Cambridge Technicals (2012): Reduction in assessment for 2020/21 and 2021/22

Information in this article will be updated shortly. Please see here for the latest information for students completing in summer 2021 and teacher assessed grades (TAGs)

We’ve been working closely with the DfE and Ofqual to give you clarity after the DfE’s recent announcement on measures to support learners taking general qualifications in 2021. We want parity for those studying Cambridge Technicals, so your learners are supported to achieve a result and to progress.

With the approval of the DfE, we are allowing assessments of moderated units to be reduced where disruption to teaching has been so great that it is necessary. We believe schools and colleges are best placed to decide which assessments to reduce. If you are teaching a course with optional and mandatory units, we will require you to prioritise the assessment of mandatory units. Any reduction in the assessment of moderated mandatory units, including if you are teaching a course with only mandatory units, should be as a last resort where all other options to complete them have been exhausted.

By reducing the amount of time you and your students spend on the assessments of moderated units, we hope this adaptation gives more time to focus on teaching and learning. Teaching as much of the content as possible is vital for students’ progression and so we will ask schools and colleges to provide assurances of this.

Students certificating in 2021 must take assessments this year and we’d recommend you bank assessments as soon as you can. We will calculate the qualification-level result for students taking account of the reduction in assessments. You will not be expected to provide centre assessment grades for these units.

When applying the reduction of assessment, it is important to consider the impact on student progression and any unit assessment they may rely on for future work or study.

Level 2 2012 suite (all subjects)

All 2012 Level 2 qualifications are credit based. Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessment for one or more units for the Extended Certificate and Diploma this year. Where mandatory units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:

 GLH = Guided Learning Hours

Level 3 2012 suite (all subjects)

All 2012 Level 3 qualifications are credit based. Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessment for one or more units this year. Where mandatory units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:

 GLH = Guided Learning Hours

Can more than one adaptation apply?

Yes, students can have a deferred assessed grade for units which could not be assessed in summer 2020 and complete a reduced number of assessments overall. You can also apply the unit level adaptations to the unit(s) they are completing this year.