@mimaahk, thanks for posting this, you presented a valid point. I agree on this.
@sohc, thanks for updating us on how DIAC assessed your application. nagkausap na tayo last time sa philippines.com.au, sa "online application" na topic.
As I understand, your wife is the primary applicant who had her skills assessed by VETASSESS as AQF Advanced Diploma, this means that the BS Degree she earned from PLM was assessed as diploma. Now, you were saying that it seems DIAC awarded points that is corresponding to Diploma even though she completed a BS Degree. It is possible since VETASSESS classified this degree as equivalent to Diploma (I assume, they have considered the curriculum/subjects taken). As DIAC mentioned on their site, they will consider the opinion of the assessing authority.
But kindly note that we have different assessing authorities with different criteria, (I apologise, I don't have that much idea about VETASSESS, I visited the site only once, please correct me if I am wrong.) for ACS, groupings (Group A, B, C) are used to indicate whether the occupation your are claiming met the criteria and at the same time, it is also used to classify the degree that you have earned. @mimaahk have enumerated the criteria, I believe that once an applicant has been awarded with a positive assessment in Group A (or B, if you also have a BS Degree), your degree has been acknowledged and assessed to be equivalent to the Australian BS Degree Standard.
In my opinion, our assessing authorities actually dictate whether to classify the Degree (we are claiming) to Diploma or BS Degree.
For those who went through VETASSESS assessment, can you please enlighten us on what criteria you used.
Sa iba, ano po ang insights niyo on this. Salamat!
Cheers!