Reduction in assessment and Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs)
For students certificating in summer 2021: The unit(s) where assessment is not being taken are now covered by the arrangements for teacher assessed grades (TAGs) at qualification level. You should determine a grade for the whole qualification using the OCR guidance on teacher assessed grades.
For students certificating in summer 2022: Your students are eligible for a unit level teacher assessed grade for any assessments which they would have planned to take this year (doing the assessment by 31 August 2021). This includes those units where you had originally planned to take the assessment but then decided to reduce the unit assessment as part of the adaptations below, published in December.
- More information about this can be found in our article Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals: What teacher assessed grades in summer 2021 mean for adaptations (reduction in assessment)
- More information about arrangements for students not certificating in 2020/21 can be found in our article Arrangements for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals students not certificating in summer 2021.
If you require a reduction in assessment for units planned for 2021/22, please see below
Reduction in assessment for 2021/22 (Updated August 2021)
Ofqual and the Department for Education launched a joint consultation on the adaptations to be made for assessments in 2021/22 for our vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) such as Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals. We know you want clarity on next year so you can start to plan ahead.
The outcome of the consultation has confirmed the approach below and we will be updating this article shortly.
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.
Schools and colleges are best placed to decide if they need to use this adaption. We recommend you plan to take all assessments intended for 2021/22, however also identify in your planning which assessment you will not take in 2021/22 if the impact of the disruption caused by the pandemic means you require it. All content must be taught as it is vital for your students’ wider learning and progression. We will ask schools and colleges to provide assurances of this.
It’s in the students interests to take and bank assessments where possible, however, these adaptations are there if you need them and can apply to all students due to complete assessments during 2021/22.
If you’re 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’re 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.
Students certificating in 2022 must take assessments in 2021/22 and we recommend you bank assessments as soon as you can.
We’ll continue to assess knowledge and understanding in the examined units for which there is no option to reduce the assessment.
For both Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals, we will determine the qualification-level result for students taking account of the reduction. You will not provide teacher assessed 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.
Applied Science (2016)
The Level 3 Certificate in Applied Science contains examined units only and so no reduction in assessment is possible this year.
For all other qualifications. our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Business (2016)
Level 2
Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessment for one moderated unit in the Certificate and Diploma this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate |
180 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 2 Diploma |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
Our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 120 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 120 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Digital Media (2016)
Level 2
Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessment for one moderated unit in the Certificate and Diploma this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate |
180 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 2 Diploma |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
All qualifications in the Level 3 Digital Media suite contain optional units. Our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units this year. However, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 30 or 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH and 2 moderated units of 30 GLH or |
|||
|
Do not take assessment for 4 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH and 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Engineering (2016)
Level 2
The Level 2 Certificate in Engineering does not include a moderated unit of 60 GLH or below so a reduction in assessment cannot be applied. Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessment for one moderated unit in the Diploma this year:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award (move down only) |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Diploma |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
The Level 3 Certificate in Engineering contains examined units only and so no reduction in assessment is possible this year.
Our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units. However, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Health and Social Care (2016)
Level 2
Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessments for one moderated unit in the Certificate and Diploma this year:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate |
180 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 2 Diploma |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
Our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH and 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH and 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Information Technology (2016)
Level 2
Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessments for one or more moderated units in the Certificate and Diploma this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate
|
180
|
Yes
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|||
|
Level 2 Diploma
|
360
|
Yes
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
The Level 3 Certificate in IT contains examined units only and so no reduction in assessment is possible this year.
All other qualifications in the Level 3 IT suite contain optional units. Our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated unit this year. However, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Introductory Diploma* |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma* |
540 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
* the barred combinations shown in section 4 of the Centre Handbook for the Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner specialist pathway still apply for units 18 and 19, even if the unit is not assessed.
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Performing Arts (2016)
The Level 3 Certificate in Performing Arts contains examined units only and so no reduction in assessment is possible this year.
For all other qualifications, our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated units this year. In qualifications with both mandatory and optional moderated units, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma |
540 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma (Musical Theatre Pathway) |
720 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 120 GLH |
|
Level 3 Diploma (All other pathways) |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 120 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 120 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
Sport and Physical Activity (2016)
Level 2
Our adaptations allow you to reduce assessments for one moderated unit in the Certificate and Diploma this year:
|
Level 2 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 2 Award |
90 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 2 Certificate |
180 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
|
Level 2 Diploma |
360 |
No |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH |
Level 3
The Level 3 Certificate in Sport contains examined units only and so no reduction in assessment is possible this year.
For all other qualifications, our adaptations allow you to reduce one or more assessments for any moderated unit this year. However, where mandatory moderated units are left to complete, these must be prioritised:
|
Level 3 Qualification |
GLH |
Optional units? |
Adaptations |
|
Level 3 Certificate |
180 |
N/A |
Must take all assessments |
|
Level 3 Extended Certificate |
360 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Foundation Diploma
|
540
|
Yes
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Diploma |
720 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH or |
|
Do not take assessment for 1 moderated unit of 60 GLH and 2 moderated units of 30 GLH |
|||
|
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
1080 |
Yes |
Do not take assessment for 2 moderated units of 60 GLH |
GLH = Guided Learning Hours
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