Most qualifications have a difficulty level. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification is. Here is an outline of what the qualification levels mean:
There are 9 Qualification Levels:
Entry Level
Each entry level qualification is available at three sub-levels - 1, 2, and 3, with entry level 3 being the most difficult. Entry level qualifications include:
- 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 include:
- 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 include:
- 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 include:
- 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
- T Level
- Tech level
Level 4
Level 4 qualifications include:
- 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 include:
- Diploma of higher education (DipHE)
- Foundation degree
- Higher national diploma (HND)
- Level 5 award
- Level 5 certificate
- Level 5 diploma
- Level 5 NVQ
Level 6
Level 6 qualifications include:
- Degree apprenticeship
- Degree with honours - for example, bachelor of the arts (BA) hons, bachelor of science (BSc) hons
- Graduate diploma
- Level 6 award
- Level 6 certificate
- Level 6 diploma
- Level 6 NVQ
- Ordinary degree without honours
Level 7
Level 7 qualifications include:
- Integrated master’s degree, for example, master of engineering (MEng)
- Level 7 award
- Level 7 certificate
- Level 7 diploma
- Level 7 NVQ
- Master’s degree, for example, master of arts (MA), master of science (MSc), master of business administration (MBA)
- Postgraduate certificate
- Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
- Postgraduate diploma
Level 8
Level 8 qualifications include:
- Doctorate, for example, doctor of philosophy (PhD or DPhil)
- Level 8 award
- Level 8 certificate
- Level 8 diploma
Where do apprenticeships sit within these qualification levels?
GCSE grades explained:
