These qualifications meet the interim-reformed requirements for 2016 and 2017 performance tables.
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland (WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF) only)
The Department for Education (DfE) describe Applied General qualifications as follows:
Applied General qualifications are rigorous, advanced (Level 3) qualifications that allow 16 to 19 year old students to develop transferable knowledge and skills. They are for students who want to continue their education through applied learning. Applied General qualifications allow entry to a range of higher education courses, either by meeting the entry requirements in their own right or being accepted alongside and adding value to other qualifications at Level 3 such as A levels. Higher education institutions, such as universities, have pledged support for all approved applied general qualifications listed.
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (QCF)
This qualification provides students with the underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills to progress to further study and training. The Certificate is designed to complement study in related subjects such as A level sociology, law and psychology, and provide an insight into the subject area with a view to further study or training in related subjects. Applied learning allows students to acquire knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF)
This qualification has been designed to provide students with underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills to progress to further study and training. Applied learning allows students to acquire knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the food production industry.
Some vocational qualifications offered at Level 3 have been reformed as a result of changes to school performance tables. Vocational qualifications must meet the criteria set by the Department for Education (DfE) in order to count towards school performance tables. These reforms mean that 91% of the Level 3 qualifications that previously counted towards school performance tables were removed from performance tables in 2016.
For accountability purposes, vocational qualifications are now classified as:
- Applied General qualifications: the purpose of these qualifications is to provide a broader vocational education. They ‘are designed for students wanting to continue their education through applied learning.’ These qualifications must meet a number of criteria, including endorsement by at least three universities and colleges.
- Tech Level qualifications: the purpose of these qualifications is to lead to a ‘recognised occupation’. Examples provided by the DfE include engineering, accounting, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and IT. These qualifications must meet a number of criteria, including the endorsement of five employers registered at Companies House.
The reform to vocational qualifications is being conducted in two stages: an interim stage and full stage. Each of these stages introduced new criteria for vocational qualifications to meet in order to count towards school performance tables.
The first teaching of the qualifications reformed on an interim basis was from 2014 and these counted towards school performance tables in 2016. However, only qualifications that meet the full criteria count towards performance tables from 2018. The qualifications listed in this QIP are classified as Applied General qualifications however do not meet the full criteria to count towards performance tables from 2018 in respect of content, assessment and grading. Schools and colleges may offer qualifications that are not included in the performance tables, if the qualifications are approved for teaching by the Secretary of State under Section 96.
The 2016 WJEC Applied Generals meet the interim requirements set by the DfE and therefore may be offered in schools and colleges alongside the 2018 fully-reformed versions:
|
|
Interim Requirement (for qualifications counting in 2016 performance tables) |
Full Requirement (for qualifications counting in 2018 performance tables) |
|
A. Declared Purpose |
X |
X |
|
B. Size |
X |
X |
|
C. Recognition |
X |
X |
|
D. Synoptic Assessment |
|
X |
|
E. External Assessment |
|
X |
|
F. Grading |
|
X |
|
G. Employer involvement (Tech Level Qualifications only) |
|
X |
|
H. Progression |
|
X |
|
I. Proven Track Record |
|
X |
As noted in the table above, the 2016 and 2018 versions of Applied General qualifications are fundamentally different.
For more information on the specific changes to 2018 Applied Generals, please refer to a reformed QIP. Please also see ‘Key issues for UK HE admissions’ for some additional considerations when assessing these qualifications.
Further information about Applied General qualifications, and the range of qualifications that meet these requirements, can be found on the DfE website.
Read more information on the DfE website
Regulation of Applied General and Tech Level qualifications
The regulation of Applied General and Tech level qualifications delivered in England is the responsibility of Ofqual.
The regulatory approach undertaken for Applied General and Tech level qualifications differs to A levels. This is because there are no specific qualification-level criteria for Applied Generals, as there are for GCSEs, AS and A levels currently. 'Applied Generals' is a category introduced by the Department for Education for accountability purposes rather than a specific type of regulated qualification. To be included in the Applied General category, qualifications have to demonstrate particular features, as outlined in the table above.
Applied General qualifications must comply with Ofqual’s general rules, as is the case with all regulated qualifications.
These qualifications do not meet the full requirements for fully-reformed qualifications in respect of content, assessment, and grading.
These qualifications were created for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and have been updated to meet the requirements of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
- WJEC
The WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (QCF) is a unitised qualification normally taken over two years. Students who complete the first year of study only may be awarded Level 3 Award in Criminology or the Level 3 Certificate in Criminology, if they have achieved the required units.
The WJEC Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF) is a unitised qualification normally taken over two years. Students must complete one mandatory unit plus another three optional units. Students who complete the first year of study only may be awarded a Level 3 Certificate if they have completed and passed Unit 1 and another internal assessment.
- Food and nutrition
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (QCF)
Mandatory unit:
- Introduction to Criminological Theories
Optional units (student must select three):
- Realities and Perceptions of Crime
- Social Control: Policy and Practice
- Changing Awareness of Crime
- Crime Scene to Courtroom
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF)
Mandatory unit:
- Planning to meet nutritional needs
Optional units (student must select three):
- Developing practical food production skills
- Ensuring food is safe to eat
- Experimenting to solve food production problems
- Current issues in consumer food choice
- Level 3
Level 3 qualifications are regulated to the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
Level 3 is broadly aligned to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 / 7.
These qualifications are graded Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction*
Each unit is assessed internally using controlled assessment which follows the JCQ instructions for conducting non-examination assessments. (New GCE & GCSE specifications. 1 September 2018 - 31 August 2019).
View the instructions for conducting non-examination assessments
There are three stages of assessment:
- Task Setting: WJEC have produced model assignments for each unit. Centres may modify the assignment within specified parameters.
- Task Taking: there are five areas of task taking that are controlled: time, resources, supervision, collaboration, and resubmission.
- Task Marking: all marking of evidence is made against the assessment criteria and performance band statements given in each unit specification.
Each unit is equally weighted. Each assessment contributes equally (25%) to the overall grade.
Students can resubmit for entry at any moderation point. Students must complete a new assessment, completed within the same levels of control. They cannot improve previously submitted work.
Students can retake the whole qualification as many times as they wish within the shelf life of the qualification.
The Diploma is the size of one A level (360 GLH).
WJEC Level 3 Diploma In Criminology (QCF)
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| D* | 56 |
| D | 48 |
| M | 32 |
| P | 16 |
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF)
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| D* | 56 |
| D | 48 |
| M | 32 |
| P | 16 |
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Applied General qualifications are advanced (Level 3) qualifications, mainly taken by 16-19 year old students who want to develop transferable knowledge and skills.
Applicants holding interim-reformed Applied General qualifications may not have had experience of external or synoptic assessment.
The popularity of Applied Generals has risen over recent years. The entry rate for applicants holding at least one BTEC (either alone or in combination with A levels) was 6.0 per cent in 2016, up from 5.8 per cent in 2015.
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing Applied General qualifications that do not meet the full DfE criteria from 2018:
- The fully-reformed and interim-reformed qualifications will be delivered by schools and colleges at the same time (see ‘Education context’). Therefore, HEPs may wish to consider their approach to setting and listing entry requirements for the specific qualifications.
- The dual running of the qualification may result in applicants declaring the incorrect version within their application. UCAS will be working to support applicants and advisers in this area.
- These qualifications are fundamentally different to the fully-reformed versions and likely to result in students developing different skills and aptitudes. HEPs should review their understanding of these qualifications to ensure it remains up to date. HEPs may also wish to consider their approach to setting and listing entry requirements for the specific qualifications, and any differences should be clearly articulated.
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (QCF)
Internal assessments can be submitted in June each year. Results are issued in August each year.
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF)
Assessments can be submitted in January and June each year. Results are issued in August each year.
These qualifications will be replaced by:
- WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (601/6248/X)
- WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (601/4552/3)
Available to students from September 2015, for first assessment in 2017.
The results of AQA Applied General qualifications are reported to UCAS through Awarding Body Linkage (ABL).
View the results available through ABL
Information on candidate numbers and grade distribution are made available on the WJEC website after the results are issued in August each year.
Applied General qualifications differ in size; some may meet the entry requirements for higher education in their own right in a related area and some may need to be offered in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications, for instance A levels. In addition, some higher education courses may require specific levels of achievement in particular units or ask for additional qualifications to satisfy subject knowledge requirements.
The WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Criminology (QCF) has been designed to complement other Level 3 qualifications, for example, GCE A levels in sociology and law, and to support progression to higher level study.
The WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF) has been designed to complement other Level 3 qualifications, for example, GCE A levels in physical education and science, and to support progression to higher level study.
Further information about WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (QCF) can be found here: