We have made changes to the assessments following sector consultation and feedback. Qualification Wales has agreed for us to make changes to the assessment strategy for the following qualifications:

• Level 2 Health and Social Care: Core
• Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core

With immediate effect any learners completing the Core qualifications will be required to complete the following reduced assessments only:

H&SC Adults and CYP pathways, and CCPLD:

• One case study and the MCQ test

H&SC Combined pathway

• Two case studies (One case study – children and young people and One case study – adult) and the MCQ test

Approved providers will continue to provide learners with teaching and learning opportunities across the full qualification content.

You will also be required to rotate the case study chosen to ensure that the full qualification content is assessed over time. A strategy to achieve this must be approved by the EQA.

This amendment will be in place until 31 December 2023.

Centres should submit results via Walled Garden by 30 November 2023 to ensure that learners are certificated by 31 December 2023.

Arrangements for the assessment of the Core qualifications from 01 January 2024

Learners who are ready for assessment on or after 1 January 2024 will be assessed via an MCQ only.  From this date, the internal assessment component (case studies) of the Core qualifications will be permanently removed. 

The MCQ is now a familiar assessment tool for learners/centres and statistically, the MCQ and different versions of the test show strong reliability in outcomes (consistent pass rates).  This instils confidence in the validity/reliability of the MCQ as an assessment tool, and the ability for learners to access the type of assessment. This permanent amendment to the assessment strategy will significantly reduce the assessment burden for providers and learners.  

In most cases learner certification will be automatic, following a successful MCQ result, thereby reducing the emphasis on the EQA whilst simultaneously enabling more streamlined learner progression. 

Please note: when there is a new version of the assessment learner results cannot be published immediately. In these circumstances, to ensure quality assurance, learner results may not be available for up to 20 days but will then move to automatic release.

We will update the qualification specifications and assessment packs as each change takes place.  Any changes will be listed in the version control table in the front of the qualification handbook and other associated documents and materials. 

Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification handbooks and assessment packs, which are available on the relevant qualification page on the HCLW website.