs of instruction or of learning service providers, and does not specify technology requirements for assessment delivery.

General information

• Status: Published and confirmed (current as reviewed in 2024).
• Publication date: 19 December 2018 (ISO publication date, edition 1 — 2018-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.180 — Education; related to learning services and assessment practice.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (ISO 29992:2018).
• Number of pages: 15 pages (official ISO edition; other national adoptions may show the same content and page count).

Scope

ISO 29992:2018 applies to the development and use of assessments intended to measure individual learners' outcomes and to determine learner progress within learning services. It covers guidance for planning, designing, implementing and reviewing assessments, and for ensuring assessments produce meaningful, fair and reliable information about knowledge, competence and performance. The standard does not cover programme-level evaluation of instruction or evaluation of learning service providers, nor does it set technology requirements for delivering assessments.

Key topics and requirements

• Guidance on assessment planning and the alignment of assessment purposes with intended learning outcomes.
• Design considerations to support validity, reliability and fairness of assessment instruments and processes.
• Guidance on implementation, including assessor competence, administration, security and record-keeping.
• Review and quality assurance of assessment processes, including monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Notes on appropriate use of assessment outcomes for determining individual progress (not for provider accreditation or programme evaluation).

Typical use and users

Primary users are organizations that provide learning services (formal, non-formal or workplace learning), bodies that develop or commission assessments, assessment designers, training providers, employers using assessment outcomes for workforce development, and quality/assurance personnel who oversee assessment practice. National standards bodies and organizations adopting the ISO standard (for example as identical or adoped national standards) also use this document to align local requirements.

Related standards

ISO 29992:2018 complements other ISO documents and national standards in the education and learning-services sector (for example ISO 29993 on learning services for non-formal education and training and ISO 21001 on educational organization management systems). Several national bodies have adopted or published equivalent/adopted versions (for example AS/NZS adoption). Users should consult related ISO and national standards for broader management-system and learning-service requirements.

Keywords

Assessment, learning services, learning outcomes, competence, validity, reliability, assessor competence, quality assurance, review, guidance, education.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 29992:2018 is an International Standard that provides guidance on the assessment of outcomes of learning services — specifically guidance on planning, developing, implementing and reviewing assessments used to measure individual learners' knowledge, competence and performance.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers good-practice guidance for the design and use of assessments that measure learner outcomes and progress. It does not cover programme-level evaluation of instruction, evaluation of learning service providers, or technical/technology requirements for assessment delivery.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Organizations providing learning services, assessment developers, training providers, employers using assessment outcomes, quality managers, and national bodies adopting the standard. It is intended for those involved in selecting, developing, administering and reviewing assessments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 29992:2018 was published in December 2018 (Edition 1). The ISO record indicates the standard was reviewed and confirmed (current) in 2024; national identical/adopted versions (for example AS/NZS ISO 29992:2022) have also been published. Users should check with their national standards body for the most up‑to‑date national adoption status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 29992 is related thematically to other ISO documents addressing learning services and education (for example ISO 29993 and ISO 21001) but is a standalone guidance standard focused specifically on assessment of outcomes. Several national adoptions exist where the ISO text is adopted identically.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Assessment, learning outcomes, competence, validity, reliability, fairness, assessor, quality assurance, learning services.