Open consultation

Annex D – Proposed updated requirements for timing of assessments in Technical Qualifications within T Levels

Published 23 April 2026

Applies to England

We propose to amend the Assessment requirements relating to the Timing of Assessments, set out under TQ6.1. Our proposed amended wording is below.

Timing of assessments

In respect of a Technical Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must provide –

(a) Up to 2 assessment series in each academic year in respect of the Core Assessments,

(b) Up to 2 assessment series in each academic year in respect of the assessments for the Occupational Specialisms.

An awarding organisation must ensure that -

(a) in each assessment series in respect of Core Assessments, both the Core Project and Core Examination are made available,

(b) except where a Learner is retaking those assessments, each Learner takes all of the assessments for the Core Examination in a single assessment series,

(c) each Learner takes all of the assessments for the Core Project in a single assessment series,

(d) each Learner takes all of the assessments for each individual Occupational Specialism in a single assessment series,

(e) a Learner may take the Core Project and the Core Examination in different assessment series (including assessment series in different academic years), and

(f) a Learner may take the Core Assessments and the assessments for an Occupational Specialism in different assessment series (including assessment series in different academic years).

An awarding organisation must set out its approach to the availability of assessments in its assessment strategy.

Retakes

Subject to the requirements below, a Learner may take an assessment for the qualification again in any assessment series in which that assessment is delivered.

An awarding organisation must ensure that a Learner may retake –

(a) any number of the assessments for the Core Examination,

(b) the Core Project,

(c) the assessments for an Occupational Specialism, or

(d) any combination of these.

For clarity, where a Learner retakes the Core Examination he or she should not be required to retake the Core Project, and vice versa.

An awarding organisation must ensure that a Learner retakes all of the assessments for the Core Project or an Occupational Specialism, as relevant.

An awarding organisation must ensure that a Learner retakes all of the assessments within the Core Project or an Occupational Specialism in a single assessment series.

An awarding organisation must ensure that a Learner is able to retake any number of assessments for the Core Examination. So, for example, where the Core Examination is comprised of two Assessments by Examination, a Learner must be allowed to choose to retake –

• one of those assessments without retaking the other, or
• both assessments.

Where a Learner wishes to retake more than one assessment for the Core Examination, an awarding organisation may allow him or her to take those assessments in different series.

Where a Learner retakes more than one of –

• the assessment(s) for the Core Examination,

• the Core Project or

• an Occupational Specialism,

an awarding organisation may allow a Learner to take the assessments in each of (a), (b) and (c) a different assessment series. So, for example, where a Learner retakes both an assessment for the Core Examination and the Core Project, an awarding organisation may allow him or her to take the former in one assessment series and the latter in a different series.

An awarding organisation must set out its approach to retakes in its assessment strategy.

Question 57

Do you have any comments on the drafting of the proposed amended assessment requirements for Technical Qualifications within T Levels?