Regulating science V Levels at subject level
Applies to England
Consultation description
This consultation seeks views on our proposed Subject Level Conditions, requirements and guidance for the following V Level subjects:
- V Level in science research and technology
- V Level in healthcare science and technology
Proposals at a glance
For all subjects, we propose to introduce Subject Level Conditions that:
- require awarding organisations to develop qualifications that comply with the subject content set by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual’s requirements and have regard to guidance on assessment objectives
- introduce subject-specific assessment objectives and weightings, with the greatest weighting given to the application of knowledge, understanding and skills
- introduce subject-specific guidance to support consistent interpretation and use of the assessment objectives across awarding organisations
- clarify that the existing requirement limiting reward for demonstrating knowledge in isolation applies to Assessment by Examination rather than the qualification as a whole
- require qualifications to be assessed through a combination of:
- 40% Assessment by Examination
- 60% Non-exam Assessment
- require that all Assessment by Examination, which comprises 40% of overall assessment, is to be taken as terminal assessment (taken at the end of the course)
- require assessments to be available through a common assessment structure, including one Assessment by Examination series each academic year and specified submission windows for Non-exam Assessment
- retain the assessment structure and availability requirements already adopted for tranche 1 V Level subjects where we consider these remain appropriate for the business and professional services subjects
We are also seeking views on our approach to on-screen assessment, including:
- whether Assessment by Examination should be permitted to be delivered on-screen for these subjects
- whether awarding organisations should be permitted to offer both paper-based and on-screen assessments within a single specification
- whether awarding organisations should be allowed to use the same assessment materials across paper-based and on-screen delivery modes
Audience
This consultation is open to anyone who may wish to make representation but may be of most interest to:
- students and their representative bodies
- employers and their representative bodies
- parents and guardians
- awarding organisations and their representative bodies
- schools, colleges, training providers and their representative bodies
Consultation arrangements
Duration
This consultation will open on 12 November 2026 at 9.30am and close on 8 January 2027 at 11:59pm.
Respond online
Responses should be submitted through the online consultation platform.
Other ways to respond
If for exceptional reasons you are unable to use the online consultation platform, for example because you use specialist accessibility software that is incompatible with the platform, you may request an alternative format. Please email consultations@ofqual.gov.uk to request this.
For information on how Ofqual will use and manage your data, please see Annex C.
Related consultations
This consultation is one of 6 consultations seeking views on the Subject Level Conditions (SLCs), requirements and guidance we propose to set for the 11 V Level subjects due to be first taught in 2028. Each consultation covers the V Level subjects within a particular sector and explains our proposed approach to regulating those subjects, including the proposed SLCs, requirements and guidance.
The 6 consultations cover the following sectors and proposed subject titles:
Health and care:
- V Level in health
- V Level in social care
Science:
- V Level in science research and technology
- V Level in healthcare science and technology
Enterprise and professional services:
- V Level in legal services
- V Level in business management and operations
- V Level in sales and marketing
Construction:
- V Level in construction: design, surveying, planning
Engineering and manufacturing:
- V Level in engineering and manufacturing
- V Level in engineering design
Sport and leisure:
- V Level in sport and physical activity
All consultations are due to close in January 2027.
This consultation covers the V Level subjects within the Science route.