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T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Business Services (Level 3) (delivered by NCFE)
Ref:
603/6902/4
Sector:
Digital Technology
Features:
Learning Resources Available, Performance Points, UCAS
Registration and first assessment fee:
£145.50
Level:
Level 3
Minimum entry age:
16
GLH:
1114
TQT:
1226
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Explore this SectorFollowing an announcement on Wednesday 15 August from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), we want to provide you with an update on the future of our role concerning Digital T Levels and what this means for you and your students. After careful consideration, we’ve taken the decision to step back as the awarding organisation for the Digital T Level pathways. Read more.
About this qualification
The technical qualification (TQ) forms part of the new T Level study programme.
The purpose of the level 3 technical qualification is to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into skilled employment or higher level technical training relevant to the T Level.
UCAS points
The T Level study programme is eligible for UCAS points. Please check the UCAS website for more information.
Performance points
The TQ is eligible for performance points.
Who is it suitable for?
This qualification is suitable for post-16 students looking to develop both knowledge and practical skills in the digital sector.
This technical qualification will support students onto a range of progression routes including employment, higher education and higher apprenticeships.
What are the entry requirements?
This qualification is designed for post-16 students.
There are no specific prior skills/knowledge that a student must have for this qualification. However, students may find it helpful if they have already studied at level 2.
How is this qualification structured?
The technical qualification is split into 2 component parts:
Core component: the knowledge and underpinning concepts, theories and principles as well as core skills for the digital sector.
Occupational specialism:
- Data Technician
The occupational specialism provides students with knowledge and skills required to enter employment or further study in the specific occupational area.
How is it assessed?
Core component:
- paper A written examination
- paper B written examination
- employer set project
In order to achieve a grade for core component, students must have results for both sub-components (the core (written) examination and the employer set project).
The combined results from these sub-components will be aggregated to form the overall core component grade (A*–E and U).
If students fail to reach the minimum standard across all sub-components, they will receive a U grade. No overall grade will be issued for the core component until both sub-components have been attempted.
Occupational specialism component:
- synoptic assignment
The student is also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in the occupational specialism component. If the student fails to reach the specified level of attainment, they will receive a U grade.
What related qualifications can you progress to?
Students who achieve this qualification could progress to the following, depending on their chosen occupational specialism:
- employment
- higher education
- apprenticeship.
Funding for our qualifications
Find out more about funding for this and other qualifications on our funding page.
Key dates
Please see the Key Dates Schedule below for a timeline of the key dates for this qualification.
T Level Technical Qualifications Key Dates Schedule 2024/2025 and 2025/2026
Useful Links
Regulations for the Conduct of External Assessment
Qualification Specific Instructions for Delivery (QSID)
NCFE and Gatsby Technical Education Projects (GTEP) are working in partnership to provide free teaching materials for T Levels in Digital
Support materials
Mandatory qualification information
Qualification Specification – teaching from 01 September 2024 (PDF | 1253 KB)
Qualification specification - teaching from September 2023 (PDF | 1158 KB)
Qualification specification - teaching from September 2021; up until September 2023 (PDF | 1139 KB)
Command verbs (PDF | 133 KB)
Additional qualification information
2021 to 2022 pre-release dates (PDF | 105 KB)
Core papers
Paper A specimen question paper (PDF | 344 KB)
Paper A specimen mark scheme (PDF | 528 KB)
Paper A in-browser (online) question paper (PDF | 136 KB)
Paper B specimen question paper (PDF | 469 KB)
Paper B specimen mark scheme (PDF | 608 KB)
Paper B in-browser (online) question paper (PDF | 136 KB)
Notional grade boundaries (PDF | 199 KB)
Exam student support pack (PDF | 659 KB)
Employer set project
Employer set project mark scheme (PDF | 513 KB)
Employer set project brief (PDF | 394 KB)
Employer set project provider guide (PDF | 312 KB)
Employer set project task datasets (ZIP | 224 KB)
Employer set project task templates (ZIP | 139 KB)
Employer set project - student pack (PDF | 1148 KB)
Employer set project - provider checklist (PDF | 827 KB)
Exemplar employer set project materials
Exemplar employer set project – Digital Business - Grade A (PDF | 2222 KB)
Exemplar employer set project – Digital Business - Grade C (PDF | 1764 KB)
Exemplar employer set project – Digital Business – Grade E (PDF | 2125 KB)
Data Technician Occupational Specialism
Data Technician assignment brief (PDF | 342 KB)
Data Technician assignment mark scheme (PDF | 485 KB)
Data Technician assignment provider guide (PDF | 249 KB)
Data Technician Guide Standard Exemplification Materials
Data Technician task 1 pass (PDF | 652 KB)
Data Technician task 1 distinction (PDF | 509 KB)
Data Technician task 2 pass (PDF | 603 KB)
Data Technician task 2 evidence pass (XLSX | 4 KB)
Data Technician task 2 distinction (PDF | 564 KB)
Data Technician task 2 evidence distinction (XLSX | 59055 KB)
Data Technician task 3 pass (PDF | 699 KB)
Data Technician task 3 evidence pass (XLSX | 1528 KB)
Data Technician task 3 distinction (PDF | 761 KB)
Data Technician task 3 evidence distinction (XLSM | 1566 KB)
Data Technician task 4 pass (PDF | 352 KB)
Data Technician task 4 evidence pass (M4V | 10260 KB)
Data Technician task 4 distinction (PDF | 352 KB)
Data Technician task 4 evidence distinction (MP4 | 19356 KB)
Additional qualification information
Comparison of monitoring reviews across NCFE and Pearson T Levels (PDF | 114 KB)
Grade Standard Exemplification Materials - Data Technician
2023 - Data Technician - Grade Standard Exemplification Materials (PDF | 6351 KB)
2024 - Data Technician - Grade Standard Exemplification Materials (PDF | 5166 KB)
Support Handbook
Support Handbook (PDF | 327 KB)
Assessment materials
NCFE have password protected the latest external assessment past-paper, mark scheme and chief examiner report. You are now able to use these as current and valid mock assessments. To access the documents, you will need a Portal login. If you do not have a Portal login please contact your Portal administrator.
Additional Sample Materials - Core Exams
Sample - core paper A mark scheme (PDF | 553 KB)
Sample - core paper A question paper (PDF | 346 KB)
Sample - core paper B mark scheme (PDF | 578 KB)
Sample - core paper B question pper (PDF | 368 KB)
Additional Support Materials - Employer set Project
DBS additional support materials - employer set project (ZIP | 2434 KB)
Additional Sample Materials – Data Technician
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Mark Scheme (PDF | 437 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Provider Guide (PDF | 229 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Task 1 (PDF | 258 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Task 2 (PDF | 288 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Task 3 (PDF | 273 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Task 4 (PDF | 249 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Data Sets - Task 1 (ZIP | 10730 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Data Sets - Task 2 (ZIP | 77105 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Data Sets - Task 3 (ZIP | 3277 KB)
Additional Sample - Data Technician - Data Sets - Task 4 (ZIP | 74111 KB)
External Assessment Cover Sheet (EACS) & Supplementary Answer Booklet
External assessment cover sheet (EACS) (Word) (DOCX | 91 KB)
Supplementary Answer Booklet (PDF | 140 KB)
Summer 2022
Chief examiner report Core exams - June 2022 (PDF | 207 KB)
Chief examiner report - ESP - Data Technician - May 2022 (PDF | 184 KB)
Past Paper Paper A - June 2022 (PDF | 3302 KB)
Past Paper Paper A Mark Scheme - June 2022 (PDF | 437 KB)
Past Paper Paper B - June 2022 (PDF | 3078 KB)
Past Paper Paper B Mark Scheme - June 2022 (PDF | 439 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Pre Release - May 2022 (PDF | 781 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 - May 2022 (PDF | 829 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 Email Template - June 2022 (DOCX | 28 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 2A - May 2022 (PDF | 812 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 2B - May 2022 (PDF | 833 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 3 - May 2022 (PDF | 812 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 - May 2022 (PDF | 811 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 Reflection Evaluation Template - June 2022 (DOCX | 23 KB)
Manufacturing Activity Data Set Employer Set Project Summer 2022 (XLSX | 48 KB)
Sales Data Set Employer Set Project Summer 2022 (XLSX | 29 KB)
Client data set - employer set project - Summer 2022 (XLSX | 21 KB)
Quality Assurance Data Set Employer Set Project Summer 2022 (XLSX | 29 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Provider Guide - May 2022 (PDF | 861 KB)
Past Paper ESP Mark Scheme - June 2022 (PDF | 557 KB)
Autumn 2022
Chief examiner report core A and B - Autumn 2022 (PDF | 261 KB)
Enhanced chief examiner report summer and autumn 2022 DBS core exam (PDF | 167 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper A - December 2022 (PDF | 1490 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper A Mark Scheme - December 2022 (PDF | 1247 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper B - December 2022 (PDF | 3477 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper B Mark Scheme - December 2022 (PDF | 1171 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills data sets - autumn 2022 (ZIP | 768 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills mark scheme- November 2022 (PDF | 1277 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - pre-release task - November 2022 (PDF | 753 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - task 1 - November 2022 (PDF | 805 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills - task 1 email template - November 2022 (DOCX | 29 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - task 2(a) - November 2022 (PDF | 786 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - task 2(b) - November 2022 (PDF | 817 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - task 3 - November 2022 (PDF | 788 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills project brief - task 4 - November 2022 (PDF | 786 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills - task 4 reflective evaluation template - November 2022 (DOCX | 23 KB)
Digital Business Services ESP core skills provider guide - November 2022 (PDF | 839 KB)
Chief examiner report ESP (Data Technician) - Autumn 2022 (PDF | 225 KB)
Summer 2023 - Core Papers
Chief examiner report - Core A and B - Summer 2023 (PDF | 217 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper A - Summer 2023 (PDF | 2807 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper B - Summer 2023 (PDF | 4148 KB)
Core A Mark Scheme Summer 2023 (PDF | 282 KB)
Core B Mark Scheme Summer 2023 (PDF | 288 KB)
Summer 2023 - ESP
Chief examiner report - ESP - Data Technician - Summer 2023 (PDF | 229 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Provider Guide - Summer 2023 (PDF | 287 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Pre Release - Summer 2023 (PDF | 156 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 223 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 Email Template - Summer 2023 (DOCX | 29 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 2A - Summer 2023 (PDF | 254 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 2B - Summer 2023 (PDF | 209 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 3 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 206 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 263 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 Reflective Evaluation Template - Summer 2023 (DOCX | 26 KB)
Data set - employer set project - Summer 2023 (ZIP | 208 KB)
Digital Business ESP Mark Scheme Summer 2023 (PDF | 400 KB)
Summer 2023 - Data Technician
Chief examiner report - OS - Data Technician - Summer 2023 (PDF | 172 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services OS Provider Guide - Summer 2023 (PDF | 238 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services OS Task 1 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 274 KB)
Task 1 (ZIP | 56004 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services OS Task 2 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 260 KB)
Task 2 (ZIP | 4460 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services OS Task 3 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 271 KB)
Task 3 (ZIP | 424 KB)
Past Paper Digital Business Services OS Task 4 - Summer 2023 (PDF | 268 KB)
Task 4 (ZIP | 425 KB)
Digital Business Services OS Mark Scheme Summer 2023 (PDF | 417 KB)
Autumn 2023 – Core Papers
Chief examiner report - Core A and B - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 131 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper A - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 3647 KB)
Core Paper A Mark Scheme - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 334 KB)
Past paper - Core Paper B - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 3282 KB)
Core Paper B Mark Scheme - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 303 KB)
Autumn 2023 - ESP
Chief examiner report - ESP - Data Technician - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 81 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Provider Guide - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 244 KB)
Past Paper - Digital Business Services ESP Pre Release - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 158 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 260 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 1 Email Template - Autumn 2023 (DOCX | 32 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 2A - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 190 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 2B - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 198 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 3 - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 241 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 240 KB)
Past paper - Digital Business Services ESP Task 4 Reflective Evaluation Template - Autumn 2023 (DOCX | 29 KB)
Digital Business ESP Mark Scheme - Autumn 2023 (PDF | 276 KB)
Data set - employer set project - Autumn 2023 (ZIP | 94 KB)
Summer 2024 Core Papers
Core Paper A Mark Scheme - Summer 2024 (PDF | 574 KB)
Chief Examiner Report - Core A and B - Summer 2024 (PDF | 224 KB)
Core Paper A - Summer 2024 (PDF | 3462 KB)
Core Paper B Mark Scheme - Summer 2024 (PDF | 479 KB)
Core Paper B Summer 2024 (PDF | 3421 KB)
Summer 2024 ESP Data Technician
ESP DT Project Brief - Summer 2024 (PDF | 203 KB)
Chief Examiner Report - Employer Set Project - Summer 2024 (PDF | 208 KB)
ESP DT Provider Guide - Summer 2024 (PDF | 242 KB)
ESP DT Task 1 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 243 KB)
ESP DT Task 2 (a) - Summer 2024 (PDF | 230 KB)
ESP DT Task 2 (b) - Summer 2024 (PDF | 253 KB)
ESP DT Task 3 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 232 KB)
ESP DT Task 4 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 231 KB)
ESP DT Task 4 Reflection Template - Summer 2024 (PDF | 79 KB)
ESP DT Leisure Industry Data - Summer 2024 (XLSX | 24 KB)
ESP DT WWL Customer Data - Summer 2024 (XLSX | 26 KB)
ESP DT Mark Scheme - Summer 2024 (PDF | 205 KB)
Summer 2024 OS Data Technician
Chief Examiner Report - Occupational Specialism - Summer 2024 (PDF | 145 KB)
OS DT Mark Scheme - Summer 2024 (PDF | 341 KB)
OS DT Task 1 Project Brief - Summer 2024 (PDF | 298 KB)
OD DT Esportts Earnings Data Set - CSV (CSV | 37 KB)
OD DT Esportts Earnings Data Set - xlsx (XLSX | 50 KB)
OS DT Game Information - CSV (CSV | 5798 KB)
OS DT Game Reviews - CSV (CSV | 703 KB)
OS DT Gaming Age and Gender - xlsx (XLSX | 18 KB)
OS DT Gaming Survey Data - csv (CSV | 4163 KB)
OS DT Internet Users - xlsx (XLSX | 21 KB)
OS DT PC Specifications - csv (XLSX | 18 KB)
OS DT Stream Game Data - csv (CSV | 1882 KB)
OS DT Video Game Sales - xlsx (CSV | 1421 KB)
OS DT Client Personal Data - xlsx (XLSX | 102 KB)
OS DT Client Product Price - csv (CSV | 199 KB)
OS DT Client Product Range - xlsx (XLSX | 23 KB)
OS DT Client Product Sales - xlsx (XLSX | 165 KB)
OS DT Project Brief Task 2 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 303 KB)
OS DT Provider Guide - Summer 2024 (PDF | 223 KB)
OS DT Project Brief Task 3 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 286 KB)
OS DT Project Brief Task 4 - Summer 2024 (PDF | 256 KB)
Teaching materials
DBS Schemes of Work - Route Core
These schemes of work align to Version 3.0 of the Qualification Specification.
Price
Free
DBS Schemes of Work - Data Technician OS
These schemes of work align to Version 3.0 of the Qualification Specification.
Price
Free
DBS Essential Core Resources
As part of our free offer we have provided access to 25 session packs covering some of the key topic areas across route core elements 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12. These resources align to Version 3.0 of the Qualification Specification.
Price
Free
Additional Core Resources - SCORM
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These are SCORM versions for use in a learning management system (such as Moodle or Blackboard).
Price
£904.80
Additional Core Resources - NON SCORM
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These NON SCORM versions are for use in environments such as Windows File Explorer, Teams or Sharepoint.
Price
£904.80
Additional Resources SCORM - Route Core Element 10 and 11 (Bundle 1)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These are SCORM versions for use in a learning management system (such as Moodle or Blackboard).
Price
£104.40
Additional Resources Non SCORM - Route Core Element 10 and 11 (Bundle 1)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These NON SCORM versions are for use in environments such as Windows File Explorer, Teams or Sharepoint.
Price
£104.40
Additional Resources SCORM - Route Core Element 1, 2 and 8 (Bundle 3)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These are SCORM versions for use in a learning management system (such as Moodle or Blackboard).
Price
£452.40
Additional Resources NON SCORM - Route Core Element 1, 2 and 8 (Bundle 3)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These NON SCORM versions are for use in environments such as Windows File Explorer, Teams or Sharepoint.
Price
£452.40
Additional Resources SCORM - Route Core Element 3, 4 and 5 (Bundle 4)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These are SCORM versions for use in a learning management system (such as Moodle or Blackboard).
Price
£348.00
Additional Resources Non SCORM - Route Core Element 3, 4 and 5 (Bundle 4)
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These NON SCORM versions are for use in environments such as Windows File Explorer, Teams or Sharepoint.
Price
£348.00
DBS Essential OS Resources - Data Technician
As part of our free offer, we have provided access to six session packs covering some of the key topic areas across each of the performance outcomes. These resources align to Version 3.0 of the Qualification Specification.
Price
Free
Additional OS Resources - Data Technician NON SCORM
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These NON SCORM versions are for use in environments such as Windows File Explorer, Teams or Sharepoint.
Price
£348.00
Additional OS Resources - Data Technician SCORM
These resources align to version 3.1 of the Qualification Specification. These are SCORM versions for use in a learning management system (such as Moodle or Blackboard).
Price
£348.00
Hodder Education Textbook
Price
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