As a reminder, for many external assessments, we now share assessment material digitally via the NCFE Portal rather than printing and dispatching physical papers.

This change reflects the way in which learners complete these assessments, as they’re predominantly completed digitally using word processing, spreadsheets, artistic software, website creation, or other creative and digital means, rather than handwritten responses on a question paper. It also means that where a learner wishes to complete an element by hand, their school or college retains the option to print the assessment paper and share it with the learner physically.

A list of the assessments shared digitally can be found in the QSID (Qualifications Specific Instructions for Delivery), covering V Certs, CACHE, and T Level assessments. This should not be confused with assessments completed on-screen, such as Functional Skills or T Level Core Exam on-screen options, which are unaffected.

Where assessment material is shared digitally in the NCFE Portal, this will be done no later than three working days before the assessment is scheduled (to mirror the timescales of papers being dispatched), and instructions on how to access the Portal can be found in the relevant Portal user guide.

These guides also contain guidance on how to return digitally completed assessments, which also should be done via the NCFE Portal.