*PLEASE BE AWARE: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS MENTIONS OF ADAPTATIONS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED AS A COVID-19 MEASURE, THESE ADAPTATIONS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/23, IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TO RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXAMS AND ASSESSMENTS, THE USE OF ADAPTATIONS IS NO LONGER PERMITTED TO ASSIST IN MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC OR IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES*

 

Here at Training Qualifications UK, we aim to keep you up to date with the latest news relating to our qualifications. This post will take you through all the latest qualification news to ensure that you are kept updated and in the know.

In September, we sent a communication that discussed:

  • Our current stance on exams for 2021/22, consultation with Ofqual and the potential for adaptations.
  • The January Assessment Opportunity for learners who received a TAG in 2020/21.
  • The introduction of an additional TQUK Level 1 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) Portfolio submission window.
  • Key dates for the 2021/22 academic year (excluding exam dates).
  • A survey that Centres can complete to support our investigation into potential adaptations. 

If you haven’t already, please take some time to read the communication using this link. 

We can now confirm exam dates for the 2021/22 academic year, along with our results day. We have also built a Google drive, which can be accessed to download useful materials for the Design, Engineer, Construct suite. Further details can be seen below. 

Exam Dates

We would now like to take this opportunity to confirm exam dates for the 2021/22 academic year. For the TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF), TQUK Level 3 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) and the  TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF), the January exam will take place on 18th January 2022 at 9 am. 

For the TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF), TQUK Level 3 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) and the  TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF), the May exam will take place on 10th May 2022 at 1 pm. 

Results Day

We can now confirm the results day for our suite of Design, Engineer, Construct qualifications this academic year. We are expecting to issue results for the January exam on March 11th 2022. We are expecting to issue overall results on August 9th 2022. 

Ofqual Consultation and TQUK Adaptations

As a reminder, Ofqual has released the results of their consultation for the assessment and awarding of vocational, technical and other general qualifications in 2022.

Ofqual has permitted adaptations to mitigate any potential ongoing impacts of the pandemic. Concerning the production of evidence for the portfolio component, feedback predominantly focused on the following areas: 

  • Access to external experts. 
  • Access to software for digital assessment criteria. 

The list below outlines where, in consultation with our subject experts, we have made adaptations or added clarity to our assessment criteria to facilitate smoother delivery this academic year.

TQUK Level 1 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF)

Unit 1, Learning Outcome 2, Assessment Criteria 2.2: Engage the community in the design and planning processes of a building project in their role as ‘client’.  

  • It is acceptable for students to create leaflets non-digitally for use in their portfolios. Learners can then either scan the leaflets or take pictures of them to add to the portfolio. 

Unit 2, Learning Outcome 4, Assessment Criteria 4.4: Demonstrate how you can use a water level to determine changes in height.

  • It is acceptable for learners to present evidence within their portfolio showing they understand the function of a water level and how it can be used to record changes in height across a landscape.  

Unit 2, Learning Outcome 4, Assessment Criteria 4.6: Use characteristics of the School landscape as a basis for a detailed landscape plan.  

  • If learners can’t access their School, assessors should provide photos of the School’s landscape and layout for students.  

Unit 3, Learning Outcome 2, Assessment Criteria 2.3: Explain the impact of natural and artificial light on a building project.  

  • A shadow study is not needed to access full marks. It is acceptable for learners to explain a shadow study and its purpose, along with a detailed explanation of how lighting can affect a building. 

TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF)

  • Unit 2, Learning Outcome 2, Assessment Criteria 2.4: Produce detailed, scaled drawings that can form the basis of a planning application. 
  • It is acceptable for a hand-drawn scale drawing to be produced.
  • Unit 3, Learning Outcome 2, Assessment Criteria 2.1: Provide a 3D model to test the design.  
  • It is acceptable for a building to be tested on aesthetics, shining a light on a physical scale model or other tests that don’t require technology. However, where possible, we do encourage the use of digital technologies. 

TQUK Level 3 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF)

TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF)

All Levels  

  • While we are aware that external experts can often be helpful, they are not essential for the delivery and assessment of learners. Therefore, it is acceptable for teachers and leadership team members from the relevant department to act as subject experts and provide the necessary feedback to learners for assessment criteria that require it. 
  • Where a presentation or discussions with peers are required to meet assessment criteria, this can be done through remote presentations and discussions. This will have to be sufficiently evidenced within the portfolio to show the meeting of assessment criteria.  
  • Where data/feedback from someone external from the School is required (such as engagement with the community), it is acceptable for the student to simulate data/responses to allow the meeting of assessment criteria.  
  • To aid in producing evidence, learners may produce 3D models via drawing or alternative methods, accompanied by descriptions and explanations of how BIM would and could be used. If learners lack sufficient work to complete evaluative-based assessment criteria to their highest standard, we will accept teachers setting a case study for learners to work from. 

We would recommend using the teacher group, supported by Class Of Your Own, for discussion around software issues. Many issues you face are likely to have been encountered previously by other teachers, and they are well placed to share recommended solutions that they have used.

Finally, the last concern raised by Centres is the potential loss of time due to having to work around the COVID-19 pandemic. Ofqual released their approach to grading GCSE, AS and A-Levels for 2022 here. They stipulated that where qualifications are used for similar purposes, including progressing to study further, there is an expectation that we take into account this approach for GCSEs and A levels when setting standards in our qualifications. As such in 2022 we will set the grade boundaries based on a profile that reflects a midpoint between 2021 and pre-pandemic grading. We are aiming to be as fair as we can be to students, especially as students’ learning has been disrupted through no fault of their own, and our approach will consider that.

Centre Documents

All documentation that is useful for a Centre during their delivery of the Design, Engineer, Construct suite provided by TQUK can now be accessed through this google drive. 

Within this folder, Centres will be able to find:

  • Communications previously issued in this academic year
  • Invigilation documents for the January and May exams
  • Internal Moderation Report 
  • DEC Mark Tracker

A TQUK Level 1 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) Sub Folder containing:

  • Level 1 Portfolio Template
  • Level 1 Learner Attainment Record
  • Level 1 Specification

A TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) Sub Folder containing:

  • Level 2 Portfolio Template
  • Level 2 Learner Attainment Record
  • Level 2 Specification
  • Level 2 Mock Exam Paper, Mark Scheme and Resources

A TQUK Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment (RQF) Sub Folder containing:

  • Level 3 Portfolio Template
  • Level 3 Learner Attainment Record
  • Level 3 Specification
  • Level 3 Mock Exam Paper, Mark Scheme and Resources

As a reminder, when Centres submit requested samples in May 2022, we will also request a completed learner attainment record for all learners, along with evidence of internal moderation. If you have any further questions following this communication, please email qualifications@tquk.org.