V Level Subject Level Conditions and requirements for education
Published 10 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/v-level-subject-level-conditions-and-requirements-for-education/v-level-subject-level-conditions-and-requirements-for-education
Condition VL(Education)1: Compliance with content requirements
VL(Education)1.1
In respect of each V Level in education which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must –
a) comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled, Education Level 3 V Level subject content,
b) have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and
c) interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
VL(Education)1.2
An awarding organisation may expand upon the content set out in the document referred to in Condition VL( Education)1.1(a) so long as –
(a) no content set out in that document is removed, and
(b) any such elaboration does not cause any change to the number of hours of Guided Learning to be assigned to the qualification.
VL(Education)1.3
In respect of each V Level in education which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
Condition VL(Education)2: Assessment
VL(Education)2.1
In respect of the total marks available for a V Level in education which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that –
a) 40% of those marks are made available through Assessments by Examination, and
b) 60% of those marks are made available through Non-exam Assessments.
VL(Education)2.2
In respect of the Assessments by Examination for a V Level in education which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that –
a) a Learner takes all of those assessments in the assessment series in which the Learner requests certification for the qualification,
b) the results achieved by the Learner in the Assessments by Examination in that series are used in calculating the Learner’s overall qualification grade, and
c) it makes available one Assessment by Examination series, during the months of May and/or June, in any single academic year.
VL(Education)2.3
In respect of the Non-exam Assessments for a V Level in education which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that –
a) it makes available one submission window for Centres to submit marks for those assessments in each of the first and second academic years of the course for that qualification, and
b) where a Learner takes the qualification in a single academic year, the awarding organisation offers the Centre through which that Learner is taking the qualification one submission window to submit marks for that Learner’s Non-exam Assessment.
VL(Education)2.4
An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a V Level in education which it makes available, or proposes to make available, it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
Assessment objectives – V Level in education
Condition VL(Education)1.3 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for all V Levels in education.
The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition VL(Education)1.3. These assessment objectives relate to all assessments for the qualification. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all V Levels in education they make available, or propose to make available.
| AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, requirements and approaches relevant to the subject area | 25-30% |
| AO2 – Apply knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, requirements and approaches and to plan, carry out tasks, produce outputs, and use information appropriately | 40-45% |
| AO3 – Analyse and evaluate information, situations and evidence to make judgements, draw conclusions and make recommendations | 25-30% |