NEA coursework: Cambridge Technical in IT

This is an updated version of the blog originally published in April 2022.

Vinay Thawait, Computer Science, IT and Creative iMedia Subject Advisor

Here at OCR we’ve had lots of queries from centres in recent weeks about marking coursework, or non-exam assessment (NEA). For our Cambridge Technical in IT Level 2/Level 3 (2016), this means the centre-assessed NEA units.

There have been questions about how to apply the grading criteria for different learning outcomes (LOs). This isn’t surprising as it wasn’t assessed in 2021 and 2022. We saw an increase in centres applying grading criteria appropriately as part of internal assessment of candidates’ work in the 2023 series. We’ve also had questions about administrative requirements, and about whether any allowances should be made when marking for the abnormal and difficult circumstances many students have had to contend with while completing their assignments.

As the JCQ guidance on NEA marking says: 

“The centre should ensure that candidates are clear about the assessment criteria which they are expected to meet in their coursework. Specifications usually explain the criteria in detail. However, candidates may require some further explanation or interpretation before they fully understand the nature of the skills which they are expected to demonstrate. Any explanation or interpretation given by teaching staff must be general and not specific to a candidate’s work. 

When marking the coursework, teachers must not give credit to any additional assistance given to candidates beyond that which is described in the specification. Teachers must give details of any additional assistance on the appropriate record form(s)."

More details are in the JCQ Coursework Instructions for conducting coursework.

In the light of the JCQ announcement, and the queries we’ve had from you, we thought it would be helpful to provide a quick summary of the support available to ensure that you are marking to the correct standard.

Guides to applying the grading criteria and assessment guidance

There are several resources that will help you have confidence in your application of the grading criteria for Cambridge Technical in IT L2/L3 (2016):

• A free on-line marking course is available on OCR Train. This can be completed in your own time and includes a series of tests designed to ensure that you are correctly allocating levels to pieces of work. 
• Our professional development webinar on preparing for the moderated units could be a one-stop shop for all your needs in improving your delivery and assessment of moderated units. You will look at the grading criteria and assessment guidance in detail and review how to apply it fairly and accurately to candidate work. 
• The candidate exemplars with the moderator’s commentary for Level 2 and Level 3 units could be useful to you to understand and improve internal assessment and grading. 
• Do refer to the moderator’s reports on which are published after each exam series, and which often include pointers on grading internal assessment. You can access these on the assessment section of Teach Cambridge for Level 2 and Level 3. 
• If you don’t have access to our secure website for teachers, Teach Cambridge, please contact your exams officer who will be able to set you up

Administrative points to remember

Information on visiting/virtual moderation for Cambridge Technicals is available on the administration section of our website. 

For the Cambridge Technical in IT L2/L3 (2016), please note:

• Each unit has a unit recording sheet (URS) that must be used to record the assessment decisions of your students. These must be included with the students’ portfolio of evidence. You can download the URS for the Cambridge Technical in IT (2016 suite) Level 2 and Level 3 from the Administration section of Teach Cambridge. 
• You must complete this for each student and each unit you entered for certification.
• Each candidate must complete a candidate authentication statement confirming the work is their own before submitting their work to the assessor. Keep the completed form within your centre – you only need to send it to the moderator or to OCR if it is requested.
• Assessors are required to declare that the work submitted for internal assessment is the candidate’s own work. This must be done when the claim is made. Through this declaration, you confirm signed candidate declarations for all candidates who are submitted on the claim.
  
• You can choose virtual or face-to-face moderation. See our video presentation for more information on virtual moderation. 
• Meaningful Employment Involvement (MEI) is mandatory for this qualification. A completed MEI centre plan will be required for this qualification and will be quality assured by your OCR virtual moderator.

Looking forward to next year’s cohort

We hope that your students enjoy the research and analysis, the project development life cycle, designing, developing prototyping, testing and reviewing IT products. Each year we’re really impressed to see the range and diversity of IT solutions submitted. 

Remember, there is support available for students when they come to think about solving the assignment scenarios and tasks:

• If you are concerned that an assignment that you have designed may not meet the unit requirements, you could use our assignment checking service.
  • Checking of mandatory 2012 suite unit assignments is completely free.
  • There’s a £30 fee per assignment for 2012 suite optional units and all 2016 suite units.
  • You can only submit one assignment at a time. If you would like to submit multiple assignments to be checked, please complete  a separate form for each one.
    
• Students can browse the model assignments for some units, review the grading criteria and the assessment guidance for their chosen pathway’s units.
• Look out for professional development throughout the year. Make sure you have signed up for subject updates (see below) to find out when new training courses become available.
  

Stay connected

If you have any questions please comment below, or email vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk or support@ocr.org.uk You can also call our customer support centre on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_ICT. You can also sign up to receive email updates about resources and support and stay up-to-date using our dedicated support area.

About the author

Vinay joined OCR in July 2014 to support the GQ reform and development of the AS and A-Level Computer Science qualifications. Since then, he has been involved in the development of the reformed GCSE (9-1) Computer Science, Entry Level Computer Science, and Cambridge National in IT. He is currently working on the new Level 3 Cambridge Advanced National (AAQ) in IT: Data Analytics and the Level 3 Cambridge Advanced National (AAQ) in Computing: Application development qualification. Before joining OCR, Vinay spent more than 20 years in IT and Computer Science teaching and leadership roles, working for several schools as well as local authorities educational support team. He was the National Bid Lead for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative within Capita IT, and also the Head of Operations for an audio-visual educational software development company. Vinay has a degree, three post-graduate masters and NPQH from Warwick, Coventry, and Nottingham Universities.