General Enquiries
Open Awards provides qualifications from Entry Level to Level 5. Examples of each of these levels are listed below:
Entry level
Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels - 1, 2 and 3. Entry level 3 is the highest level.
Entry level qualifications are:
- entry level award
- entry level certificate (ELC)
- entry level diploma
- entry level English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
- entry level essential skills
- entry level functional skills
- Skills for Life
Level 1
Level 1 qualifications are:
- first certificate
- GCSE - grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G
- level 1 award
- level 1 certificate
- level 1 diploma
- level 1 ESOL
- level 1 essential skills
- level 1 functional skills
- level 1 national vocational qualification (NVQ)
- music grades 1, 2 and 3
Level 2
Level 2 qualifications are:
- CSE - grade 1
- GCSE - grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C
- intermediate apprenticeship
- level 2 award
- level 2 certificate
- level 2 diploma
- level 2 ESOL
- level 2 essential skills
- level 2 functional skills
- level 2 national certificate
- level 2 national diploma
- level 2 NVQ
- music grades 4 and 5
- O level - grade A, B or C
Level 3
Level 3 qualifications are:
- A level
- access to higher education diploma
- advanced apprenticeship
- applied general
- AS level
- international Baccalaureate diploma
- level 3 award
- level 3 certificate
- level 3 diploma
- level 3 ESOL
- level 3 national certificate
- level 3 national diploma
- level 3 NVQ
- music grades 6, 7 and 8
- tech level
Level 4
Level 4 qualifications are:
- certificate of higher education (CertHE)
- higher apprenticeship
- higher national certificate (HNC)
- level 4 award
- level 4 certificate
- level 4 diploma
- level 4 NVQ
Level 5
Level 5 qualifications are:
- diploma of higher education (DipHE)
- foundation degree
- higher national diploma (HND)
- level 5 award
- level 5 certificate
- level 5 diploma
- level 5 NVQ
These are different sizes of qualification. An award includes anything from 1-12 credits; a certificate includes anything from 13-36 credits; and a diploma includes anything from 37+ credits.
The title of award/certificate/diploma tells you how much learning you have completed at that level and in that subject.
The type of assessment you will need to complete depends on the qualification or course you are registered on. The majority of Open Awards qualifications are assessed through a portfolio of evidence. Depending on the subject and level, you will need to complete different types of work including:
- Essays / written assignments
- Project work
- Practical activities
- Group discussions
- Interviews
Some qualifications, including Functional Skills, have an exam / controlled assessment at the end.
Please see the qualification guide for your course for specific information about the types of assessment required by clicking here.
Please see our Complaints Policy here.
You should speak to your learning / training provider in the first instance to try and resolve any issues directly with them. You are required to follow their internal complaints policy before escalating this to Open Awards. If you have already complained to your learning / training provider and want to escalate the outcome to Open Awards, please send your appeal in writing to quality@openawards.org.uk and a member of the team will be allocated to investigate this.