Cambridge Technicals (2016): Reduction in assessment for 2020/21 and 2021/22

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’ll continue to assess knowledge and understanding in the examined units which cannot be reduced. 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 deciding which assessment(s) to not take, it is important to consider the impact on student progression and any unit assessments 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:

 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 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:

 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 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:

 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 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:

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 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:

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 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:

* 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:

 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 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:

 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.