Cambridge Nationals: NEA FAQs - Do I have to stick exactly to the time allowance shown on the assignments?

Do I have to stick exactly to the time allowance shown on the assignments?

The time allowance indicated for each assignment shows approximately how long we think it should take to complete all tasks in the assignment. This is to help teachers to plan the time needed for assessments and to make sure that assignment completion falls within the Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the unit.

The range of hours are designed to recognise that students may take different approaches when completing the assignments, and that students have differing needs and abilities. We do not consider that having longer to complete the assignments will always give one student an advantage over another.

• Restricting the number of hours may have a negative effect on students who are really engaged and/or high achieving, as it could limit their opportunities to evidence their capabilities. 
• Having longer to work on an assignment doesn’t necessarily mean that a better output is produced. Assignments are assessed on how well the evidence meets the marking criteria, rather than on a student’s ability to achieve a particular volume of output in a restricted time. 

The time allowance we provide is a guide to how long we think it will take to complete the assignment – some students may take a bit longer, and others may take less time to complete them.