Amendments to Coloured Paper Options

As part of NCFE’s ongoing monitoring and evaluation process, in relation to the provision of alternatives for the presentation of external assessment papers in various coloured options, we have taken the decision to amend the range and number of options available, submitted through our portal, from 1 December 2023. 

To accompany this, we’ve included a brief Q&A below to explain the rationale and impact of this decision, to support centres in existing and future delivery of our paper-based assessments.  

Why have NCFE reduced the number of paper colours available, onto which external assessments can be printed? 

NCFE has maintained, over a considerable period of time, an extensive list of optional colours onto which external assessment papers can be photocopied, upon request. Recently, owing to the implementation of a scanning process, post-assessment, together with analysis of trends in the nature of requests, it’s been necessary and appropriate to consider whether the extensive list previously offered should be maintained. As a consequence, NCFE had taken the decision to continue to routinely offer 15 of the most sought-after varieties of coloured paper options for our learners. 

How have NCFE determined precisely which colours should no longer be available? 

After discussions with our external scanning partners, it’s been determined that continuing to offer dark and deep coloured paper varieties would jeopardise the quality and clarity of learner scripts which may, in turn, affect the ability of examiners to clearly distinguish written material. Additionally, there were a number of coloured paper options, previously offered, with very few requests over the previous academic sessions, collectively across all qualification suites. As a combined result of this, NCFE has taken the decision to withdraw the following options;  

• deep and dark green 
• deep and dark red 
• deep and mid blue 
• deep orange 
• mid lilac 
• neon orange and green 
• pale salmon 
• dark yellow.  

What happens if I have an existing booking for a future assessment which includes a request for a withdrawn coloured paper option? 

NCFE will honour all existing bookings onto external assessments with a scheduled date no later than 31 July 2024, even if the colour requested is no longer one within the revised approved list. We will reach out to any centres directly, with bookings after this date, to reach an agreement on an approved alternative colour, should this be necessary. 

Which colours will remain as options for our learners? 

There will be a total of 15 varieties of colour that will remain available for all NCFE external assessments, as follows: 

• pale, neon and deep yellow 
• pale and pastel green 
• pale and pale icy blue 
• pale and neon pink 
• mid grey 
• deep turquoise 
• mid orange 
• med deep gold 
• pale ivory 
• pale beige. 

When will this change take effect? 

The revised coloured paper list will be made available to be booked through the Portal, updated in relevant accompanying documents, and communicated to centres in advance of our go-live date of 1 December 2023. 

Will this amendment affect all NCFE external assessments? 

Yes, the revision of coloured paper options will impact all Functional Skills, CACHE, V Cert and T Level external assessments, as of the go-live date above.  

Can I print an unmodified paper onto a coloured paper of my learner’s choosing? 

No. All requests for coloured paper versions of NCFE's external assessments are checked in advance for clashes with source documents, diagrams, charts etc, that contain colours, based on our revised list of approved options. NCFE take no responsibility for unauthorised copying onto colours not approved for use, which may result in a lack of clarity or quality, impacting marking processes. 

What if my learner uses a paper colour not on the approved list, as their normal way of working? 

Where learners use a paper colour no longer approved within the list above, centres should seek to utilise an alternative, approved, colour from the extensive list that will continue to be available. We would expect that these approved colours will then be universally applicable and offered as options, across all external assessments with any awarding body, though we would advise that centres check with the relevant awarding body for the qualification to which the coloured-paper choice relates. 

Will this revised number of coloured paper options remain in place for the foreseeable future? 

NCFE will review, on an ongoing basis throughout 2023-24 and beyond, the volumes of requests for colours approved or otherwise, and will update the list of acceptable colours accordingly, but only after informing centres in advance of any amendments and at a suitable future time-period i.e. in a mid-session review or at the end of an academic session.