Cambridge Nationals: 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 students taking general qualifications in 2021. We want parity for those studying Cambridge Nationals, 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.

Creative iMedia, Health and Social Care, ICT, Sport Science, Sport Studies

For students certifying in 2020-21 or in 2021-22, and where disruption to teaching has been such that it is necessary, assessment can now be reduced by one optional moderated unit, or, where circumstances require it, one mandatory moderated unit as a last resort.

All students certificating in summer 2021 must take assessment this year and it is important where the examined unit was not 'taken' last year (either by sitting the assessment or by being eligible for a deferred assessed grade for summer 2020), it is taken this year. If your students are eligible for a deferred assessed grade for the exam from June 2020, it is considered 'taken'.

Where you have a choice of mandatory moderated units and optional moderated units to reduce, the assessment of the mandatory moderated unit must be prioritised.

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) students are completing this year.

Please see our infographic with examples of how this adaptation applies alongside deferred assessed grades for summer 2020. 

Engineering

For students certifying in 2020-21 or in 2021-22, and where disruption to teaching has been such that it is necessary, assessment can now be reduced by one moderated unit.

All students certificating in summer 2021 must take assessment this year and it is important where the examined unit was not 'taken' last year (either by sitting the assessment or by being eligible for a deferred assessed grade for summer 2020), it is taken this year. If your students are eligible for a deferred assessed grade for the exam from June 2020, it is considered 'taken'.

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) students are completing this year.

Please see our infographic with examples of how this adaptation applies alongside deferred assessed grades for summer 2020. 

Enterprise and Marketing, Child Development

For students certifying in 2020-21 or in 2021-22, and where disruption to teaching has been such that it is necessary, assessment can now be reduced by one moderated unit.

All students certificating in summer 2021 must take assessment this year and it is important where the examined unit was not 'taken' last year (either by sitting the assessment or by being eligible for a deferred assessed grade for summer 2020), it is taken this year. If your students are eligible for a deferred assessed grade for the exam from June 2020, it is considered 'taken'.

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) students are completing this year.

Please see our infographic with examples of how this adaptation applies alongside deferred assessed grades for summer 2020. 

Information Technologies

There is no reduction in assessment for Cambridge Nationals Information Technologies as it only has two units. However, where a student was due to take an assessment in summer 2020, students are able to have a deferred assessed grade for that unit, leaving the assessment for one unit to complete.

To help support you during 2020/21, we have changed the controls for the moderated unit (R013) so that the same assignment can be used in any series this year. We have anticipated that following the advice from Public Health England and/or in the event of further disruption in teaching and learning, it will take longer to prepare and take the assessment.

We hope this removes the pressure that you would have to start a new assignment if you miss the submission deadline for a specific series. Please see our FAQs

Please see our infographic with examples of how the deferred assessed grades for summer 2020 applies to Information Technologies: