Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability: Frequently asked questions

Can the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability be offered outside England?

The OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability is currently only regulated for delivery in England. We are exploring our options for regulation in other nations.

Does the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability attract UCAS tariff points?

We have had confirmation from UCAS that the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability will attract UCAS tariff points and will be added to their system during May for the 2026 application cycle.  Based on other qualifications of the same size, we anticipate the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability to attract the following UCAS points:

• D* – 28 points
• D – 24 points
• M – 16 points
• P – 8 points

Are there any plans to expand the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability to a 360GLH (same size as an A Level) qualification?

We designed the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability as a 150 guided learning hour (GLH) qualification to give a wide range of students an opportunity to gain the fundamental knowledge, understanding and skills related to sustainability. If there is sufficient demand for an extended certificate version of the qualification (360GLH) then we would consider adding additional units in the future.

If required, can students complete the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability in more than two years?

The OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability is funded for the 16-19 age group so it would be possible for students to start the qualification in year 12 and finish it by the end of year 14 (over 3 years). However, care needs to be taken when completing the NEA for unit F228 (Sustainability in practice) as each set assignment is only valid for 2 years.

How many assessment/submission opportunities are there in an academic year? 

There are two exam series (January and June) each year for students to sit the exam for unit F227 (Fundamentals of sustainability). The date of the exams will be published in advance. Provisional timetables for 2025/26 are now available.

There will also be two moderation windows – in the first year, these will be in Spring and Summer. After the first year, these will be in Winter and Summer.

Does the 150GLH include independent research time? What proportion of the time would you expect to be lesson time?

Guided learning hours (GLH) indicates the approximate time (in hours) you should spend supervising or directing study and assessment activities. We have worked with people who are experienced in delivering related qualifications to determine the content that needs to be taught and how long it will take to deliver.

In unit F228 (Sustainability in practice) we recommend students spend 5 hours completing their primary research outside of supervised conditions. This is not part of the GLH. We have produced a curriculum planner to illustrate how the qualification could be delivered by centres.

Would you recommend specialist teachers to deliver the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability or can any subject teacher deliver the content?

Research completed during the development of the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability indicated that geography, businesses studies or science teachers would be most likely to deliver the qualification.

The research also suggested that many centres will have staff with a passion for sustainability who would love to deliver the qualification to students. We have also spoken with PGCE providers who inform us that sustainability is featuring more within their course content.

Do we require centre approval to deliver the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability?

To deliver the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability you must be an approved OCR centre. Most centres in England that already deliver OCR qualifications that contain formal timetabled exams will be automatically approved to offer the OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability, please see our approval FAQ for more information.

How relevant/helpful would this qualification be for students aiming to progress into science degrees?

Our research has shown that there are more and more universities are offering modules in sustainability as part of an undergraduate degrees including science-based subjects such as environmental conversation.

Does the NEA for unit F228 (Sustainability in practice), follow a similar structure to the A Level Geography NEA? Is it a written project?

How unit F228 (Sustainability in practice) will be assessed is shown in the OCR-set assignment – sample assessment material.

Students will undertake a research project which answers a sustainability research question. Students will conduct their own research project where they will collect and analyse their own data. Evidence will be provided in the form of a sustainability research report, and findings will also be delivered to a teacher in an 8-10 minute showcase.

The sustainability research question will change in each OCR-set assignment. Each OCR-set assignment will be valid for 2 years.

In unit F228 (Sustainability in practice), is there a minimum or recommended word count for the sustainability research report?

There is no minimum or recommended word count for the sustainability research report. However students’ evidence must be in sufficient detail to meet the requirements of any assessment criteria achieved. The NEA candidate style work will show the expectation for each grade.

The qualification is 50% external assessment and 50% non-examined assessment (NEA) but the exam is marked out of 60 and the NEA is marked out of 24. How does this work?

We use a uniform mark scale (UMS) to work out students’ overall grades so we can compare performance in the assessments over time.

A student’s uniform mark for the externally assessed unit is calculated from the student’s raw mark on that unit. A student’s uniform mark for the NEA unit is calculated from the number of criteria the student achieves for that unit. The raw mark or number of criteria achieved are converted to the equivalent mark on the uniform mark scale. Marks between grade boundaries are converted on a pro rata basis.

When unit results are issued, the student’s unit grade and uniform mark are given. The uniform mark is shown out of the maximum uniform mark for the unit (for example, 48/60).

The student’s uniform marks for each unit will be aggregated to give a total uniform mark for the qualification. The student’s overall grade will be determined by the total uniform mark.