FAQs - Apprenticeship Assessments

No. Applications for Reasonable Adjustments must be submitted via the Open Awards’ Portal as soon as possible after the need has been identified and, in any event, at least 20 working days before the assessment is due to take place. Open Awards expects reasonable adjustment requests to be made well in advance of the anticipated gateway date to ensure there is no impact on the EPA window. Please refer to our Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy and Procedures for more information.

• Course run start date – This is the earliest anticipated gateway date for the apprentice(s) on that course run.
• Course run end date – This is the date when the gateway window closes for apprentices on that course run.

When selecting dates make sure to fact in time to claim certificates.

Open Awards requires the apprentice to present photographic identification to an Open Awards invigilator or assessor immediately prior to each assessment on each assessment day. This is a requirement to ensure Open Awards can confirm an individual completing an assessment is the person they are claiming to be.

The following are acceptable forms of evidence of an apprentice’s identification:

• a valid passport (any nationality)
• a signed UK photo card driving licence
• valid warrant card issued by HM Forces or the Police
• other photographic ID card, e.g. employee ID card (must be current employer), student ID card, travel card
• UK biometric residence permit.

Where this identification is not available to be checked, the assessment will not be allowed to commence.

Where an apprentice does not have access to the necessary identification or where the name on the identification does not match the name registered with Open Awards, the training provider must contact Open Awards to make arrangements for alternative or additional authentication checks to be made.

If an apprentice is not satisfied with their result, they can request an enquiry about results (Stage 1 of the Enquiries and Appeals Policy and Procedures). Open Awards will review the documentation for administrative errors and correct these if identified. An enquiry about results must be made by the apprentice within 10 workings days of notification of the results concerned being sent to the provider.

Alternatively, or subsequent to an enquiry (Stage 1), if an apprentice is not satisfied with their result, they may lodge an appeal (Stage 2). Appeals can be made by the provider on behalf of the apprentice, but they must have the written permission of the apprentice to do this.

Appeals made in respect of the final overall grade will result in a delay to the completion certificate being requested by Open Awards. For further details regarding the process, timelines and fees, please refer to Open Awards’ Enquiries and Appeals Policy and Procedures.

We offer resits and retakes for apprentices who fail their assessment. The number available will be in line with the requirements of the specific apprenticeship Standard. Feedback will be given to help you prepare your learner for their resit or retake.

Apprenticeship certification will be claimed from Skills England once Open Awards has confirmed apprenticeship completion. Open Awards will provide a record of component achievement for all assessment components taken as part of the Assessment process.

The apprenticeship completion certificate will be sent directly to the apprentice’s employer.

Open Awards will claim the certificate within 20 days of the appeals window closing. Skills England will then process and issue the certificate within 15 working days.

Yes, the same Assessor will normally undertake all assessments. However, if the assessment plan requires certain components to be completed by different assessors or specialists, this may vary.

Where an apprentice requires a resit, a different Assessor may be used depending on availability.

The location of assessments will depend on the specific assessment component and the requirements of the relevant apprenticeship Standard.

The majority of assessments are completed online, including knowledge-based assessments.

However, where an observation is required, the assessment will usually take place in the apprentice’s workplace. For full details on assessment venue requirements, please refer to the EPA Handbook for the relevant Standard, or contact the team on 0151 494 2072 or enquiries@openawards.org.uk to discuss your specific scenario.

Provisional bookings can be re-scheduled or cancelled at no charge. Confirmed bookings up to 10 workings days before the assessment day can be re-scheduled at no charge. Confirmed bookings cancelled or re-scheduled with less than 10 workings days’ notice will incur a charge in line with Open Awards Fees Policy.

Once your apprentices are registered with us for their assessments, you will be able to provisionally schedule assessments through our secure Portal. Assessment dates won’t be confirmed until gateway checks are completed and all stakeholders have confirmed that the apprentice is ready for assessment.