E. Design and development of qualifications

Rules about qualification design and development, including about qualification titling, qualification specifications, credit, and qualification size and level.

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Qualifications have an objective and support

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Qualifications to have an objective

E1.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that each qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available –

(a) has a clear objective in accordance with this condition, and

(b) meets that objective.

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E1.2 The objective of a qualification must be such as to lead to a benefit for Learners who have reached a specified level of attainment, and may include –

(a) preparing Learners to progress to a qualification in the same subject area but at a higher level or requiring more specific knowledge, skills and understanding,

(b) preparing Learners to progress to a qualification in another subject area,

(c) meeting relevant programmes of learning,

(d) preparing Learners for employment,

(e) supporting a role in the workplace, or

(f) giving Learners personal growth and engagement in learning.

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Qualifications to have support

E1.3 Where an awarding organisation proposes to make available any new qualification, it –

(a) must first consult Users of qualifications to ascertain whether there is support for the qualification, and

(b) may only make available the qualification where it has evidence of sufficient support from Users of qualifications.

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E1.4 For the purposes of Condition E1.3, the following considerations will in particular be relevant in determining what constitutes sufficient support –

(a) the objective of the new qualification,

(b) whether the new qualification is intended to facilitate a particular route of progression for Learners, and

(c) the number of Learners that the awarding organisation reasonably estimates is likely to take the new qualification.

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E1.5 For the purposes of this condition, Users of qualifications will be deemed to support a new qualification if the prevailing view of those Users of qualifications is that the qualification would provide a benefit to Learners.

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Requirements for qualification titling

E2.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that the title on the Register of any qualification which it makes available includes the following information –

(a) the name of the awarding organisation,

(b) the level of the qualification,

(c) the type of qualification (where the qualification has a type),

(d) a concise indication of the content of the qualification, and

(e) any Endorsement known at the time the qualification is submitted to the Register.

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E2.2 An awarding organisation must, in addition –

(a) ensure that the title on the Register reflects the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed as part of the qualification, and

(b) take all reasonable steps to ensure that the title allows Users of qualifications to identify similar units or qualifications which it makes available or are made available by other awarding organisations.

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E2.3 An awarding organisation must ensure that each qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, has a title which it uses consistently in its advertising and in its communications with Users of qualifications.

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E2.4 An awarding organisation must ensure that the titles of qualifications which it makes available, or proposes to make available, are not misleading to Users of qualifications.

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E2.5 An awarding organisation must ensure that it amends the title on the Register for a qualification which it makes available when it makes any revision to a level assigned to that qualification.

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Publication of a qualification specification

Some parts of this Condition are not in force for all qualifications:

• Conditions E3.2(l), E3.2(m), E3.4 and E3.5 do not apply to legacy GCSE, AS and A levels, and certain qualifications undergoing withdrawal

• Conditions E3.2(l), E3.4(a) and E3.4(c) also do not apply to reformed GCSEs, AS and A levels, or to apprenticeship end-point assessments

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E3.1 An awarding organisation must, before first making available a particular qualification, publish a specification for that qualification.

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E3.2 An awarding organisation must ensure that the specification for a qualification sets out –

(a) the qualification’s objective,

(b) any other qualification which a Learner must have completed before taking the qualification,

(c) any prior knowledge, skills or understanding which the Learner is required to have before taking the qualification,

(d) any units which a Learner must have completed before the qualification will be awarded and any optional routes,

(e) any other requirements which a Learner must have satisfied before the Learner will be assessed or before the qualification will be awarded,

(f) the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed as part of the qualification (giving a clear indication of their coverage and depth),

(g) the method of any assessment and any associated requirements relating to it,

(h) the criteria against which Learners’ levels of attainment will be measured (such as assessment criteria or exemplars),

(i) any specimen assessment materials,

(j) any specified levels of attainment,

(k) where the awarding organisation is required to make such an assignment under General Condition E7 (Total Qualification Time), the number of hours which it has assigned to that qualification for each of Total Qualification Time and Guided Learning,

(l) any value for credit which it has assigned to that qualification and any Component of that qualification, and

(m) the level or levels which it has assigned to that qualification and any Component of that qualification.

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E3.3 An awarding organisation must ensure that the specification for a qualification is clear, accurate and communicates, to the reasonable and informed person –

(a) what the qualification requires of the Learner in respect of each of the details that is applicable to the qualification, and

(b) how the qualification is fit for purpose.

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Amendments to the specification

E3.4 An awarding organisation must promptly amend the specification for a qualification following any revision by it of –

(a) the number of hours which it has assigned for Total Qualification Time or Guided Learning,

(b) the level or levels which it has assigned to that qualification or any Component of that Qualification, or

(c) any value for credit which it has assigned to that qualification or any Component of that qualification.

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E3.5 Where an awarding organisation has amended the specification for a qualification it must publish that specification as amended.

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Application

E3.6 Conditions E3.2(l), E3.2(m), E3.4 and E3.5 shall not apply to an awarding organisation until such date as is specified in, or determined under, any notice in writing issued by Ofqual to the awarding organisation under this paragraph.

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E3.7 Any such notice issued by Ofqual may be –

(a) subject to any conditions that Ofqual specifies (which may include conditions placing requirements on an awarding organisation as to its conduct prior to the date specified in or determined under it),

(b) issued to an individual awarding organisation or to any group of awarding organisations,

(c) issued in respect of one or more qualifications or descriptions of qualifications,

(d) varied by Ofqual at any time prior to the date specified in or determined under it.

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E3.8 Where Ofqual makes such a notice subject to conditions, an awarding organisation to which the notice is issued must comply with any requirements that are imposed on it in accordance with those conditions.

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Ensuring assessment is fit for purpose and can be delivered

E4.1 In designing an assessment for a qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must ensure that it has or obtains adequate resources to enable the assessment to be delivered effectively and efficiently.

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E4.2 In designing such an assessment, an awarding organisation must in addition ensure that the assessment –

(a) is fit for purpose,

(b) can be delivered efficiently,

(c) allows Centres to develop cost effective arrangements for its delivery, using only the resources which would be reasonably expected to be required or which are provided by the awarding organisation,

(d) permits Reasonable Adjustments to be made, while minimising the need for them,

(e) allows each Learner to generate evidence which can be Authenticated,

(f) allows each specified level of attainment detailed in the specification to be reached by a Learner who has attained the required level of knowledge, skills and understanding, and

(g) allows Assessors to be able to differentiate accurately and consistently between a range of attainments by Learners.

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Assurance that qualifications comply with conditions

E5.1 Before submitting a qualification to the Register or for accreditation, an awarding organisation must –

(a) review that qualification, and

(b) assure itself that the qualification complies with the requirements of its Conditions of Recognition, making any changes to the qualification which are necessary for that purpose.

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Submitting qualifications to the register

E6.1 An awarding organisation must not make available a qualification unless it has first submitted that qualification to the Register.

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E6.2 An awarding organisation must ensure that its submission of a qualification to the Register –

(a) is in a form that may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time,

(b) contains only accurate information, and

(c) contains all information about the qualification that is requested.

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Total qualification time

E7. This Condition is not in force for all regulated qualifications. Currently, it does not apply to: 

• Ofqual-regulated apprenticeship end-point assessments

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Credit

E8. does not apply to Ofqual-regulated apprenticeship end-point assessments

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Qualification and component levels

E9. does not apply to Ofqual-regulated apprenticeship end-point assessments

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Recognition of prior learning

E10.1 An awarding organisation must establish, maintain, publish and comply with a policy which specifies whether or not it will recognise prior learning.

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Further requirements where an awarding organisation permit Recognition of Prior Learning

E10.2 In any circumstances where the policy it has in place permits the Recognition of Prior Learning, an awarding organisation must ensure the policy enables it to award qualifications in a way that complies with its Conditions of Recognition.

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Go to F. Providing qualifications for purchasers 

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