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Whether you’re new to OCR, or already offer our qualifications, you might find our admin overview useful. This outlines the main administration processes for Cambridge Nationals, and will guide you to the relevant, detailed information on our website.
Although vocational qualifications, Cambridge Nationals are run at similar times to GCSEs, and are series based, so you'll often see Cambridge Nationals referred to alongside general qualifications. Cambridge Nationals are available in the January and June series.
As most of these processes have to be completed by certain dates, we’ve produced a list of key dates to help with your planning and preparation.
The first step to offering Cambridge Nationals is to become an approved centre. For this, you’ll need to complete the general approval form.
If your centre is already approved for GCSEs or A Levels with OCR, you will be automatically approved for Cambridge Nationals.
Your Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) may need to apply for access arrangements.
These are made before an exam series to enable candidates with particular requirements to demonstrate attainment.
See the access arrangements page for more information.
Choose from the OCR Repository/Submit for Assessment services or postal moderation.
Within each series you must enter all candidates taking a particular unit for the same moderation method.
Please make final unit and certification entries by the relevant deadlines. NB You don't need to register your candidates first.
The entry codes booklet contains all the codes and rules of combination. You’ll also need to check final entry and resit rules.
You can make your final entries via A2C using basedata, or via our secure extranet, Interchange.
See our entries flow chart for a handy overview.
Submit marks to OCR via A2C or Interchange by the deadline for your chosen moderation method.
The OCR moderator selects a sample which then must be sent by post or uploaded to the OCR Repository/Submit for Assessment service.
Detailed information is provided in the non-exam assessment section.
Examination arrangements are governed by the JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations.
We’ll send question papers and stationery on the basis of final entries – our despatch schedule shows what you will receive, and when.
When sending scripts to us for marking, make sure you follow our six simple steps to ensure they reach us safely.
You may also need information on special consideration or what to do if you suspect malpractice.
We will issue results automatically on the published day (the same day as GCSEs for the June series). See our results section for what’s available when.
The results are sent via A2C and are also available on Interchange, together with a number of results reports.
Grade boundaries are also published on our website at the same time as the results are issued to centres.
If any of your candidates don’t have results, or if you have questions about, or are unhappy with a candidate’s result, then you may wish to use one of our post-results services.
If you’re still unhappy with the post-results decision then you may be able to appeal.
Please check the fees and deadlines for each service.
A candidate’s final results are recorded on an OCR certificate, issued about 8 weeks after results are published.
There’s more information in our certificates section, including how to:
We’re here to support you throughout the exams cycle and we produce a range of tools and additional guidance material you may find useful.
Find your local Customer Support Manager, and your local exams officer or teacher network.
Keep up to date with our monthly exams officer update and subject information updates, plus our regular blog posts.
You can also find out more details about Interchange.