This section provides guidance on the Cambridge Technicals (2016 suite) examined assessments, which take place on timetabled OCR-set dates (see exam timetables).

It should be read in conjunction with the centre handbooks and the JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations.

See the entry rules page for details about entry and resit arrangements.

For the Cambridge Technicals (2016) subjects listed below, pre-release material is published on Teach Cambridge before the timetabled examinations or assessment windows. The pre-releases contain research topics or tasks that need to be completed before the examination. You can give the pre-release to your teachers as soon as it is published.

The following table shows the pre-release materials publishing timescales. The weeks are term-time weeks: where Easter or Christmas fall within the release window, this is accounted for in the release date. The specific release dates for the latest series are available in our key dates spreadsheet.  

*For these units, you must upload completed candidate work to a web-based Surpass project.

Please note the following:

• Business and IT – Candidates should be familiar with the pre-release material before the examination. A clean copy will be provided for the examination. Candidates cannot take their copy into the examination. You may notice the references on the clean copies and those available via Teach Cambridge are different – this is to distinguish between the two versions. There are no other differences.
• Digital Media Unit 25 – The controlled research notes are allowed for use in the exam.
• Health and Social Care Unit 25 – The pre-release material requires candidates to conduct secondary research. Candidates submit their notes to the teacher/tutor seven days before the examination. At the start of the exam, these notes are given back to the candidates.
• Performing Arts Units 1–3 and 33 – The pre-release contains what the candidates need to do during the two-week assessment window (and what they should prepare in advance). No further question paper material is sent out so if your candidates are taking Units 1–3 or 33, please make sure you have downloaded the pre-release material from Teach Cambridge.

Once you have made your examined unit entries, we will send you question papers along with an admin pack, consisting of return address labels, attendance lists and return bags approximately ten days before the first examination. NB For Performing Arts units 1, 3 and 33, you will just receive labels as pre-release materials are used instead of question papers.

Please check the quantities on the packing note against your entries. If there are any discrepancies, please email us. 

You will receive a small number of extra question papers, which can be used for any additional candidates.

Once checked, please make sure your examination papers are stored in your safe. 

You must not open the sealed question paper packets until the day of the exam and as per the JCQ instructions.

Centres must ensure candidates have or are provided with any equipment required to take the test, as well as for taking all reasonable steps to prevent candidates from having access to any unauthorised equipment or resources. 

Candidates should only have access to items specified on the front page of the test paper, and must not have access to anything that could compromise the integrity of the test.

Candidates must be prepared and examinations must be conducted according to the JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations.

Invigilators must know what equipment is permitted in each examination and that candidates take into the examination room only that which is allowed. 

Centres must verify the identity of candidates taking the examination and must be satisfied the candidate taking the examination is the one whose name will be submitted to OCR.

For most Cambridge Technicals exams, we will send paper attendance registers for you to return with your scripts.

For Level 3 Performing Arts Units 1, 3 and 33, you must complete an online attendance list via Interchange. For further information, see our page Submit an online attendance list.

Pack your completed question papers or scripts in the same order as the attendance list and seal them securely in OCR script return envelopes.

Do not overfill the envelopes – each should contain a maximum of 20 scripts. Using the labels provided, attach one label per packet, making sure the qualification details match the scripts enclosed. 

Scripts for different exams must not be despatched in the same envelope, even if the address on the label is the same. 

Cambridge Technicals is part of the DfE yellow label service. For yellow label packets, fill in a despatch log sheet with one line for each packet you're sending. DfE’s despatch of exam scripts page has a blank despatch log. Make sure the Parcelforce driver signs a printed copy of the despatch log to confirm collection of the number of packets listed and the date and time of the collection. 

Responsibility for the candidates’ work remains with the centre until it is received by the examiner.