(Exams Officers) Cambridge Nationals moderated units Summer 2023

• Legacy Cambridge Nationals FAQs
• New Cambridge Nationals FAQs
• How does the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity work FAQs
• Autumn entries FAQs
• Next steps if you are using the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity

Are you on track to meet the marks submission deadline?

We understand it's been a challenging year, and many schools and colleges are telling us they may not meet the marks submission deadline for the June 2023 series.

We want to support you to prioritise those students who are certificating this summer so it’s essential we know now whether you’ll be able to meet the deadline or not. If you do not meet the agreed deadlines, there is a significant risk that your students will not receive their results on results day and this may also prompt a maladministration investigation.

My centre is not going to meet the submission deadline what can I do?

• New Cambridge Nationals – If you think you will not be able to submit your marks by 15 May (or a previously agreed extended deadline), we’re providing an autumn 2023 submission opportunity for our new Cambridge Nationals qualifications (first teaching September 2022). This is an exceptional opportunity to submit marks and work for moderation in the autumn.

• Legacy Cambridge Nationals – The exceptional autumn submission opportunity is not available for the legacy Cambridge Nationals qualifications as June 2023 is the final submission opportunity. For these qualifications, you must submit your marks by the deadline. If you still need to request an extension, please do this using Special Consideration online via Interchange as soon as possible. At this stage, we will be able to grant an extension of five working days to 22 May.

 

Legacy Cambridge Nationals FAQs

Can we have an extension to the marks submission deadline for legacy Cambridge Nationals?

If you still need to request an extension, please do this using special consideration online via Interchange  as soon as possible. At this stage, we will be able to grant an extension of five working days to 22 May.

Can I have an extension of more than five working days?

If you do not think you will be able to submit your marks for a legacy Cambridge National unit by 22 May (the five working day extension), please contact our special requirements team via srteam@ocr.org.uk as soon as possible.

Why is the exceptional autumn submission opportunity not available for legacy Cambridge Nationals qualifications?

The exceptional autumn submission opportunity is not available for the legacy Cambridge Nationals qualifications because the qualifications are ending and the June 2023 series is the final full series.

Legacy Cambridge Nationals will not contribute to Key Stage 4 performance tables after the June 2023 series.

New Cambridge Nationals FAQs

How do I tell you whether or not we want to use the exceptional autumn submission opportunity?

We asked you to complete a form by 26 April 2023 to confirm whether or not your school or college wants to use the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity for the new Cambridge Nationals qualifications. This form is now closed.

If your school or college did not confirm you will be using the autumn 2023 submission opportunity and will now be using the opportunity, please see the next steps below.

We completed the form but now want to change one of our responses. What do we do?

If you need to change any of your responses, please email the details to us at support@ocr.org.uk. You do not need to complete a new form.

We are on track to complete on time, can we still submit for the June 23 series for new Cambridge Nationals?

Yes, the June 2023 series is available as normal if you are able to submit marks by the 15 May and send us the sample request within 3 working days.

We have an agreed June 2023 marks submission extension for new Cambridge Nationals, do we need to do anything?

As long as you are certain you can meet your extended deadline, you do not need to move to the autumn submission opportunity. We will be writing to you individually to confirm your new deadlines.

What if we withdraw our students from June 2023 and enter them for January and/or June 2024?

If you do this, only the assignments for January and June 2024 (released 1 June 2023) will be accepted in these series, so the students would have to complete the new assignments.

This does not apply to Sport Studies unit R185 and Enterprise and Marketing unit R069 as these assignments do not change each year.

We have requested an extension for new Cambridge Nationals in the June 2023 series but have not yet had it approved, what do we do?

You will be offered the autumn submission opportunity. If this will cause an issue for your centre, please discuss this with us when you receive your offer.

We have individual students who require an extension, what do we do?

If you need an extension for specific students with individual needs, if you wish, you can move the whole cohort for that unit to the exceptional autumn submission opportunity.

Alternatively, if the majority of the cohort's marks will be submitted by the deadline, you can submit an extension request for the June 2023 series via Special Consideration online for the individuals.

What if we're not sure if we'll meet the marks submission deadline for new Cambridge Nationals?

If there is any risk that you cannot meet the 15 May marks submission deadline or any agreed extension to the deadline, you must move to the autumn submission opportunity.

What if we told you we don’t need to use the exceptional submission opportunity but our circumstances change?

If your school or college did not confirm you will be using the autumn 2023 submission opportunity and will now be using the opportunity, please see the next steps below.

Will you be offering an autumn submission opportunity for new Cambridge Nationals in the future?

No. We are offering an opportunity this autumn as it's been a challenging year for many centres and you're telling us this is impacting your ability to meet the 15 May marks submission deadline for the June 2023 series.

 

How does the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity work FAQs

What is the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity for?

For this first year only, we're providing this exceptional submission opportunity for all schools or colleges who have students completing this year's OCR set assignments for our new Cambridge Nationals qualifications. We hope this provides more time to complete the following:

• any remaining assessment by the end of the summer term*
• marking
• internal standardisation
• informing students of their marks and processing any internal appeals

If you decide to use the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity, students must complete their assessments by the end of the summer term. Your June 2023 entry fees will be refunded. 

*The approximate number of guided learning hours (GLH) you allow students to complete all tasks has not changed.

Who can use the exceptional submission opportunity in autumn 2023?

The exceptional submission opportunity is available to all centres with entries for our new Cambridge Nationals qualifications (for first teaching September 2022). This is not available for our legacy Cambridge Nationals qualifications or any other qualifications.

If we use the autumn submission opportunity, does this have to be for all new Cambridge National units?

You can choose whether to use the submission opportunity or not for each unit you have entered – you may wish to use it for some units but not others.

If you use the autumn submission opportunity for a unit, this must be for all students for the unit. You cannot use both the June 2023 series and the autumn submission opportunity for the same unit.

Which OCR-set assignments will be accepted in the exceptional autumn submission opportunity?

Only the current assignments for January and June 2023 can be submitted in this exceptional submission opportunity. This will be the last opportunity to submit the January and June 2023 assignments.

The new assignments for January and June 2024, due to be released 1 June 2023, cannot be submitted in the autumn.

If we move to the exceptional autumn submission opportunity, when must students have completed the assessment?

The students must complete their assessments by the end of the summer term. They cannot work on them in September 2023 or beyond*.

*Sport Studies R185 and Enterprise and Marketing R069 do not change each year and can be worked on beyond the end of term if they are being submitted in the January 2024 or June 2024 series.

We have finished the tasks, can I move to the autumn submission opportunity and use the time for students to improve their work?

No, this opportunity is to ensure all students have access to the guided learning hours needed to complete tasks and not for additional guided learning hours to complete or rework their evidence.

If you are ready to submit for the June 2023 series on time, you should submit your marks as planned.

Can students who receive a result for a unit in the June 2023 series use the autumn submission opportunity?

No. Students who receive a result in June 2023 for a unit cannot use the autumn submission opportunity for the same unit.

If your students remain entered for June 2023, we will not accept any entries for the same unit in autumn.

What are the key dates we need know for the exceptional autumn submission opportunity?

The key dates for the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity are:

• 1 September 2023 – entries open and basedata is available
• 21 September 2023 – entry deadline
• 2 October 2023 – mark submission deadline
• 13/14 December 2023 – restricted/candidate results days

Autumn entries FAQs

We want to use the autumn submission opportunity, what do we need to do with our entries?

Please withdraw your June 2023 series entries for the unit(s) now.

When basedata is released and the entry window opens for autumn on 1 September, make new entries for the autumn submission opportunity. The entry fee in the autumn will be the same as the June 2023 unit entry fee.

Can I withdraw our June 2023 entries for new Cambridge Nationals units now and receive a refund?

Yes, if you are planning to use the autumn submission opportunity, we will refund your June 2023 entries.

We made late entries for the June 2023 series. If we move to the autumn submission opportunity, will we receive a refund for any late fees? (Added 24/04/23)

Yes, for units moved to the autumn submission opportunity, we will refund both the entry fee and any late fees for the unit. 

Our students have been working on this year’s OCR set assignments for new Cambridge Nationals but we haven't entered them for the June 2023 series. What can we do?

If your students have been completing this year’s OCR set assignments (for January and June 2023), you can enter the unit for the autumn 2023 exceptional submission opportunity.

Next steps if you are using the exceptional autumn 2023 submission opportunity

• Withdraw your June 2023 entries now– If you haven’t done so already, please withdraw your June 2023 entries for the units you’re planning on entering in the autumn submission opportunity. You must use the same method you used to make your original entries – see the OCR website for more details.
• Tell your students – Please let your students know you will be using the autumn submission opportunity so they will not be expecting results in August.
• By end of July, receive refund – Your account will be credited by the end of July 2023.
• Between 1 and 21 September, make entries – Basedata for the autumn submission opportunity will be published by 1 September.
• By 2 October, submit your marks – Extensions to the marks submission deadline will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. You will normally receive a sample request within one to two days of submitting your marks. All samples must be submitted within three working days of receiving the sample request
• 13 December, receive results – Restricted release of results to schools and colleges.
• 14 December, issue results – Results can be given to students from 8am.