Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals: My unit teacher assessed grades are not what I expected, what should I do?

If you believe there is an error that impacted your grade, talk to your school or college. They can give you more information about how your grade was decided.

The unit results you receive do not limit the overall grade at the end of your course. If you do well in your remaining units, the overall grade can be higher.

• Cambridge Nationals
• Cambridge Technicals

Cambridge Nationals

Cambridge Nationals units are each given a uniform mark (called UMS).

• For teacher assessed grades, the uniform mark is in the middle of the usual mark boundary for the unit
• For any units you have completed normally, the uniform mark is based on the raw marks you achieved in the exam or coursework.
• The grade boundaries for each unit are based on the number of guided learning hours (GLH)

Your overall qualification is calculated by added together these marks.

Example: A Cambridge National Certificate with 4 units.

• Unit 1: 30 GLH - TAG - pass at level 1 – 21 marks
• Unit 2: 30 GLH - TAG - merit at level 1 – 27 marks
• Unit 3: 30 GLH - taken in 2021/22 - merit at level 2 – 48 marks
• Unit 4: 30 GLH - taken in 2021/22 - merit at level 2 – 48 marks

Total = 144 UMS

The marks from the four units are added together to make 144 - Pass at Level 2:

In this example, the student has been given teacher assessed grades (TAGs) for two units, both at level 1. By achieving merits at level 2 in the remaining units this year, when combined with the two teacher assessed grades (for units that could not be taken last year), the student receives an overall Level 2 qualification at a Pass (P2)

If you are still convinced that an error has been made that impacted your unit grade after talking to your school or college, you can first request a review from your school or college (a centre review) and after that you may ask them to appeal to the exam board (an awarding organisation appeal) on your behalf.

You also have the option to take the unit(s) in January 2022 or June 2022. That should be agreed with your teacher so that you and they are certain it is in your best interests to do that.

Cambridge Technicals (2016)

Cambridge Technicals unit are each given points based on your grade and the number of guided learning hours (GLH). Your overall qualification is calculated by adding together these points.

Teacher assessed grades are given the same points as any units that you have completed normally (by taking the exam or completing coursework).

Points available for unit grades and unit teacher assessed grades

The table below show how many points you will get for each unit grade. There are a range of points for each grade as the exact number of points depends on hours it usually takes to complete the unit. The number of hours is described as 'guided learning hours’ or 'GLH'

* Near-Pass (R) grade is issued, at unit level, for students who narrowly miss a Pass on externally assessed units. Examined units are a minimum of 60 GLH so there are no 30 GLH units that have R Grades.

Example: Student 1 is taking a Level 3 Extended Certificate

The table below shows how many points you need for each qualification grade for a Level 3 Extended Certificate:

Student 1 needs five units for their qualification.  They completed unit 1 during 2020/21 and achieved a merit grade. They were also meant to complete units 2 and 3 during 2020/21 but could not do so, due to the disruption faced. They will be given teacher assessed grades for units 2 and 3.

Units 4 and 5 are due to be taken this year (2021/22) and their target grades are a distinction and a merit:

• Unit 1 (90 guided learning hours) – Completed in 2020/21- merit- 24 points
• Unit 2 (90 guided learning hours) – Unit TAG - pass - 21 points
• Unit 3 (60 guided learning hours) – Unit TAG – pass - 14 points
• Unit 4 (60 guided learning hours) – Target grade is a distinction – 18 points
• Unit 5 (60 guided learning hours) – Target grade is a merit – 16 points

Total points: 93 = Merit

In this example, the student has been given teacher assessed grades (TAGs) for two units, both at a pass. By achieving a distinction and a merit in their remaining units this year, when combined with the unit taken last year and the two teacher assessed grades (for units that could not be taken last year), the student receives an overall Merit.

If you are still convinced that an error has been made that impacted your unit grade after talking to your school or college, you can first request a review from your school or college (a centre review) and after that you may ask them to appeal to the exam board (an awarding organisation appeal) on your behalf.

You also have the option to take the examined units in January 2022 or June 2022 and/or submit moderated units during 2021/22. That should be agreed with your teacher so that you and they are certain it is in your best interests to do that.

Cambridge Technicals (2012) 

Cambridge Technicals (2012) units are each given a points value based on your grade and the credits assigned to the unit (the number of credits is based on the number of hours to complete the unit).

Your overall qualification is calculated by adding together these points, the same as the approach above for Cambridge Technicals (2016). The credits and points are available in the centre handbook on each qualification page, your teacher can guide you if you need help in determining what the overall grade could be.